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You ought to have at least two Judges for each class. So, if all classes are going to be judged simultaneously, you are going to need at least 40.

However, since the size of most classes is not too large and you choose to have a morning and an afternoon judging session, fewer Judges will be necessary - 24 in 2004.

You really should have a couple of spares available, in case someone gets sick or sleeps in or something. You can always use them as third Judges if everybody shows up.

Where do all these Judges come from? If your Province has a Guild of Judges, that's very helpful. Professionals in the winemaking industry are often happy to be asked to judge in an amateur competition. Likewise people who do the tasting and buying for the local liquor board, or better restaurants.

Home wine and beermakers the quality of whose products is respected are probably capable of doing a job of judging. You don't get to be a topnotch winemaker without being able to properly assess what you're doing. Team an amateur up with a professional.

Judges should be asked in advance of their judging preferences.

Judges MUST NOT have entries in the classes they are judging.

Make sure your Judges are well informed ahead of time what is expected from them. They should be given a copy of the CLASS DESCRIPTION of the classes they are going to judge, as well as a copy of NOTES TO JUDGES as well as an outline of the judging system to be used.

NOTES TO JUDGES.

The following assumes the Judging Systems detailed here are to be used. If not appropriate Notes to Judges need to be produced for the System to be used.

1. On a personal note, you are asked not to wear strongly scented after-shave, perfume etc.

2. You should be equipped with a spittoon, pens, pencils, a flashlight if desired for checking clarity [candles are undesirable as they smell unpleasant] and any other personal items you feel are necessary. A spare corkscrew/bottle opener never hurt. A Steward, paper towel, room temperature water, etc. will be provided for you.

3. Score sheets will be provided but you should feel free to bring your own score sheets if there is a particular Scoring System you prefer.

4. You should familiarize yourself with the CLASS DESCRIPTIONS of the classes you are going to judge - these are the same guidelines used by the Competitors when submitting their entries.

5. You may NOT disqualify an entry for being out of class without consulting the Chief Steward.

6. You will first be asked to independently assess EACH entry in the class or flight you are judging, to determine what award, if any, you believe it deserves. You may be accustomed to a point system or not. In any event, the following cut-offs are provided for your guidance: Gold Medal 18/20 or 90/100; Silver Medal 16/20 or 80/100; Bronze Medal 14/20 or 70/100; Merit 13/20 or 65/100.

7: When all the Judges in your class or flight have completed their independent assessment of the entries, you will then confer together to arrive at an agreement as to what awards should be made. When conferring with your fellow Judges, you should always be willing to back your opinions up with specifics that should be apparent to them when they reassess the entry under consideration.

8. If an irreconcilable disagreement occurs, you should consult with the Chief Steward.

9. In the case of a Class being large enough to require more than one flight, you may be asked to do a consultation with the judges of the other flight(s) to check on general consistency.

10. While your main task is to find the award winners in your class, you will be asked to fill out, perhaps with the help of your Steward, a COMMENT SHEET that will go back to the Competitor. Please try to make any comments constructive, for example, "acid too high for good balance with the body and sweetness" rather than "poor balance". Make sure you or your Steward have checked that each comment sheet is properly identified by CLASS LETTER and ENTRY NUMBER, and that your name is on it.

11 Your Steward may have volunteered for the job in hopes of learning something from you, the Judge. IF you feel comfortable with the idea, please try to let your Steward in on what you are doing as you work through the class.

12. If any certificates are to be awarded make sure you have signed those pertaining to your class or flight.

13. For your benefit, smoking in or near the judging room is not permitted.

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