On 14th May, Lewis Chester DipWSET, Co-Founder and CEO of Liquid Icons, presented a thought-provoking masterclass at FIU’s Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, asking a bold question: should we consign wine scoring to the past, and find a new way of assessing the quality of this complex beverage?

Drawing on themes such as the influence and meaning of wine scores, how the process of scoring takes place, the flawed judgements which can be drawn from wine scoring and the work of dissenting, maverick winemakers who do not take part in the system, Lewis examined how the industry got here, what it means for the fine wine market, and showed that through the work of the Golden Vines® Report there is a credible and objective means of assessing the quality of a producer and their wines.

To illustrate his point, Lewis invited along his friend and renowned maverick winemaker Loïc Pasquet, the creator of Liber Pater - the world’s most expensive wine - to present attendees with a selection of his wines, and explain why he never submits any of his range to be scored by wine critics.