"Of over 5,500 wines from North America in the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, the winners of all the top categories were from California, a first in my years of judging. Now in its 26th year the competition, held at the Citrus Fair in Cloverdale, is run by Bob and Cary Fraser and their children, Scott Fraser and Alexandra Fraser Alvarez."
"We chose the Piper Sonoma NV Brut ($23) from Sonoma County as Best Sparkling from a field of five finalists, and picked the 2025 Lewis Grace Rosé ($26) from El Dorado County as Best Rosé from a field of seven Best of Class winners. In the Specialty Category, which included two dessert wines, a cream sherry from Stone Hill Winery in Missouri ($29.99),"
"There were 16 panels of judges who narrowed down the entry pool to 56 contenders in the final Sweepstakes round held Friday, Jan. 16. The prospect of judging 56 red blends under $20 is scary, and perhaps even more so the task of evaluating 40-plus cabs over $75, which tend to be a double whammy of new oak and enough tannin to sink a battleship."
More than 5,500 North American wines entered the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, now in its 26th year at the Citrus Fair in Cloverdale and run by Bob and Cary Fraser and their children. Sixteen panels of judges reduced entries to 56 finalists for the final Sweepstakes round. California entries won every top category. Best Sparkling was the Piper Sonoma NV Brut; Best Rosé was the 2025 Lewis Grace Rosé; the Specialty prize went to a Late Harvest Gewurztraminer from Castello d'Amarosa sourced from Anderson Valley. Best White was a 2025 New Clairveaux Viognier; Best Red was a 2022 Syrah from Pianetta Winery. Notable whites included a 2023 Greenhill Vineyards Petit Manseng from Virginia.
Read at The Mercury News
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