July 9, 2025 (San Diego, CA) — The 22nd annual Critics Challenge International Wine & Spirits Competition is in the books, with plenty of winners to celebrate. The competition, which took place June 21-22 in San Diego, saw high-quality wines and spirits continue to find their way to the top in this blind judging. It’s always worth noting what passes muster at this particular competition, where the judges are all wine and spirits journalists (the “Critics”) with a worldwide view of the marketplace.
Critics Challenge was founded by the late wine critic Robert Whitley, and the top honor in the Wine Division is named in his memory. This year’s winner of the Robert Whitley Trophy for Wine of the Year is La Capilla 2020 Vendimia Seleccionada from Spain’s Ribera del Duero region. Achieving a 99-point score, this $53 wine surpassed some serious competition. Chief Wine Judge Michael Franz wrote in his comments about the wine, “…it shows formidable physical concentration and very deep, penetrating and persistent flavors …this is a great wine – a term I use very reservedly.”
Taking Domestic Wine of the Year honors is Napa Valley’s Miguel Caratachea 2021 Cabernet
Sauvignon “Venerable Vines” – a wine of true elegance that earned a 98-point score. Oregon’s King Estate was named Winery of the Year (domestic), while Australia’s Dandelion Vineyards nabbed Import Winery of the Year.
The Spirits judges gave top honors to a spirit that could turn just about anyone into a Cognac fanatic. The Delamain Cognac Pléiade Domaine La Rambaudie XO Cask No. 767-04 claimed Spirit of the Year accolades and a 97-point score (retail $250). Tennessee’s Nearest Green earned Distiller of the Year honors with an array of whiskeys built for sipping pleasure.
A recap of top awards follows. For a complete list of results, go to www.CriticsChallenge.com
Critics Challenge International Wine & Spirits Competition, founded in 2003, is one of the most prestigious wine and spirits competitions in the world. The blind tasting is judged entirely by noted wine and spirits journalists. Gold and Platinum winners receive publishable comments from the individual critic that awarded the medal, and Platinum winners are reviewed in WineReviewOnline.com or SpiritsReviewOnline.com. Critics Challenge is part of the Challenge Series of international wine and spirits competitions founded by Robert Whitley that includes the San Diego International Wine & Spirits Challenge (formerly San Diego Wine Competition), Winemaker Challenge, Distillers Challenge, and Sommelier Challenge.
DIRECTORS AWARDS – WINE
The Robert Whitley Trophy
Wine of the Year
Finca La Capilla 2020 Vendimia Seleccionada Ribera del Duero DO $52.99
Platinum 99 points
Wine of the Year, Domestic
Miguel Caratachea 2021 Venerable Vines Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley $295.00
Platinum 98 points
Winery of the Year, Domestic
King Estate Eugene, Oregon
Winery of the Year, Import
Dandelion Vineyards McLaren Vale, Australia
Small Producer of the Year
Navarro Vineyards Mendocino County, California
Importer of the Year
Vineyard Brands Birmingham, Alabama
+ + +
Best of Show Sparkling Wine
Gloria Ferrer 2015 Royal Cuvée Carneros $40.00
Platinum 95 points
Best of Show White Wine
Dandelion Vineyards 2024 Wonderland of the Eden Valley Riesling Eden Valley $60.00
Platinum 96 points
Best of Show Rosé Wine
Navarro Vineyards 2024 Rosé of Pinot Noir Anderson Valley $27.00
Platinum 94 points
and
King Estate 2024 Rosé of Pinot Noir Willamette Valley $20.00
Platinum 94 points
Best of Show Red Wine
Finca La Capilla 2020 Vendimia Seleccionada Ribera del Duero DO $52.99
Platinum 99 points
Best of Show Dessert Wine
Wölffer Estate Vineyard 2022 Diosa Long Island $37.00
Platinum 95 points
+ + +
Best Albariño
Cougar Crest Estate Winery 2023 Albariño Estate Grown Walla Walla Valley $28.00
Gold 90 points
and
Invention Vineyards 2023 Imaginada Texas $39.00
Gold 90 points
Best Barbera
Bella Luna Estate Winery 2022 Barbera Bailey Ranch Vineyard Paso Robles; Adelaida District $50.00
Gold 93 points
Best Blended Red Rhone Varieties
Eberle 2023 Cotes-du-Robles Paso Robles $36.00
Gold 91 points
and
Dandelion Vineyards 2023 Menagerie of the Barossa Grenache Shiraz Mataro Barossa Valley $30.00
Gold 91 points
Best Bordeaux Style Blend
J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines 2022 Cuvée ST. E Paso Robles $50.00
Platinum 95 points
Best Boxed Wine
Bota Box NV Sauvignon Blanc Chile $22.99
Gold 91 points
Best Cabernet Franc
