How does the competition work?

Each year, some months prior to the judging, the three judges make their choices and select the best wines in each category from their own country.  They each select the same number of wines (5 wines in some categories and 7 in others) making a total of 321 wines invited into the competition.  The administration office in Sydney then sends out the invitations on behalf of the judges and makes arrangements for the wines to come into Sydney.

The judging venue is set up for four judges (Chairman now included in the process) the Riedel glasses are brought in, Stewards audit and check all of the bottles against the judging sheets and the tables are marked up with numbers to match the bottles and the corresponding lists.

All wines are poured out of the judges’ sight and are only known by numbers at this stage.

Chairman Robert Joseph comments “The wines are initially judged in the same way as at any wine competition in the three countries - and indeed at the International Wine Challenge with each taster assessing and marking a set of 18-30 wines. Unlike those other competitions, however, where a strong class could have three or more equally highly marked Gold medal winners, at the Tri Nations, we're looking for winners. So, each of us has to go through the painful process of choosing our six top wines out of each class, and putting them into an order of preference. All of this has to happen before the four of us get together to discuss the wines and to agree collectively on the six entries that will be taken into account in the final tally. Having judged and chaired a number of wine shows, I know how heated things can occasionally become when marks are being discussed, so it is good to report that the four of us maintained perfect equanimity throughout. I suspect that the explanation for this lies in the respect James, Michael and Bob - the undisputed lions of their respective countries - have for each other. And the genuine friendship.  But when one considers that national pride involved in the Tri Nations, and the individual effort - the three judges chose the wines on the table after all - I was, once again, impressed by the way everyone present approached the wines with a totally open mind. We did not know where any of the wines came from, and we didn't care. All that mattered was how good they were.”

At the end of the judging session the top 13 wines are re-judges to establish the Top Red Wine of Show, the Top White Wine of Show and the Wine of the Show.

After counting the scores of the top seven wines in each category it is then established which Country won each category and indeed the overall show.

The judges retreat back to their country of origin… the trophies and certificates are produced….and the top wines and the runner up are recorded into the results sheets ready for embargoed release to the media.

All of the wines invited into the competition receive a Certificate of Participation. The top 13 wines receive trophies, the runner-up wines receive a framed certificate and the top three prizes receive Perpetual trophies