Inspired by the famed 1976 Judgment of Paris — where a panel of French judges, in a blind tasting, ranked California wines above their French counterparts — Lotte’s initiative aims to elevate consumer appreciation through taste alone, stripping away biases tied to origin or price.
This year’s edition has expanded in scope, featuring nearly 200 wine entries and introducing two formats: the customer-centric “Mega Tasting” and the professionally judged “V:lind Contest.”
The Mega Tasting event, which began Friday and runs through May 29, is being held across eight of Lotte’s major department stores nationwide, including locations in Seoul, Busan, and Incheon. Shoppers are invited to taste eight wines — four reds and four whites — all priced under 100,000 won (approximately $73).
Presented without labels or brand identifiers, the wines are evaluated by participants who vote for their favorites.
The professional segment of the competition will be held on June 5 at Mood Seoul in Seocho-gu. There, a panel of experts will assess 20 imported wines that have not yet been introduced to the Korean market.
Among the judges are Kim Kyung-moon, the only Master Sommelier of South Korean nationality — one of just 270 globally — and Kim Jin-beom, head sommelier at the acclaimed Seoul restaurant Mosu.
“We aim to continue offering customers fresh experiences and carefully curated selections through trustworthy wine programs,” said Choi Hyung-mo, head of Lotte Department Store’s food division.
reporter
Kim Dong-young
davekim0807@ajupress.com
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