June 17, 2026 (Pennsylvania) — American wine made history at the 2026 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA), with the United States posting its best-ever performance at the world’s largest and most prestigious wine competition. Leading the charge for Pennsylvania was Benigna’s Creek Vineyard & Winery, which secured a Gold Medal for its Chambourcin, 2024 — bringing Gold home to the Keystone State for the second consecutive year and cementing the winery’s reputation on the global stage.
Now in its 23rd edition, the DWWA evaluated nearly 17,000 wines from 58 countries, assessed by 245 leading international experts including 63 Masters of Wine and 24 Master Sommeliers. The United States collected its highest-ever top-tier medal haul, winning two Best in Show, five Platinum and 32 Gold medals — with 466 total medals, nearly double the country’s previous highest tally. It was a banner year for American wine from coast to coast, with California and Oregon earning Best in Show honors, Texas securing its first-ever Gold medals, and Virginia and Pennsylvania continuing to build on their growing international reputations.
For Benigna’s Creek, the 2026 competition yielded two medals: a Gold (95 points) for its Chambourcin, 2024 and a Bronze (88 points) for its Traminette, 2025 — the very wine that made history in 2023 when Benigna’s Creek became the first Pennsylvania winery ever to medal at the DWWA. This year’s Gold for the Chambourcin marks the second year in a row father-son winemaking team from Benigna’s Creek Winery has brought Gold back to Pennsylvania, following their Gold for the Traminette in 2025.
The DWWA judges praised Benigna’s Creek’s Chambourcin for:
“Jammy desiccated blackberry, cherry and raspberry fruit tinged with liquorice and black pepper. Softly structured with supple tannins and a sweet herbal lift on the finish.”
The Traminette, earning Bronze in its third appearance at the competition, was described by judges as:
“Vibrant juicy pineapple and dried apricot aromas on the nose. Bright acidity on the palate.”
This accomplishment continues the legacy of a father-son duo at Benigna’s Creek: 26-year-old Jake Masser, an emerging figure in French-American hybrid winemaking, working in close collaboration with his father, Mike Masser, whose more than 25 years of viticultural expertise have been foundational to the winery’s enduring excellence.
“All glory belongs to God — He gets the credit for every bottle, every medal, every blessing this winery has received. When we see what American wine accomplished at the DWWA this year, and that Benigna’s Creek is part of that story two years running, it’s truly humbling. Pennsylvania wine belongs on the world’s table, and we’re going to keep working every day to prove it.”
Mike Masser, President, Benigna’s Creek Vineyard & Winery
Benigna’s Creek’s achievement was recognized across multiple major outlets covering the 2026 DWWA results, including Decanter’s official U.S. press release and CNN Travel, both of which named the winery among America’s top performers.
About Benigna’s Creek Vineyard & Winery
Founded in 1999, Benigna’s Creek Vineyard & Winery is a family-owned and operated winery located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. With a focus on sustainable farming practices and meticulous winemaking techniques, Benigna’s Creek produces a range of exceptional wines that showcase the unique terroir of Pennsylvania.
About Decanter World Wine Awards
Decanter is the world’s leading wine media brand with a total monthly reach in excess of 2 million via its print, digital, and social channels. It has a unique place in the global wine market, offering authoritative tastings and highly knowledgeable expert contributors through its high-quality monthly print magazine and online content. Decanter was launched in 1975, making it one of the publishing world’s enduring success stories.
