Melbourne Wine School · Richmond
MWS Blind Tasting Championship
Fun. Competitive. Slightly unhinged.
Welcome to the blind tasting competition where confidence is high, notes are questionable, and the truth is usually Chardonnay.
This is a fun-but-competitive tasting league built for bragging rights, sharp palate skills, and the kind of friendly pressure that makes everyone suddenly detect pencil shavings on the nose. You'll battle through the entry rounds, climb your way into the finals, and try not to let someone who "doesn't even like wine" take the trophy.
2026 Competition dates
How it works
5 rounds. 1 champion.
Rounds 1 & 2 — Entry (Complete)
May entry rounds: done and dusted.
Two opening flights served blind in May. Top scorers from each round have already booked their place in the quarterfinal. Round 3 in June is the final chance to enter the 2026 championship.
Featured: overconfidence, false Syrah calls, and at least one person insisting "this is definitely Nebbiolo." It wasn't.
Round 3 — Entry Open now
Missed May? Jump in here.
June 27th. Same format, higher stakes. Top scorers from all three entry rounds advance to the quarterfinal.
Expect better note-taking, more nerves, and sudden silence when tannin shows up.
Round 3 — Quarterfinal
No more cruising.
24 tasters from the entry rounds. Shorter flight, faster pace. 12 winners move through.
Expect tactical guessing, confident chaos, and someone locking in "Riesling" like it's a life raft.
Round 4 — Semi-final
The 12 strongest palates. Or luckiest.
Tougher wines, tighter time, fewer hints. Top 6 advance to the final.
Expect people smelling their glass like it owes them money.
Round 5 — The Final
The grand reveal.
The last 6 standing compete for the title. Final flight served blind. Highest score wins. Tiebreaker if needed.
Expect drama, precision, and someone whispering "please don't be Pinot" like a prayer.
Like the sound of it?
Don't just read about it. Taste it.
Bring a friend, bring your most confident incorrect opinions, and find out where your palate really sits.
Scoring
Points for correct calls.
You don't need to be a professional to win, but you do need to be consistent. Points are awarded for correctly identifying:
Grape variety
Country, region and appellation
RRP bracket
Style clues: oaked vs unoaked, sweet vs dry, etc.
Bonus points for nailing the region and grape combo, or correctly calling the style (e.g. cool climate vs warm climate Shiraz).
Frequently asked questions
Do I need wine qualifications to enter?
Not at all. Beginners are welcome. The competition is structured so newer tasters can learn quickly, while more experienced tasters still feel genuine pressure. If you enjoy wine and are curious, you're ready.
How competitive is it really?
Fun-first, but yes, it's competitive. Scores are tracked, eliminations are real, and the final round has genuine bragging rights attached. Expect friendly rivalry, dramatic reveals, and very confident incorrect answers.
What kinds of wines are used?
A mix of classic grape varieties and styles: recognisable textbook examples, regional benchmarks, and a few strategic curveballs. Some wines will feel obvious. Others will make you question everything you thought you knew.
Are the wines revealed after each round?
Yes. Every wine is revealed after scoring is collected. This keeps it educational, transparent, and allows everyone to improve round by round.
Can I bring friends?
Yes, please do. The competition is more fun with people you know, and there's no team scoring to worry about. Each person competes individually. Just make sure each friend books their own seat.
What do I need to bring?
A sense of humour and the ability to say "I'm locking it in" even when you're not sure.
Is this an exam?
No. It's a game, but one that will sharpen your tasting skills faster than casual drinking ever will.
Do I need to be over 18?
Yes. You must be at least 18 years of age to enter.
Tiebreakers
If scores are tied in an elimination round: most correct grape calls wins. If still tied: one-wine sudden-death showdown. If still tied: you both share the shame and the glory, and we pick a winner anyway.
Ready to enter?
Spots are limited. Sharpen your palate, bring a friend, and prepare your most confident incorrect opinion.