San Diego, Calif. (February 25, 2025) — The 43rd Annual San Diego International Wine & Spirits Challenge, held January 25-26 at The Westgate Hotel, was once again a celebration of the best the beverage world has to offer. Chief Wine Judge Michael Franz, editor of WineReviewOnline.com, and Chief Spirits Judge Maurice diMarino, beverage director of the Cohn Restaurant Group, led 18 judges through the two-day blind tasting to award 680 medals.
Making history this year was the Domestic Winery of the Year prize going to a San Diego County producer – the first time in the 43-year history of the competition. Monserate Vineyards & Winery, based in Fallbrook, wowed the judges with its lineup of wines focused on Italian varieties.
“While several wineries in the county have an Italian variety focus,” says Competition Director Rich Cook, “the wines from Monserate clearly strive to mimic their European counterparts in a way that I’ve not seen before in the region.”
Wine of the Year (domestic) went to Sonoma Valley’s Ledson for their 2021 Cepage Estate Vineyard (97 points, $110) red blend. Wine of the Year (import) award was taken by Wakefield’s 2022 St. Andrews Shiraz (96 points, $80) from Clare Valley, Australia, scoring big atop a list of remarkable Wakefield entries.
Wine Company of the Year honors went to Trinchero Family Wines, showing off their value-
driven lineup. Pernod-Ricard Winemakers landed the Import Company of the Year accolade with their worldwide portfolio.
On the spirits front, Garrison Brothers of Texas took Brown Spirit of the Year award for their
latest release of “Guadalupe” Bourbon Whiskey (97 points, $129.99)– a bold high-proof affair
finished in port casks. And score one for one of the world’s most consumed alcoholic beverages – Baijiu – with the Tashi Baijiu (95 points, $65) winning the White Spirit of the Year award.
The Distillery of the Year honor was nabbed by Larado Whiskey (formerly Lasso) for a fine set of Colorado Rye and Wheat whiskies. Other top performers include a fine high-proof Blanco Tequila from Alto Canto and a spot-on Rye from Nevada’s Minden Mill.
Alta Canto was also recognized in the package design category, winning Best of Show: Package Design for its Tequila Blanco.
San Diego International Wine & Spirits Challenge (founded in 1982 as the San Diego National Wine Competition) is one of the most respected wine and spirits competitions in the U.S. The competition enlists the talents of winemakers, sommeliers, wine and spirits buyers, and other industry professionals on its judging panels and attracts entries from across the globe. The competition joins the Challenge Series of international wine and spirits competitions founded by wine journalist Robert Whitley that includes Winemaker Challenge, Distillers Challenge, Critics Challenge, and Sommelier Challenge.
For a complete list of award winners, go to SanDiegoWineChallenge.com.
A recap of the top awards follows:
DIRECTORS AWARDS – WINE
Wine of the Year, Domestic
Ledson 2021 Cepage Estate Vineyard Sonoma Valley $110.00
Platinum 97 points
Wine of the Year, Import
Wakefield 2022 St Andrews Shiraz, Clare Valley, Australia $80.00
Platinum 96 points
Winery of the Year, Domestic
Monserate Vineyards & Winery
San Diego County, California
Winery of the Year, Import
Wakefield/Taylors Wines
Clare Valley, Australia
Wine Company of the Year
Trinchero Family Estates
Napa, California
Import Company of the Year
Pernod-Ricard Winemakers
Worldwide
Best of Show Sparkling Wine
King Estate 2019 Brut Cuvée Estate Grown Willamette Valley $40.00
Platinum 95 points
Best of Show White Wines – tie
Dutcher Crossing 2021 Chardonnay Stuhlmuller Vineyard Alexander Valley $45.00
Platinum 95 points
Navarro Vineyards 2023 Pinot Gris Anderson Valley $26.00
Platinum 95 points
Whitehaven 2023 Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough, New Zealand $20.00
Platinum 95 points
Best of Show Rosé Wine
Miramonte Winery 2022 Rosé Temecula Valley $27.00
Gold 91 points
Best of Show Red Wine
Ledson 2021 Cepage Estate Vineyard Sonoma Valley $110.00
Platinum 97 points
Best of Show Dessert Wine
Rancho de Philo NV Triple Cream Sherry Cucamonga Valley $59.95
Platinum 96 points
See the full list of award winners at:
www.SanDiegoWineChallenge.com
