Two K Farms Cidery and Winery 2022 Bubbly Riesling Takes Top Honors
November 15, 2024 — Winners have been announced in the 2024 Harvest Challenge Wine Competition. After two spirited days of judging,Two K Farms Cidery and Winery 2022 Bubbly Riesling took the top prize. It was also awarded Best of Show Sparkling Wine. Coming in at 97 points, judges praised the wine for its “Mouth watering citrus and honeysuckle”; “Lingering tropical finish”; and “Perfect bubbles.” They also called it “Well balanced.”
With a record number of entries from across the globe, the Harvest Challenge bases judging on a group of vineyards (or even vines) from the same region, belonging to a specific appellation and sharing the same type of soil, weather conditions and grapes that combine to give personality to the wine.
In other competitions, terroir is ignored. At the Harvest Challenge, judges taste wines alongside other wines of the same appellation. With cross-regional competition removed, the inherent quality of wines can be seen without the influences that sometimes eclipse even a wine of very high quality.
Below is a list of Best of Show medals awarded at this year’s competition. Visit www.winecompetitions.com for more information.
2024 Harvest Challenge Wine Competition
Best of Show, Double Gold and Gold Medal Winners
Best of the Best, Best Sparkling Wine, Best of Leelanau Peninsula AVA
Two K Farms Cidery and Winery 2022 Bubbly Riesling (BOC, GG, 97 pts.)
Judges: “Mouth watering citrus and honeysuckle”; “Lingering tropical finish”; and “Perfect bubbles”; “Well balanced.”
Best Red Wine, Best of Atlas Peak AVA
Sea Bird 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Broken Rock Vineyard (BOC, GG, 98)
Judges: “Dark fruit, dark chocolate — cocoa powder”; “Spicy on the midpalate”; “Really well made wine from Atlas Peak”
Best White Wine
Miro Cellars 2023 Chardonnay (BOC, GG, 98)
Judges: “Gorgeous, blow-your-mind aromatics”; “Great interpretation of the variety”; “Long finish, layered texture”
Best Rosé Wine; Best of Anderson Valley AVA
Pennyroyal Farm 2023 Pinot Noir Rosé (BOC, GG, 96)
Judges: “Beautiful mouthfeel, varietally correct”; “Rainier cherry, raspberry Kool-Aid”; “Spicy with a long finish”
Best Sherry
San Sebastian Winery Cream Sherry NV (BOC, GG, 95)
Judges: “Nutty, smooth, silky”; “Ripe peach”
Best Port
San Sebastian Winery Ruby Port (BOC, GG, 96)
Judges: “Heavenly aromas”; “Rich blackberry jam”|
Best Fruit Wine
Barefoot Fruitscato Mango NV (BOC, GG, 96)
Judges: “Lovely”; “Wildly aromatic and tropical”
Best of Alexander Valley AVA
Miro Cellars 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon a CURE eSTATE (BOC, G, 92)
Judges: “Notes of berries and cocoa”; “The palate is refreshing, yet complex”; “Fresh, bright and very well integrated”
Best of Argentina
Alamos 2021 Red Blend (BOC, G, 93)
Judges: “Dark fruits with notes of spices and herbs”; “Rich finish”; “Well-structured with nice acidity”
Best of Australia
Wakefield Taylors Wines 2022 Masterstroke Shiraz (BOC, GG, 99)
Judges: “Classic, natural”; “Pepper and herbs”
Best of California AVA
New Clairvaux Vineyard 2021 Abbot’s Reserve Fr. Paul Mark (BOC, GG, 97)
Judges: “Fresh plum, nutmeg”; “Good mouthfeel”
