As we enter the last month of the year, let’s take a moment to salute the tasters (and, consequently, taste-makers) whose reviews and scoring help establish the hierarchy in the culture of wine collection. Each year these discerning journalists examine thousands of wines and offer expert opinions for consumers to consider when they’re buying their next bottles.

Wine Spectator is one of the most known and trusted names in the business of wine critique and lifestyle. Each year the magazine’s panel of tasters offers opinions on over 15,000 different bottles, and they hold themselves to a number of standards to maintain their critical credibility. This short video, produced earlier this year, gives you an inside look at the care and professionalism that has kept the magazine thriving since its inception in 1976.

After seeing their process, it’s easy to observe that Wine Spectator takes seriously both the tasting of wine and their own reputation as a cultural connoisseur. Whether you’ve agreed with their reviews or not, you have to respect their clear and efficient methods.