A Master of Wine, Susan R. Lin is Head of Wine Expertise & Business Development at Belmont Wine Exchange. She combines her vast knowledge of wine with technology and the performing arts to create unique wine and music experiences. Inspired by her childhood, she pursued a career in high technology before developing a fascination for wine certifications, which led to her becoming a Master of Wine in 2021.

Susan, who judges wines for USA Wine Ratings, believes that evaluating wines holistically—quality, value for money, and packaging—is important. She stresses the importance of medals in raising the profile of smaller wineries and notes the industry's blend of traditional styles and creative experimentation. As producers improve their offerings, Susan highlights the value of constructive criticism. Check out the full interview below with Susan for more insights.

Can you share a bit about your journey into the world of wine?

As a child, I saw that wine and convivial hospitality could create a special kind of magic, first in observing my grandfather and his dinner guests and then through my early work playing the piano in hotels and restaurants. I began to study wine as a hobby while pursuing a career in high tech and eventually entered the world of wine certifications as a way to create a framework with which to improve my studies. Once I began, I didn't want to stop! I was recruited into the industry by a study partner, and I haven't looked back. I was named Master of Wine in 2021, and I specialize in wine and music experiences and branding. A sensory experience is a beautiful thing.

Image Source: Susan R. Lin at La Voce di Biondi-Santi in New York City to celebrate the launch of Biondi-Santi Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva 2016 and Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2017.

The USA Wine Ratings are known for their holistic judging criteria. In your opinion, what sets these criteria apart, and how do they align with what today's trade and consumers are looking for?

USA Wine Ratings' approach is unique in that it takes into account not only the organoleptic factors of the wine but also its packaging and, more importantly, its quality and value within the context of its category and price bracket. I believe that quality and value in context are so important to the appropriate and holistic assessment of wine.

Considering the diverse aspects of wine assessment—such as quality, value for money, and packaging—how do you balance these elements during judging, and which do you find most challenging to evaluate?

All elements contribute to the conclusion of the wine's assessment. I consider each aspect as I go through the process, and as the greater picture becomes clearer with increased information, I further evaluate the given quality and value in the specific context of that particular wine in its category. This final evaluation is critical and could not be possible without taking into account all these elements.

Competitions often highlight trends within the wine industry. Based on your experience as a judge, can you identify any emerging trends that are gaining traction?

This is going to sound contradictory, and yet it is also not surprising: I have seen that even while established styles and categories are going strong, there is increasing space for the rise of innovation and experimentation. This is reassuring to me, as like most things in the world, sometimes we want what we know, and sometimes we want to explore and be surprised!

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From your perspective, how significant is the impact of winning a medal at the USA Wine Ratings for a wine brand, especially for smaller or emerging wineries?

For smaller or emerging wineries, winning a medal at the USA Wine Ratings is a wonderful way to gain exposure to audiences that might not otherwise have had the opportunity to learn about these brands. I have been delighted by the discoveries I have made from participating as a judge at USA Wine Ratings. 

Feedback from judges is a crucial component of the USA Wine Ratings. How do you approach giving constructive feedback to entrants, and why do you believe this feedback is valuable for them?

This is perhaps the most important part! I always want to provide honest and constructive feedback because I take the assessment of wine very seriously, and I want these producers to understand the reasoning behind the ratings they have received. As judges, I hope we all remember and appreciate the work and the impetus it took to create these wines and the courage to have them assessed. If the feedback is well constructed, producers can use this information to understand how their wine is/may be perceived, what they could lean into or look to improve, and even what possibilities there are for their brand.

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