Other Leading Critics

Bob Campbell MW (BC) – Bob is one of only 264 Masters of Wine in the world. An international wine judge, Bob judges wine professionally in ten countries and contributes regularly to publications around the world. His specialty is New Zealand wine which he reviews from an international perspective. He has a free website where he publishes all his wine reviews – go to www.bobswinereviews.com

Michael Cooper (MC) – Michael Cooper has been a full-time wine writer since 1991 and is regarded as New Zealand's premier wine expert. Cooper's impressive list of publications, including his books, has won him international acclaim. His books include five editions of The Wines and Vineyards of New Zealand, Wine Atlas of New Zealand and Michael Cooper's Buyer's Guide to New Zealand Wines.

John Platter Wine Guide (JP) – South Africa's first and still best-selling wine annual, Platter's Guide is the comprehensive, up-to-date and authoritative guide to who's who and what's what in the winelands. Platter's Guide was conceived in 1978 by wine lovers and print journalists John and Erica Platter, after reading Hugh Johnson's ground-breaking Pocket Wine Book. Three decades and a million copies later, a Platter 5 Star Rating remains the ultimate accolade for South African wines. The Platters have now handed on the reins to a new team, comprising some of the most talented wine critics in the country.

An annual subscription to the website www.wineonaplatter.com is ZAR 99.99

Gambero Rosso (GR) – since 1987 Gambero Rosso has published the most influential Italian wine guide known as Vini d'Italia. The wine ratings are built upon the number of glasses (bicchieri) awarded to a wine, which is indicated in the wine guide with a number of stylized glasses next to the wine's name. The highest rating is three glasses (Tre Bicchieri), and the wine guide only includes wines which are seen by the editors as "above average". The ratings are based upon blind tasting by independent experts.