San Diego, Calif. (October 29, 2024) – The 17th Annual Sommelier Challenge International Wine & Spirits Competition, held September 21-22 in San Diego, proved that the natural outcome of continued pursuit of excellence by makers is higher scores from the judges. This year’s panel of Sommelier judges chose over 75% of entries as worthy of awards. That said, the Somms were seriously honed in on selecting the cream of the crop for the competition’s top awards.
At the upper end of the scale for wine, the 2019 Tom Eddy Petite Sirah ($75) from Sonoma County’s Russian River AVA was named Domestic Wine of the Year, with a near-perfect score of 99 points. The 2020 Musa Nocturia Tempranillo/Garnacha ($29) from Spain grabbed big accolades as Import Wine of the Year, with a 95-point score.
As always, Sommeliers love to recommend great wines that won’t break the bank. Four of the five Best of Show winners came in under $25, including the masterful 2023 Balverne Rosé of Pinot Noir made by Alex Holman.
In the spirits judging, Spirit of the Year went to the Pennsylvania Dutch American Bourbon Cream Liqueur ($16.99), scoring 98 points and arriving just in time for the cool-weather holiday season. Other Platinum winners featured a significant pool of agave-based spirits, such as the Reserva Don Armando Tequila Anejo Cristalino ($54.99) and the Cierto Tequila Private Collection Blanco ($79), taking Best of Show awards in their respective tequila categories.
Sommelier Challenge International Wine & Spirits Competition attracts entries from across the globe. This prestigious tasting is 100% judged in a double-blind format by certified Sommeliers – some of the most respected palates in the industry. Platinum award winners receive full reviews in WineReviewOnline.com and SpiritsReviewOnline.com in the weeks following the competition. Sommelier Challenge was founded in 2007 by wine writer Robert Whitley.
A recap of the top awards follows. For a complete list of Sommelier Challenge award winners, go to SommelierChallenge.com.
DIRECTORS AWARDS – WINE
Wine of the Year, Domestic
Tom Eddy 2019 Petite Sirah Russian River
$75.00, 99 points
Wine of the Year, Imported
Musa Noctuaria 2020 Tempranillo Garnacha Spain
$29.00, 95 points
Winery of the Year, Domestic
Belle Fiore
Rogue Valley, Oregon
Winery of the Year, Import
Wakefield Taylors
Clare Valley, Australia
Wine Company of the Year
Delicato Family
Wines Napa Valley, California
Importer of the Year
Palm Bay International
Port Washington, New York
Best of Show Sparkling Wine
Poema NV Cava Extra Dry Cava DO
$12.99, 93 points
Best of Show White Wine
New Clairvaux Vineyard 2023 Viognier St. James Block Tehama County
$20.00, 96 points
Best of Show Rosé Wine
Balverne 2023 Rosé of Pinot Noir Estate Grown Forever Wild Russian River Valley
$24.00, 94 points
Best of Show Red Wine
Tom Eddy 2019 Petite Sirah Russian River
$75.00, 99 points
Best of Show Dessert Wine
Barefoot Cellars NV White Moscato California
$6.99, 94 points
Best Barbera
New Clairvaux Vineyard 2022 Barbera Poor Souls Block Tehama County $28.00, 92 points
Best Blended Red
Spanish Musa Noctuaria 2020 Tempranillo Garnacha Spain $29.00, 95 points
Best Bordeaux Style Blend
JOLO Vineyards 2023 JOLOTAGE North Carolina $42.00, 95 points
Best Boxed Wine
Barefoot on Tap NV Sunset Red Blend California $19.99, 94 points
Best Cabernet Franc
Chacewater 2022 Cabernet Franc Sierra Foothills $30.00, 92 points
Best Cabernet Sauvignon
Miguel Caratachea 2020 Bracero Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley $100.00, 97 points
Best Cava
Poema NV Cava Extra Dry Cava DO $12.99, 93 points
Best Chardonnay
Belle Fiore 2021 Chardonnay Rogue Valley $37.00, 95 points
Best Fruit/Grape Wine Blend
Barefoot Fruitscato NV Blueberry No Appellation $6.99 92 points
Best Grenache
Brick Barn Wine Estate 2021 Grenache Santa Ynez Valley $50.00, 90 points
Best Malbec
Cerebella 2019 Malbec Columbia Valley $80.00, 93 points
Best Merlot
Robert Hall 2021 Artisan Collection Merlot Paso Robles $19.99, 94 points
Best Misc. Red Blend (tie)
Raffaldini 2021 Patrimonio Swan Creek $105.00, 93 points
Rowen Wine Company 2019 Red Wine Sonoma County $70.00, 93 points
Best Montepulciano
