San Diego, Calif. (May 14, 2025) – The results are in for the 2025 Winemaker Challenge International Wine Competition, held April 11-12 in San Diego. Now in its 17th year, Winemaker Challenge is distinctive among wine competitions in that 100% of its judges are professional winemakers – experts who are uniquely qualified to evaluate the potential of wines from barrel to bottle to peak maturity, ensuring that the best rise to the top. This year’s winemaker judges met over two days in San Diego for a blind tasting of wines from across the globe, awarding over 550 medals and special recognition awards.
The top-scoring 2023 Eberle Winery Sangiovese from Paso Robles was named Wine of the Year (domestic) with a 98-point score, edging out its winery stable mate, the 2023 Eberle Côtes-du- Rôbles, by a single vote in a taste-off. Import Wine of the Year went to the 2024 Taylors Heritage Riesling from Clare Valley, adding to the growing legend of great Australian Riesling.
The competition’s fourth annual Winemaker of the Year award went to Chris Eberle of Eberle Winery in Paso Robles, located in California’s northern San Luis Obispo County. “While Chris isn’t related to winery owner and area pioneer Gary Eberle, it’s clear that Gary made a wise choice in selecting Chris to take over the day-to-day winemaking duties,” said Competition Director Rich Cook. Chris also led Eberle to the Winery of the Year prize with a great showing of wines from three vintages.
“To have your wines evidence top quality across the board in a blind judging by fellow winemakers is a true honor. We’re proud to recognize Chris’ talents as our Winemaker of the Year, which includes an invitation to serve as Chief Judge at the 2026 Winemaker Challenge,” said Cook.
Boisset Collection was named Wine Company of the Year, recognizing the family-owned collection of historic and unique wineries headed by Jean-Charles Boisset. Small Producer of the Year recognition went to Napa Valley’s Tom Eddy Winery.
For a complete list of award winners, go to WinemakerChallenge.com. A recap of the top awards follows.
Winemaker Challenge, founded in 2008, is part of the Challenge Series of international wine and spirits competitions founded by wine journalist Robert Whitley that includes San Diego International Wine & Spirits Challenge, Distillers Challenge International Spirits Competition, Critics Challenge International Wine & Spirits Competition, and Sommelier Challenge Wine & Spirits Competition.
Director’s Awards
Wine of the Year (Domestic)
Eberle 2023 Sangiovese Paso Robles $45.00
Platinum 98 points
Wine of the Year (Import)
Taylors Wines 2024 Heritage Riesling Clare Valley, Australia $28.00
Platinum 95 points
Winery of the Year
Eberle Winery Paso Robles, California
Winemaker of the Year
Chris Eberle
Eberle Winery, Paso Robles, California
Wine Company of the Year
Boisset Collection Napa Valley, California
Small Producer of the Year
Tom Eddy Winery Napa Valley, California
Best of Show Sparkling Wine
Domaine Carneros NV Brut Rose Cuvée de la Pompadour Carneros $47.00
Platinum 95 points
Best of Show White Wine
Navarro Vineyards 2024 Pinot Blanc Anderson Valley $21.00
Platinum 96 points
Best of Show Rosé Wine
Eberle 2024 Côtes-du-Rôbles Rosé Paso Robles $34.00
Gold 93 points
Best of Show Red Wine
Eberle 2023 Sangiovese Paso Robles $45.00
Platinum 98 points
Best of Show Dessert Wine
South Coast Winery 20 Year Old Tawny Estate Grown South Coast $49.99
Gold 93 points
Best Albariño
Agricola Farm Corp. 2024 Albariño La Noria Vineyard San Diego County $30.00
Gold 93 points
Best Barbera
Oak Farm Vineyards 2022 Barbera Estate Grown Lodi $40.00
Platinum 94 points
Best Bordeaux Style Blend
Gershon Bachus Vintners 2020 Dae Dia Meritage Temecula Valley $65.00
Gold 93 points