Best of Calistoga AVA
Poggi Wines 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon (BOC, G, 93)
Judges: “Toasty, dark fruit”; “Nice interplay for a Cabernet-dominant blend”; “Nice amount of acid”
Best of Carneros AVA
Grand Scheme Wines 2023 Pinot Noir (BOC, GG, 97)
Judges: “Elegant”; “Purity, earthy”; “Cherry fruit”
Best of Central Coast AVA
Unshackled 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon (BOC, G, 92)
Judges: “Great personality”; “Good flow, good finish”
Best of Chalk Hill AVA
Mews 2021 Cabernet Franc (BOC, GG, 97)
Judges: “Classic, rich, juicy”; “Graphite”; “Savory aromas, ginger”
Best of Chile
Black Box Cabernet NV (BOC, GG, 95)
Judges: “Dark tannins, rustic spice”; “Lovely wild herb”; “Completely fine finish”
Best of Columbia Valley AVA
Penrose Hill 2023 Whale Light Chardonnay (BOC, G, 92)
Judges: “Big fruit”; “Straight fruit, peach”; “Nice balance with juicy finish”
Best of Delaware AVA
Nassau Valley Vineyards Meadow’s Edge White NV (BOC, GG, 95)
Judges: “Juicy, ripe, balanced”; “Tropical melons”
Best of Dry Creek Valley AVA
St. Anne’s Crossing 2022 Angelo Zinfandel (BOC, GG, 98)
Judges: “Classic Dry Creek Zinfandel”; “Brambleberry”
Best of France
Ch. Philippe Jacques & Co. 2023 White Blend (BOC, GG, 95)
Judges: “A beautiful wine.”
Best of Horse Heaven Hills AVA
Mercer Wine Estates 2023 Small Lot Sauvignon Blanc (BOC, G, 92)
Judges: “Clean”; “Green apple, lemon blossom”; “Elegant and rich in the finish”
Best of Italy
Ruffino 2023 Lumina Pinot Grigio (BOC, GG, 95)
Judges: “Lemon peel, green apple”; “Well balanced”; “Lemon verbena”
Best of Lake County AVA
R Vineyards 2023 Viognier (BOC, G, 94)
Judges: “Bright, expressive and lean”; “Notes of apricots”; “White pepper on finish”
Best of Livermore Valley AVA
McGrail Vineyards and Winery 2022 Colton’s Cabernet Sauvignon (BOC, GG, 98)
Judges: “Tart ripe blackberry”; “Violet, dark fruit”; “Lovely”; “Forest floor”
Best of Massachusetts AVA
Russell Orchards Farm and Winery Sweetheart Cider NV (BOC, G, 91)
Judges: “Juicy apple”; “Good acidity”
Best of Mendocino County AVA
Husch Vineyards 2022 Pinot Noir (BOC, GG, 98)
Judges: “A bundle of plum, blackberry, cranberry, cherry”; “Nice varietal aromas and concentrated flavors”; “Exactly what you want in a Mendo Pinot”
Best of Mendocino Ridge AVA
Woodenhead 2021 Chardonnay (BOC, GG, 98)
Judges: “Rich and complex wine”; “Apple, pear, stone fruit”; “Lasting finish”
Best of Mokelumne River AVA
Anarchist Wine Co. 2023 Rosé Against the Machine (BOC, GG, 96)
Judges: “Balanced brightness”; “Beautiful peaches”
Best of Monterey County AVA
Half Moon Bay Winery 2022 Coastal Monterey Fog White (BOC, GG, 95)
Judges: “Bright and apricot”; “Soft, easy drinking”
Best of Moon Mountain AVA
St. Francis Winery & Vineyards 2021 Moon Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon (BOC, G, 92)
Judges: “Violet, dark plum”; “Young and promising”; “Nice balance”
Best of Napa Valley AVA
Herzog Wine Cellars 2021 Special Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (BOC, G, 94)
Judges: “Dark fruit with lots of oak”; “Concentrated and well-constructed tannins”; “Perfect amount of acid”
Best of New Zealand AVA
Whitehaven 2023 Sauvignon Blanc (BOC, G, 94)
