The magazine, published in about 90 countries on a monthly basis, includes industry news, vintage guides and wine and spirits recommendations.

[4] According to author Evelyne Resnick, it has a comparable function in the UK as the Wine Spectator has in the United States.

[2][5] Its contents include news, topical commentary, travel surveys, interviews, analysis and market reports.

Split into regional and country-specific panels of three or four, judges assess no more than 90 wines per day to avoid palate fatigue.

The meticulous process relies on impartiality and all bottles are covered to ensure judges cannot identify the wines.