FAQ

Who is Campbell Mattinson?

I'm an award-winning Australian wine writer, editor, photographer and author. I've spent close to three decades writing about Australian wine, and forty years working as a journalist. This site is where I bring that experience together — the writing, the photography, and the wine.

What kind of content is published on this site?

Wine reviews, wine commentary, editorial opinion, recommendations, vintage summaries, travel articles, and photography and camera equipment reviews. But mostly wine.

How are the wine reviews written?

All reviews are written independently and based solely on merit. Every review reflects honest opinion, unfiltered.

What is the tasting process?

I assess wines blind and in comparative flights wherever and whenever possible. I do taste wines unmasked when it's impossible or inappropriate for the wines to be masked — wine served at media events, or tasted in situ at wineries, is almost never masked for any of the media in attendance.

Do you accept free wine samples?

Yes, samples are a normal and necessary part of wine criticism — no critic could taste thousands of wines a year by buying every bottle. Receiving a sample has no bearing on the score or the review. Every wine is assessed on what's in the glass, not on how it arrived.

How many wines do you taste each year?

Between 5,000 and 10,000 wines each year. My normal/daily routine is to pour wines in the morning and re-taste in the afternoon. Some years I've tasted more than 10,000; every year for the past 25 years I've tasted a minimum of 5,000.

Can I submit a wine for review?

Yes. Wineries, distributors, and importers can contact me directly through the [Contact] page for submission guidelines.

Is there a rating system?

Yes. Reviews include scores out of 100, with context provided. [Roundels] for Mattinson wine reviews are available here.

How does the rating system work?

Further detail is in the Media Pack, available via [Contact]. This site only publishes reviews of wines that score 89/100 or higher; wines scoring 88/100 or lower are not reviewed or published. As a general guide:

89–91: Bronze Medal Standard. Well worth buying and drinking if the price, style and occasion are right.

92–93: Silver Medal Standard. Well above average in quality — excellent examples of their style and/or variety. Put these wines on your radar, and select them when you see them.

94–96: Gold Medal Standard. When you see these wines, price and occasion permitting, choose them without hesitation. Gold Medals are not given out easily.

97–100: Platinum Standard. Brilliant examples of their variety, region and style — the wines that make us fall in love with wine all over again, and make our lives richer.

What happens to wines that score 88 or below?

They're not published on this site. I don't run a public list of underperforming wines — my focus here is on what's worth your attention, not on ranking everything that crosses the bench.

Can I republish or quote from reviews?

Reviews can be quoted in full, with clear attribution to this site. A link back to the original review is preferred but not mandatory. For commercial use or full reprints, please [contact me directly].

Do you correct or update published reviews?

Yes. If an error is identified — mine or otherwise — I correct it. Significant corrections are noted on the review itself.

Is this site affiliated with any winery or wine retailer?

No. This site is editorially independent, and all opinions are my own. I founded [The Winefront] in 2002 and remain fully committed to it; this Mattinson site is a separate, independent venture.

What's the difference between this site and The Winefront?

The Winefront is the long-running, high-volume wine information site I've built with colleagues over more than two decades — it's the place for breadth: reviews, forums, and a large searchable archive. This site is where I write in my own voice, on my own terms, including a proprietary classification system for assessing wineries. Read one or both, depending on whether you want the full archive or my personally curated take.

Do you offer consulting, licensing or partnership opportunities?

Yes, so long as my independence is maintained. Details are on the [Why Partner with Mattinson] page.

How often is the site updated?

New content is published regularly, usually daily. The [Wine Reviews] page is the most common place for new content to appear.

What if I want to know more about who Campbell Mattinson is?

There are more details on my [About] page but if you need to know something specific, [Contact] me.

How do I stay updated?