Judges: “Classic New Zealand style with notes of gooseberry, green apple, corniche and white pepper on the finish”
Best of North Carolina AVA
JOLO Winery & Vineyards Rayson Elevage Blanc White Blend NV (BOC, G, 93)
Judges: “Nice acid”; “Juicy citrus”; “Poached pears”
North Coast AVA
Herzog Wine Cellars Variations 2022 American Oak Cabernet Sauvignon (BOC, G, 94)
Judges: “Big round tannins and good mouthfeel”; “Black fruit”
Best of Oakville District AVA
Sea Bird 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon (BOC, G, 92)
Judges: “Great balance, long finish”; “Dark and concentrated”
Best of Ohio AVA
Hocking Hills Winery 2024 Pinot Grigio (BOC, GG, 95)
Judges: “Good intensity, nice varietal character”; “Very well made”; “Apricot notes”
Best of Rockpile AVA
Florence Vineyard 2022 Zinfandel (BOC, GG, 97)
Judges: “Mixed berry cobbler”; “Blackberry syrup”
Best of Rogue Valley AVA
Belle Fiore Winery 2021 Numinos (BOC, GG, 96)
Judges: “Black pepper, menthol, cross of red and black fruits”; “Soft tannins”; “Dark chocolate nibs”
Best of Russian River Valley AVA
Elaine Wines 2021 Pinot Noir (BOC, GG, 99)
Judges: “Elegance in a glass”;’ “Balanced, soft tannins”; “Pure and savory”
Best of Santa Cruz Mountains AVA
Perrucci Family Vineyard 2021 Sangiovese (BOC, GG, 97)
Judges: “Medium to full body”; “Loaded with red fruits”; “Sandalwood”
Best of Shawnee Hills AVA
Blue Sky Vineyard 2023 Vignoles (BOC, G, 94)
Judges: “Bright citrus”; “Ripe melon”; “Pleasing finish”
Best of Sonoma Coast AVA
St. Francis Winery & Vineyards 2022 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir (BOC, G, 94)
Judges: “Classic crowd pleaser”; “Big, bright and lavish”; “Notes of pomegranate, plum and cherry”
Best of Sonoma County AVA
St. Francis Winery & Vineyards 2022 Cuvee Lago Red Wine (BOC, GG, 96)
Judges: “Tight and tannic”; “Ripe lush fruit, dark cherry”; “Well-integrated tannins”
Best of Sonoma Valley AVA
St. Francis Winery & Vineyards 2020 Wild Oak Vineyard Petite Sirah (BOC, G, 92)
Judges: “Dark, rich, violet, blueberry and blackberry”; “Very well integrated, perfect balance”
Best of South Africa AVA
Wandering Cellars 2022 Old Vine Chenin Blanc (BOC, G, 92)
Judges: “Notes of melon and white peach”; “Bright and fresh”
Best of Tehama County AVA
New Clairvaux Vineyard Petite Temptation Lot 13 NV (BOC, G, 93)
Judges: “Dark, concentrated blackberry, plum, and spicy”; “Opulent and long finish”
Best of Texas AVA
Texas Heritage Vineyard 2020 Estate Tempranillo (BOC, G, 91)
Judges: “Well integrated”; “Good depth of tannins”
Best of Tokaji PDO Hungary
2017 Pannon Tokai Aszú 5 puttanyos (BOC, G, 94)
Judges: “Orchard fruit”; “Stone fruit, peach”; “Honeysuckle”
Best of Virginia AVA
Pearmund Cellars 2020 Petit Verdot Reserve (BOC, GG, 98)
Judges: “Rich, brilliantly balanced”; “Deep smooth tannins”
Best of Washington State AVA
Basalt Cellars 2020 Merlot (BOC, GG, 95)
Judges: “Toasty oak, bright acidity”; “Big”
Best of Yolo County AVA
Trecini Winery 20223 Rosé of Grenache(BOC, G, 90)
Judges: “Nose of a Strawberry patch”; “Wine pops mid-palate”; “Long and crisp finish”
Best of Yountville AVA
Goosecross Cellars 2021 Merlot (BOC, GG, 97)
Judges: “Dark plum”; “Juicy, long finish”; “Fruit-sweet finish”; “Nicely made”
