Wine Critic Robert Parker Changing Things Up At Wine Advocate

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Feb 8th 2011 at 11:00PM

Those in the world of wine got a little shake-up recently. The emperor of wine, legendary critic Robert Parker, the founder of the Wine Advocate, is going to stop reviewing most California wine. His publication will still feature California wine of course, it's just that one of his other critics, Antonio Galloni, who has been responsible for Italian wine for several years, will be taking over that responsibility. Wine writer Jon Bonné reports that Galloni will also be responsible for influential portions of Burgundy, the Cote d'Or and Chablis, and Champagne reviews.

Meanwhile Parker will focus on his beloved Bordeaux and the Rhone Valley. He will continue to do occasional California wines including older wines. He wrote to subscribers that he would soon do a series focusing on horizontal and vertical tastings of perfectly stored California wines to see how they develop over time.

Parker's influence in wine, and specifically in California wine, is huge. Some say that you can lay the responsibility for the popular big, bold, pricey status Napa Cabs nearly wholly in his lap. But he also raised the profile of Rhone-style California wines and in general has served as a starmaker, helping to increase the critical attention paid to California wines around the world.

Wine Advocate began with one man's palate but has evolved beyond that, now a whole team of tasters cover the world. While wine scores may not be as influential as they were before social media made everyone a wine critic, they do still carry a lot of weight and Parker's Wine Advocate brand remains one of the top trustworthy institutions.

Tags: california wine, robert parker, wine, wine critic