Best Boxed Wine
Bota Box NV Sauvignon Blanc Chile $22.99
Platinum 94 points
Best Cabernet Franc
Fallbrook Winery 33ºN 2021 Cabernet Franc Estate Grown Winemaker’s Vineyard Collection #18 South Coast $55.00
Platinum 94 points
Best Cabernet Sauvignon
Argonne Cellars 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Quintessence Vineyard Red Mountain $42.00
Platinum 97 points
Best Chardonnay
Black Stallion Estate Winery 2023 Chardonnay North Coast $20.00
Platinum 95 points
Best Fruit/Grape Blend
Barefoot Fruitscato NV Strawberry $6.99
Gold 93 points
Best Grenache Blanc
La Douleur Exquise 2022 GRB Pays d’Oc IGP France $27.00
Platinum 94 points
Best Hybrid Wine
JOLO Vineyards 2022 Pilot Fog North Carolina $99.00
Platinum 95 points
Best Malbec
Alamos 2021 Malbec Selección Mendoza Argentina $20.00
Platinum 95 points
Best Merlot
Rodney Strong Vineyards 2023 Merlot Sonoma County $23.00
Platinum 94 points
Best Muscat
Mia Marie 2024 Dry Muscat San Diego County $43.00
Gold 92 points
Best Orange Wine
Rumpelstiltskin 2023 Trousseau Gris Skin Fermented Russian River Valley $32.00
Platinum 94 points
Best Petit Verdot
ZD Wines 2023 Rosa Lee Petit Verdot Napa Valley $66.00
Platinum 94 points
Best Petite Sirah
Tom Eddy 2021 Petite Sirah Palisades Vineyard Napa Valley $110.00
Platinum 96 points
Best Pinot Blanc
Navarro Vineyards 2024 Pinot Blanc Anderson Valley $21.00
Platinum 96 points
Best Pinot Grigio
Barefoot Cellars NV Pinot Grigio California $6.99
Gold 91 points
Best Pinot Gris
King Estate 2023 Pinot Gris Willamette Valley $20.00
Gold 93 points
Best Pinot Noir
ZD Wines 2023 Pinot Noir Founder’s Reserve Carneros $93.00
Platinum 95 points
Best Port
South Coast Winery 20 Year Old Tawny Estate Grown South Coast $49.99
Gold 93 points
Best Prosecco
La Marca 2023 Prosecco Rosé Prosecco DOC $19.99
Platinum 94 points
Best Red Blend
Narmada Winery 2021 Melange Virginia $45.00
Gold 93 points
Best Red Rhone Blend
Eberle 2023 Côtes-du-Rôbles Paso Robles $36.00
Platinum 97 points
Best Riesling
Taylors Wines 2024 Heritage Riesling Clare Valley Australia $28.00
Platinum 95 points
Best Rosé
Eberle 2024 Côtes-du-Rôbles Rosé Paso Robles $34.00
Gold 93 points
Best Sangiovese
Eberle 2023 Sangiovese Paso Robles $45.00
Platinum 98 points
Best Sauvignon Blanc
Nobilo 2023 Silver Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough New Zealand $13.99
Gold 92 points
and
Whitehaven 2023 Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough New Zealand $20.00
Gold 92 points
Best Shiraz
First Principles 2022 Shiraz Clare Valley Australia $27.00
Platinum 94 points
Best Sparkling Rosé
Domaine Carneros NV Brut Rose Cuvée de la Pompadour Carneros $47.00
Platinum 95 points
Best Super Tuscan New World
Oak Farm Vineyards 2021 Raffaele (Red Blend) Estate Grown Lodi $40.00
Gold 92 points
Best Syrah
Calchas 2022 Syrah Columbia Valley $32.00
Gold 92 points
and
The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey 2022 Syrah American $38.00
Gold 92 points
Best Tannat
GCV 2021 The Individualist Texas Hill Country $74.00
Gold 92 points
Best Tempranillo
McPherson Cellars 2022 Tempranillo Moore Family Vineyards; Tokio Block Texas High Plains $46.00
Gold 90 points
Best Vermentino
Raffaldini 2024 Vermentino Superiore Swan Creek $28.00
Platinum 94 points
Best Vintage Brut
Carter Estate 2016 Brut Estate Grown Lot No. 0003 South Coast $46.99
Gold 93 points
Best Viognier
Grape Creek Vineyards 2022 Viognier Texas $39.00
Gold 93 points
Best White Rhone Blend
South Coast Winery 2024 GVR Estate Grown Temecula Valley $26.99
Platinum 95 points
Best Zinfandel
Eberle 2023 Zinfandel Paso Robles $40.00
Gold 93 points
and
Vienza at Europa Village 2020 Viaggiare California $59.00
Gold 93 points
For a complete list of award winners, go to WinemakerChallenge.com.
