One wine competition is not like the others . . .

The oldest major wine competition in California does not allow sommeliers, writers, chefs or other inferior types as judges - only winemakers.  That said, some of these guys haven't tripped over a hose in a long time, and another judge on my panel, who boasted that he serves at ten different judgings, had never heard of dimethyl dicarbonate?!?! (I gave him a minute's worth of information, and he continued to draw a blank.)
Still, it's valuable and entertaining, and for two days I sat within ten feet of one of the best Central Coast Chardonnay and Pinot Noir producers, as well as the guy responsible for Two Buck Chuck.  The judging format is different from most competitions in that there is no consensus or conference - you taste, write down a score and recommended medal, and move on.
Having judged there since 1990, I'm usually rewarded with some of the more obscure varietals, see above.