The Top Red White Wine Medalists at the 2022 San Francisco International White Wine Competitors
Picture courtesy, Katelyn Tucker Photography/Tasting Alliance
The San Francisco International Red Wine Competition (SFIWC) is one of the world’s most important wine competitions.
Founded in 1980, the SFIWC is now in its 42nd year. It is the earliest American wine competition and amongst the most distinguished.
The competition is sponsored by the Tasting Alliance (TA), the moms and dad organization of the similarly prominent San Francisco World Spirits Competition, the New York City World Wine Competition, the New York City World Spirits Competitors, and the Singapore World Spirits Competition. This year TA revealed the addition of new competitions covering beer and RTD cocktails.
This year more than 30 judges collected in San Francisco from November 9 – 12 to examine and score approximately 3,000 wines from around the globe. Approximately 65% of the wines were from The United States and Canada, and the balance was from around the globe.
Below are the leading winners and the official tasting notes of the top-ranked red wines. See this link for the outcomes and tasting notes for the top-ranked gewurztraminers.
The Best in Program Red Wine, which likewise took leading honors as Best Grenache, was V. Sattui Winery 2020 Grenache, Napa Valley, California. At a sticker price of $39, it’s also an incredible deal.
The main SFIWC tasting note described it as:
Vibrant red fruits with a touch of mocha, some spice, and a little bit of white pepper on the nose. A medium-bodied red wine with a significant however well-ripened tannic backbone, brisk acidity, and a long, sticking around red fruit finish.
The leading ranked increased red wines from the 2022 San Francisco International Red Wine Competition
Photo, courtesy, Katelyn Tucker Photography/Tasting Alliance
The Best Overall Rosé, along with Best Rosé Blend, was Becker Vineyards 2021 Rosé, Provençal (Dry Rosé), Texas, U.S.A., $25. This year’s competition saw a considerable increase in the variety of entries from Texas. Lots of ranked among the competitors’s top-scoring wines.
The Judging Panel explained the rosé as showing:
Floral fragrances with distinctive rose petal notes on the nose, accompanied by minerality and a hint of savoriness. The palate has notable red fruit and a long, appetizing, fruity surface.
The Very Best Cabernet Sauvignon was Herzog Special Reserve 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley, U.S.A., $48. The evaluating panel described it as showing:
Aromatic and floral, with ripe dark fruit notes and a hint of cassis on the nose. The red wine is rich and fruity on the palate, with ripe tannins, moderate level of acidity, and a long, bright, fruity surface.
In Cabernet Shiraz mixes, the top-scoring red wine was Jip Jip Rocks 2021 Cabernet/Shiraz, South Australia, Padthaway, Australia, $16. An amazing deal considering that this wine can sometimes be discovered for around $10 a bottle. The official SFIWC tasting note described it as:
Rich dark fruit and earth notes, with spicy scents of cinnamon and a tip of nutmeg on the nose. A full-bodied white wine that includes a ripe tannic backbone, moderate + level of acidity, and a long finish.
The Very Best Premium Bordeaux Blend > >$25, was J. Lohr 2018 Premium Bordeaux Blend, Cuvée St. E, Paso Robles, U.S.A., $50. The judges explained it as:
Dark fruit with a tip of prune and mouthwatering spices on the nose. Somewhat jammy and full-bodied on the palate, with ripe tannins, moderate+ acidity, and a long, fruity finish.
The Very Best Premium Non-Bordeaux Blend >>$25 was the Gianelli Vineyards 2019 Red Blend, Nino, Tuolumne, U.S.A., $32. The official SFIWC tasting note explained it as:
Red fruit with unique strawberry notes. It’s dynamic on the palate, a little drying, with ripe tannins, vigorous level of acidity, and a long, juicy, ripe red fruit surface.
The Very Best Bordeaux Blend <