La Chiamata 2022 Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC $15.99, 92 points
Best Mourvedre
Mano Mona 2022 Monastrell Proyecto No. 04 Spain $18.99, 94 points
Best Muscat
Barefoot Cellars NV White Moscato California $6.99, 94 points
Best Non-Alcoholic Wine
Bolle NV Rosé Sparkling Wine Non-Alcoholic No Appellation $30.00, 94 points
Best Orange Wine
Côté Mas 2023 Orange Vin de France $15.99, 91 points
Best Petit Verdot
Rayson NV Petit Verdot Reserve North Carolina $50.00, 93 points
Best Petite Sirah
Tom Eddy 2019 Petite Sirah Russian River $75.00, 99 points
Best Pinot Grigio
Barefoot Cellars NV Pinot Grigio California $6.99, 91 points
Best Pinot Gris (tie)
Navarro Vineyards 2023 Pinot Gris Anderson Valley $26.00, 90 points
King Estate 2023 Artisan Series Pinot Gris Willamette Valley $20.00, 90 points
Best Pinot Noir
King Estate 2022 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley $29.00,95 points
Best Prosecco
Francis Ford Coppola Diamond Collection NV Prosecco Prosecco DOC $16.00, 90 points
Best Red Rhone Blend (tie)
Eberle 2022 Cotes-du-Robles Paso Robles $38.00, 91 points
Hecht & Bannier 2019 Syrah Grenache Carignan Languedoc AOC $15.99, 91 points
Masia de la Vinya Winery 2021 Orquestra Temecula Valley $54.00, 91 points
Best Riesling (tie)
Wakefield 2024 St Andrews Riesling Clare Valley $40.00, 93 points
Bischöflichen Weingüter Trier 2022 DOM Dry Riesling Mosel $23.00, 93 points
Best Rosé
Balverne 2023 Rosé of Pinot Noir Estate Grown Forever Wild Russian River Valley $24.00, 94 points
Best Sauvignon Blanc Stonewall 2023 Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough $23.99, 94 points
Best Shiraz
Wakefield 2021 St Andrews Shiraz Clare Valley $80.00, 91 points
Best Syrah (tie)
Eberle 2022 Syrah Estrella Clone Paso Robles $40.00, 92 points
Belle Fiore 2021 Syrah Rogue Valley $35.00, 92 points
Best Tempranillo
New Clairvaux Vineyard 2022 Tempranillo St. James Block Tehama County $28.00, 92 points
Best Vintage Brut
Aimee 2021 Bollicine Brut Napa Valley $38.00, 92 points
Best Viognier
New Clairvaux Vineyard 2023 Viognier St. James Block Tehama County $20.00, 96 points
Best White Rhone Blend
Eberle 2023 Cotes-du-Robles Blanc Paso Robles $34.00, 91 points
Best Wine-Based Spritzer (tie)
Barefoot Spritzer NV Pink Moscato – Can No Appellation $2.00, 90 points
Barefoot Spritzer NV Summer Red – Can No Appellation $2.00, 90 points
Best Zinfandel
Eberle 2022 Zinfandel Paso Robles $38.00, 95 points
DIRECTORS AWARDS – SPIRITS
Spirit of the Year
Pennsylvania Dutch
American Bourbon Cream Liqueur USA $16.99 Platinum 98 points
Distiller of the Year
Griffo Distillery
Petaluma, California USA
Best Vodka
Griffo Distillery
Vodka Batch No. 11 USA $24.00 Gold 93 points
Best Gin
Griffo Distillery
Scott Street Gin Batch No. 26 USA $32.00 Gold 92 points
Best Flavored Gin
Puerto de Indias
Strawberry Flavored Gin Spain $26.00 Gold 92 points
Best Tequila
Reserva Don Armando
Cristalino Tequila Añejo Mexico $54.99 Platinum 95 points
Best Whiskey
Uncle Nearest
1884 Small Batch Whiskey USA $49.00 Gold 93 points
Best Liqueur
Pennsylvania Dutch
American Bourbon Cream Liqueur USA $16.99 Platinum 98 points
Best Cocktail
Salt Point
Vodka Mule Canned Vodka Cocktail USA $16.99 Gold 93 points
Best Seltzer (tie)
High Noon
Vodka Seltzer Grapefruit USA $2.50 Gold 92 points
High Noon
Tequila Seltzer Grapefruit USA $2.75 Gold 92 points
Best Blanco Tequila
Cierto Tequila
Private Collection Blanco Mexico $79.00 Platinum 94 points
Best Reposado Tequila
Cierto Tequila
Private Collection Reposado Mexico $99.00 Gold 91 points
Best Añejo Tequila
Emyla Tequila
Añejo Mexico $129.99 Gold 93 points
Best Extra Añejo Tequila
Cierto Tequila
Private Collection Extra Añejo Mexico $189.00 Gold 93 points
Best Flavored Tequila
Sabrosa
Lavender Lime Tequila Mexico $30.95 Gold 91 points
Best American Whiskey
Uncle Nearest
1884 Small Batch Whiskey USA $49.00 Gold 93 points
Best Bourbon Whiskey
Weldon Mills Distillery
Weldon Mills Reserve Bourbon Whiskey Batch No: 42 USA $64.95 Gold 92 points
Best Coffee Liqueur
Griffo Distillery
Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur Batch No. 19 USA $32.00 Gold 93 points
Best Cream Liqueur
Pennsylvania Dutch
American Bourbon Cream Liqueur USA $16.99 Platinum 98 points
