Do Wine Ratings Still Matter? Michelin Thinks So

Michelin’s plan to rate wines revives debate over whether scores still matter—and reminds us that while numbers can guide, taste remains the final judge.

Highlights:

• Explore why Michelin’s new global wine ratings have reignited debate over the value of wine scores.
• Learn how critics, retailers, and consumers use ratings when they buy wine online.
• Discover how personal taste—not numbers—remains the ultimate measure of a wine’s worth.

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The announcement that the Michelin Guide plans to rate wines marks a fascinating new chapter in how we judge and experience quality, including when you order wine online. Michelin, the French tire company turned global arbiter of taste, already defines fine dining with its coveted restaurant stars and recently began ranking hotels. Now, the company’s chairman, Florent Menegaux, says wine is next—and he predicts that Michelin’s new wine ratings will be “more influential than Parker’s.”

That’s a bold claim. Robert Parker’s 100-point scoring system, born in the 1980s through The Wine Advocate, reshaped the wine world. Parker’s numerical ratings became benchmarks for quality, especially in Bordeaux, where many producers began crafting fuller, higher-alcohol wines to chase his approval. His influence boosted entire regions but also led to what some critics dubbed the “Parkerization” of global wine—favoring power over finesse.

Michelin’s move raises an old question in a new form: do wine ratings really have value, or are they relics of a different era of wine criticism? For its part, Bottle Barn’s team, led by Barry Herbst, hand curates all listed wines in a process where scores and reviews only play a minor part.

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The Power and Pitfalls of Numbers

Yet there’s no denying the convenience of scores. For consumers scanning an online wine store or restaurant list, a 95-point label immediately signals excellence. Bottle Barn, like many retailers, includes ratings and reviews to help shoppers navigate a vast landscape of options. A numerical guide can simplify buying decisions, particularly for those new to wine or exploring unfamiliar regions. So, scores can be useful, even for the best California wine store.

Yet the very clarity that makes ratings appealing also limits them. Wine is deeply subjective—rooted in culture, personal taste, and even mood. A bold Amarone or Napa Cabernet that earns 97 points might overwhelm someone who prefers lighter, more mineral-driven styles. Reducing all that nuance to a single number flattens diversity into hierarchy.

Even Parker acknowledged late in his career that scores should be starting points, not verdicts. Most serious enthusiasts now read reviews for the tasting notes and context rather than the number at the end.

Michelin’s Expansion: Influence or Overreach?

Why, then, would Michelin step into the wine-rating business when it already owns The Wine Advocate? According to reports, Menegaux argues that “the Michelin brand is much more powerful.” Millions recognize a Michelin star as shorthand for excellence, whereas only a small fraction of the public has heard of Parker’s Wine Advocate.

Michelin has already transformed itself from a printed restaurant guide into a global lifestyle authority. Over the past year it has introduced a “key” system for hotels, positioning itself as a one-stop platform for food, travel, and now, wine. The move seems designed to leverage Michelin’s enormous audience rather than expand The Wine Advocate’s more specialized following.

But the questions multiply quickly. Will Michelin rate wines individually or award ratings to wineries, much as it does to restaurants? Will its inspectors taste anonymously, and if so, how will they access rare bottles that cost thousands of dollars each? And what happens to The Wine Advocate’s decades of archived reviews—will they migrate into Michelin’s new system or compete with it?

As wine writer Alder Yarrow noted, Michelin could face a “brand cannibalization” problem. Offering free wine ratings on its massive platform might diminish the value of The Wine Advocate while also raising doubts about credibility. Critics already question Michelin’s close financial partnerships with governments and luxury brands. Could wineries or regional associations end up paying for inclusion, just as cities sometimes sponsor local Michelin guides?

Also Read: Wine Tasting Terms Explained

A World Beyond the Score

Despite those concerns, the Michelin announcement underscores an enduring truth: wine ratings still shape buying behavior. Retailers, restaurants, and collectors all rely on expert assessments to benchmark quality. But the role of the critic has evolved. Where Parker’s numbers once dominated, today’s drinkers are guided by a mosaic of voices—sommeliers, influencers, importers, and consumers themselves.

For many, ratings serve best when paired with trust. Bottle Barn’s wine store, for example, often include reviews from multiple publications, giving shoppers both consensus and perspective. Reading across sources reveals patterns: when Wine Spectator, Decanter, and Vinous all praise a Brunello for balance and longevity, that consistency means more than a single score. Remember that when you shop wine online.

The value of ratings lies not in authority but in accessibility. They provide a bridge between expert opinion and personal exploration. For those who buy wine online, scores and reviews can narrow choices without dictating them. They also spark curiosity, encouraging shoppers to discover new producers and regions.

Also Read: Different Ways to Learn About Wine

Taste Still Rules

Ultimately, wine ratings matter only insofar as they reflect genuine pleasure. The most memorable wines—whether a rustic Montepulciano shared with friends or a perfectly aged Barolo—owe their magic to experience, not numbers. Michelin’s venture may help introduce more people to great bottles, but no system can quantify emotion, place, or memory.

So, do wine ratings have value? Absolutely—but only when treated as guides, not gospel. They offer structure in a world of endless choice. Yet as Michelin joins the conversation, perhaps the best reminder is that tasting remains the truest measure of quality.

Whether you’re exploring a 100-point classic or a modestly priced discovery, the only score that matters is your own.