Winners at the 2021 Sommeliers Choice Awards Announced

08/06/2021 Sommeliers Choice Awards announces the best wines of 2021.

The Sommeliers Choice Awards does things differently from the majority of the wine competitions out there. Not only do they award medals to those wines that show great quality, but they also take into consideration four other factors, namely, food pairing ability, typicity, value, and packaging. The main reason behind this is to set a benchmark for wine buyers across on-premise establishments and focus on those parameters that drinkers consider before choosing a wine.

This year’s Sommeliers Choice Awards saw entries from nearly 30 countries, covering 142 different types of varietals. The highest number of entries this year came from the USA, followed by Italy, Spain, and then Australia. The Sommeliers Choice Awards, for the first time, also saw entries from countries like Japan, Ireland, and Serbia.

Just like every year, the wines were judged based on five parameters: Quality, Food Pairing Ability, Typicity, Value, and Packaging. The judging process is specifically curated with these parameters, keeping in mind that this is the same criteria professional wine buyers use to decide which wines go on their own lists in their restaurants, bars, or retail shelves.

2021 Sommeliers Choice Awards Judges having breakfast at the in-person event

The 2021 judging panel comprised some of the best Sommeliers, Master Sommeliers, Wine Buyers, Masters of Wine, and other industry experts. This year, the competition prides itself on having 20 Master Sommeliers under one roof, judging and tasting wines.

Some of the names that graced this year’s judging panel are Maximilian Kast MS (Master Sommelier and Director of Education at Broadbent Selections Inc); Sean Widger (Wine Director at Alexanders Steakhouse, San Francisco); Cami Lehmann (Purchasing, Wine Programs and Marketing at Maggiano’s Little Italy, Carrollton, TX); Sahar Gharai (Wine Buyer, and Sommelier at La Dolce Vita Wine Lounge) and many more.

2021 Results

The 2021 results are out and reflect the best wines from around the world. Amongst the 142 grape varietals, the most popular ones were Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, and Shiraz.

The overall winning wine came from the USA, scoring a total of 97 points and a Double Gold Medal. The title of Wine of the Year was awarded to Chateau Ste. Michelle’s 2019 Eroica Riesling, which is produced in collaboration with famed Mosel winemaker Ernst Loosen. Paying homage to the wines of Washington, the Eroica Riesling also took home the titles of ‘White Wine of the Year’, ‘Best in Show by Country’, and ‘Best in Show by Varietal’.