Parker - Penin ratings

Robert Parkers interest in wine began in 1967, when he spent a month abroad during his Christmas vacation at the University of Strasbourg in Alsace, France. By 1975, he began to think about writing about wine and commencing his own "independent, consumer's guide," and by 1978, the concept of a wine publication was formulated. The first issue of The Wine Advocate, a complimentary issue, was sent out to mailing lists purchased from several major wine retailers. The initial number of charter subscribers in August, 1978, was less than 600. Twenty-eight years later, The Wine Advocate has over 50,000 subscribers, in over 38 countries. Today, virtually every knowledgeable observer agrees that The Wine Advocate exerts the most significant influence on the serious wine consumer's buying habits and trends not only in America, but in France, England, Switzerland, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Russia, Mexico, Brazil, and China.