January 5, 2025 (Rutherford, CA) — At the Best Wine of the World Competition, organized by Tastingbook, DANA Estates achieved extraordinary recognition in what is widely considered one of the most demanding blind-tasting evaluations in the global wine industry. More than 5,000 white wines and over 11,000 red wines from leading regions worldwide were assessed through Tastingbook’s rigorous, producer-agnostic methodology. From this exceptional field, only 16 white wines and 30 red wines were ultimately selected.
DANA Estates is proud to announce that the 2019 Hershey Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc was ranked #2 in the world, placing immediately after Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Montrachet. To be evaluated alongside one of the world’s most storied white wines—under identical, uncompromising criteria—marks a deeply meaningful achievement for the entire DANA Estates team. The wine also earned a higher score than Screaming Eagle Sauvignon Blanc, often regarded as Napa Valley’s most elusive and iconic white wine.
Adding to this distinction, the 2022 Lotus Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon was named among the Best Red Wines of BWW 2025, joining an elite group of only 30 wines chosen from more than 11,000 entries worldwide. This recognition reinforces the estate’s ongoing commitment to precision farming, meticulous craftsmanship, and the expressive potential of Napa Valley’s hillside terroirs.
Tastingbook remains one of the world’s leading independent international wine evaluation platforms. The BWW Awards represent its highest level of distinction—an honor granted solely on the basis of blind-tasted quality, without consideration for producer reputation, scarcity, or price.
“Our goal has always been to craft wines of precision and purity that speak clearly of their sites,” said Jae Chun, President of DANA Estates. “To see both our Hershey Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc and our Lotus Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon recognized at this level—alongside many of the world’s most admired benchmarks—is an affirmation of the work we commit to every vintage.”
Full reviews for both wines are available upon request.
About DANA Estates
Founded in 2005 and nestled at the base of the Mayacamas Mountains in Napa Valley, DANA Estates is dedicated to crafting world-class wines through meticulous vineyard management, organic farming practices, and a philosophy of precision and restraint in the cellar. The estate encompasses three distinguished estate vineyards: Helms Vineyard in Rutherford AVA, Lotus Vineyard in Crystal Springs AVA, and Hershey Vineyard in Howell Mountain AVA. DANA’s limited-production wines are celebrated for their purity, elegance, and expression of site, and the estate is widely regarded as one of Napa Valley’s modern benchmarks for excellence. Director of Winemaking Maura Johnson oversees production across all of DANA’s estate vineyards, guiding each wine with a sustainability-driven, minimalist approach and a precise reflection of terroir.
