Wine judges are selected based on their professional experience, recommendations from locally-respected winemakers and critics, local recognition for a good palate or excellent judgement and their willingness to participate and help celebrate local wines. Judges may be viticulturists, winemakers, purveyors, critics, press or consumers. Profiles on the judges for the Competition can be found on the "Meet the Judges" page.

The wines are poured into glasses in a separate room from the judges, so that they did not know anything about the wine. Each panel will evaluate its own set of wines and award medals accordingly . From the list of wines that received double gold medals, one white , one red , one rose’ and one dessert wine will selected by the judges to be "Best of the Competition". For more information on the judging process, click on the "Methodology" link above.