Cerebella 2019 Cabernet Franc Columbia Valley $40.00
Platinum 95 points
Best Cabernet Sauvignon
Miguel Caratachea 2021 Venerable Vines Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley $295.00
Platinum 98 points
Best Chardonnay
Ledson 2023 Chardonnay Mélange Baldocchi Vineyard Russian River Valley $48.00
Platinum 95 points
Best Fruit/Grape Blend
Barefoot Fruitscato NV Pear $6.99
Gold 92 points
Best Grenache
Reustle Prayer Rock Vineyards 2023 Grenache Estate Selection Umpqua Valley $39.00
Platinum 94 points
Best Gruner Veltliner
Navarro Vineyards 2024 Grüner Veltliner Anderson Valley $26.00
Gold 93 points
Best Hybrid Wine
Rayson 2024 Vidal Blanc North Carolina $29.00
Gold 91 points
Best Malbec
Alamos 2022 Selección Malbec Mendoza $20.00
Platinum 94 points
Best Merlot
Raymond Vineyards 2022 Reserve Selection Merlot Napa Valley $39.99
Platinum 94 points
Best Muscat, Dry
Navarro Vineyards 2024 Muscat Blanc; Estate Bottled Dry Anderson Valley $26.00
Platinum 94 points
Best Muscat, Sweet
Eberle 2024 Muscat Canelli Eberle Estate Vineyard Paso Robles $25.00
Platinum 94 points
Best Petit Verdot
ZD Wines 2023 Rosa Lee Petit Verdot Napa Valley $66.00
Platinum 95 points
Best Petite Sirah
J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines 2022 Tower Road Petite Sirah Paso Robles $35.00
Platinum 94 points
Best Pinot Grigio
Jacob’s Creek 2024 Classic Pinot Grigio Australia $12.00
Platinum 94 points
and
Barefoot Cellars NV Pink Pinot Grigio California $6.99
Platinum 94 points
Best Pinot Gris
Navarro Vineyards 2024 Pinot Gris Anderson Valley $26.00
Platinum 95 points
and
King Estate 2023 Domaine Pinot Gris Estate Grown Willamette Valley $40.00
Platinum 95 points
Best Pinot Noir
ZD Wines 2023 Pinot Noir Founder’s Reserve Carneros $93.00
Platinum 97 points
Best Port
Falkner Winery 2023 Port Central Coast $50.00
Gold 91 points
Best Red Blend
Heirloom Vineyards 2024 Anevo Fortress Grenache Touriga Tempranillo McLaren Vale $80.00
Gold 93 points
Best Riesling
Dandelion Vineyards 2024 Wonderland of the Eden Valley Riesling Eden Valley $60.00
Platinum 96 points
Best Rosé
Navarro Vineyards 2024 Rosé of Pinot Noir Anderson Valley $27.00
Platinum 94 points
and
King Estate 2024 Rosé of Pinot Noir Willamette Valley $20.00
Platinum 94 points
Best Sangiovese
Shumacher Wines 2023 Sangiovese Van Lobo Sel Vineyard Sonoma Valley $90.00
Platinum 96 points
Best Sauvignon Blanc
Dandelion Vineyards 2025 Wishing Clock of the Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc Adelaide Hills $28.00
Platinum 94 points
Best Shiraz
Heirloom Vineyards 2023 Shiraz Barossa $40.00
Platinum 96 points
Best Spanish Wine
Finca La Capilla 2020 Vendimia Seleccionada Ribera del Duero DO $52.99
Platinum 99 points
Best Sparkling Brut Vintage
Gloria Ferrer 2015 Gloria Ferrer Royal Cuvée Carneros $40.00
Platinum 95 points
Best Sparkling Rosé
Martini NV Sparkling Rosé Italy $14.99
Gold 93 points
Best Super Tuscan Style
Grape Creek Vineyards 2022 Bellissimo Texas $58.82
Platinum 94 points
Best Syrah
Heath Vineyards 2021 Syrah Paso Robles; Willow Creek District $95.00
Platinum 95 points
Best Tempranillo
Coyote Canyon 2022 Tempranillo Coyote Canyon Vineyard Horse Heaven Hills $42.00
Gold 92 points
Best Viognier
J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines 2024 Gesture Viognier Limited Release Paso Robles; Adelaida District $35.00
Gold 93 points
Best Zinfandel
Eberle 2023 Zinfandel Paso Robles $40.00
Platinum 94 points
DIRECTORS AWARDS – SPIRITS
Spirit of the Year
Delamain Cognac Pléiade Domaine La Rambaudie XO Cask Nº 767-04 France $250.00
Platinum 97 points
Distiller of the Year
Nearest Green
Shelbyville, Tennessee
+ + +
Best Vodka
Vodka 57 Pure Swiss Glacier Vodka Switzerland $50.00
Gold 93 points
Best Tequila
Familia Camarena Tequila Silver Mexico $24.99
Platinum 94 points
Best Rum
BACARDÍ Reserva Ocho Rum 2023 Sevilla Orange Cask Finish Puerto Rico $39.99
Platinum 95 points
Best Cognac
Delamain Cognac Pléiade Domaine La Rambaudie XO Cask Nº 767-04 France $250.00
Platinum 97 points
Best American Single Malt
Stranahan’s Diamond Peak Single Malt Whiskey 2024 Caribbean Rum Cask, Batch No 003 USA $79.99
Platinum 94 points
Best Whiskey under 50% ABV
Nearest Green Tennessee Whiskey USA $29.99
Platinum 94 points
Best Whiskey over 50% ABV
Uncle Nearest Master Blend Edition Blend No. 032 USA $149.00
Platinum 94 points
Best Liqueur
Bacan Guaro 29% Aguardiente Columbia $49.00
Gold 92 points
Best Seltzer
Sabrosa Grapefruit Blood Orange Lime Tequila Sparkling Water USA $8.00
Gold 92 points
