The Lodi International Wine Awards is a challenge to the wine industry to simplify the way it assesses wine and to honor the diversity of wine drinkers' palates.

This wine judging event will take place March 11 and 12 in Lodi. The competition will employ a new tasting methodology developed by sensory scientists, statisticians and wine experts that takes into account the differences in taste preference and sensitivities among all wine lovers.

The deadline to enter is Friday, Feb. 8. Entry forms and a rules handbook are available at www.lodiwineawards.com.

Research shows that different physiology creates different wine style preferences among wine drinkers. Based on that research, organizers of the Lodi International Wine Awards believe consumers, and judges, can be sorted into three major segments and will base the competition on this new wine value/rating system:

- Tolerant tasters - who tend to favor dry, high-intensity, assertive wines.

- Sensitive tasters - the median group with a rather broad range of preferences.

- Hyper-sensitive tastes - who tend to have an aversion to bitterness and favor delicacy over intensity. They often prefer some degree of sweetness in their wines.

G.M. "Pooch" Pucilowski, the event director, will "individually screen and test judges to identify their sensory sensitivity and values. Wine tasting panels will be balanced to include an equal number of judges from each of the three groups." Awards will be given when judges with similar sensitivities agree a certain wine deserves recognition.

A simple questionnaire enabling consumers to assess and identify their own wine segment, is being beta-tested and will be available later this year on The Lodi International Wine Award Web site (http.www.lodiwineawards.com).

"The questionnaire will enable consumers to select award-winning wines that best match their taste profile." said Tim Hanni, master of wine, whose wine philosophy led to the event. A special recommendation "engine" on the Web site will also help consumers find the wines that most suit their preference. "Certain restaurant, E-tail and retail sponsors will be cooperating with us and feature award-winning wines from the different categories," he said.

The tasting methodology to be used is based upon research and procedures developed by Drs. Michael O'Mahony, Rie Ishii, University of California, Davis, and Hanni. "It is well known in wine judging circles that awards are often given to the biggest, boldest and most assertive wines." said Hanni. "It's been a problem because big 'monster' wines tend to stand out in a crowd while more delicate and elegant wines - equally good and widely enjoyed - may be lost.

"Ours is the only judging to use a revolutionary methodology that takes into account issues of flavor distortion and palate fatigue that often occur at tastings and judgings when many wines are evaluated over an extended session," said Hanni.

The Lodi-Tokay Rotary Club is event sponsor and underwriter.