I formally worked in the wine industry here in Sydney. While I do not agree with all Parker has to say he is very influential. If our wine received a positive review from him sales would immediately go up substantially. The people who I call Mid range wine enthusiasts with a limited palate but like to drink "good" wine and be seen to drink "good" wine purchase wines that get good reviews from people like Parker and in Australia Huon Hooke

Real wine connoisseur's don't blindly follow wine critics but do use them as more of a guide.