Imagery Estate Winery’s Pallas Red Blend Takes Top Honors
June 23, 2025 — Earlier this month, the 2025 Sunset International Wine Competition awarded Best Red and Best of Show to a red blend from Imagery Estate Winery (Glen Ellen, Calif.). Judges raved: “Tasty, layered palate”; “rich middle”; “lush caramel”; “elegant.”
Pallas is a Bordeaux-style blend of estate-grown fruit: 46% Malbec, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Cabernet Franc, 9% Petit Verdot, and 1% Merlot. It’s Imagery’s flagship wine and, as such, is differentiated with a striking metallic screen-printing of the winery’s original logo sketch, created by Imagery’s first curator and local artist, Bob Nugent.
“As our flagship wine at Imagery, we’re absolutely thrilled and honored that the 2022 Pallas was awarded Best of the Best,” says Winemaker, Jamie Benziger. “All the fruit came from right in our front yard—our estate vineyard and Sunny Slope in Sonoma Valley—two spots that grow incredible Bordeaux varietals. That makes this win even more special, because it really was a full team effort from start to finish. Huge thanks to the judges for recognizing the 2022 Pallas—it means a lot to all of us here at Imagery.”
“We had some really great wines in the final sweepstakes, and the voting rounds were often too close to call,” says Debra Del Fiorentino of the win. Del Fiorentino, founder and president of Wine Competitions Management & Productions, which owns the competition (Sunset is the naming sponsor), continues, “Imagery winemaker Jamie Benziger has created a beautiful and charismatic wine. And the other top-flight winners made the contest really close. Results like this are why competitions are so valuable.”
In the final sweepstakes round for Best Of Show, the Imagery Pallas marched to victory over the Best White (Brockmeyer Family Cellars 2024 Albariño), Best Sparkling (2019 Domaine Carneros Ultra Brut), Best Rosé (Folded Hills 2024 Lilly Rosé) and Best Dessert (Jack Poust & Company Presidential 20 Year Old Tawny Post NV) contenders. See below for more details.
Revived in 2017 after a decade-long hiatus, the Sunset International Wine Competition is designed to attract all wineries interested in reaching the Western wine drinker and is juried by the best judges in the industry, who understand and appreciate the Western palate and lifestyle. Judges include winemakers, sommeliers, retail buyers, wine educators and journalists.
“We’re lucky to be living in the golden era of wine, with more varietals and excellent bottlings than ever to choose from. Which is why the Sunset International Wine Competition is such an important and exciting annual event: it celebrates the best wines and wineries in the world and helps consumers find the right bottles to suit their taste,” says Hugh Garvey, editor-in-chief at Sunset Publishing. “We heartily congratulate this year’s winners!”
Winning producers will be featured in the October release of a Wine Special nonprint, digital edition with supporting microsite. Promotions for the Wine Award Special Issue will be placed in sunset.com, Sunset eNewsletters and Sunset social sites. The edition will be promoted and available for 12 months or until the 2026 Wine Competition Awards winners are announced.
To see all winners, visit sunsetcompetitions.com/sunset-international-wine-competition/.
About Sunset
Sunset shares the best of life in the West―from travel and food to home and garden―with an audience of more than 6 million. Sunset showcases the region’s unique lifestyle and noteworthy destinations, inspiring readers to achieve the dream of living in the West. Sunset.com is the West’s essential guide to all the best things about the region: easy outdoor living and gardening, unexpected day trips and destinations, fast and fresh foods, shockingly perfect wine pairings, and innovative home decorating and design. www.sunset.com
About Wine Competitions Management & Production (WCMP)
WCMP owns and operates a variety of competitions including Sunset International Wine Competition, West Coast Wine Competition, International Eastern Wine Competition, East Meets West, International Women’s Wine & Spirits Competition, Harvest Challenge, the Craft Distillers Spirits Competition, Press Democrat North Coast Wine Challenge, and Experience Rosé. www.winecompetitions.com
