Sommeliers Choice Awards, organized by the Beverage Trade Network, is one of the leading wine competitions in the USA. The competition aims to provide on-premise buyers and sommeliers a valuable benchmark for understanding which wines would make a compelling addition to a wine list. The judging panel at the competition is one of a kind, composed of some of the top Award-Winning Sommeliers, Master Sommeliers, On-Premise Wine Buyers, and Wine Directors at U.S. restaurants, bars, pubs, and clubs.

A winner at the Sommeliers Choice Awards is decided based on the following judging formula and is awarded a score out of 100:

F (Food Parability Score) + T (Typicity Score) + Q (Quality Score) + Value Score (V) + Package Score (P) = Sommeliers Choice Awards Final Score

A wine scored 96 points and above is awarded Double Gold, 90-95 points get Gold, 80-89 points get Silver, and 70-79 points get Bronze award.

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Scott Barber, Master Sommelier, National Sales at Green Pin Wines; Jacob Brown, Head Sommelier at Lazy Bear, SF; Paul Carayas, Wine Director at Chez TJ, San Mateo; Ira Harmon MS Master Sommelier and Fine Wine Specialist at Vin Sauvage, Las Vegas; Steven Izzo, Wine Director at The Vault Garden & Steakhouse; Cami Lehmann, Purchasing, Wine Programs and Marketing at Maggiano’s Little Italy, Carrollton, TX, Liz Martinez, Food and Wine Magazine Somm of the Year 2019; Tom Markakis, Hospitality Manager & Estate Sommelier at Folio Fine Wine Partners; Michael Smith, Sommelier at Quince; Marc R. Kauffman, Noted Celebrity Sommelier, CS, CSW; Michael Mighetto Hoefling, Service Manager & Sommelier at Spruce SF, are just a few of the highly regarded names who featured on the judging panel.

Top Winners at the 2022 Sommeliers Choice Awards:

2022 Sommeliers Choice Awards’ Winner ‘Ehlers Estate 1886 Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, United States’ by Ehlers Estate. 

Wine of the Year: Ehlers Estate 1886

White Wine of the Year: Grand Ardeche Chardonnay 2019 

Red Wine of the Year: Ehlers Estate 1886 

Sparkling Wine of the Year: Marchese Manodori 

Rose Wine of the Year: Pure The Winery Sparkling Rose NV

Wine of the Year - BTG (By The Glass): Grand Cru Syrah ASV

White Wine of the Year - BTG (By The Glass): Ducado De Hoja Blanco 2020

Red Wine of the Year - BTG (By The Glass): Grand Cru Syrah ASV

Sparkling Wine of the Year - BTG (By The Glass): Torbato Spumante Brut

Rose Wine of the Year - BTG (By The Glass): Baron De Ley Rosado Lagrima

Best Wines by Country Award Winners:

United States: Ehlers Estate 1886

France: Grand Ardeche Chardonnay 2019

Australia: Beresford Grand Reserve Shiraz

Italy: Marchese Manodori

Spain: Carlos San Pedro Perez De Viñaspre 2016

Argentina: Kaiken Ultra Malbec 2019

Portugal: Monte Cascas Colheita Douro DOC White 2020

Brazil: Salton Brut Rosé

Moldova: Ice Wine Traminer - Muscat Ottonel 2016

South Africa: Candide

Best Wines by Varietal Winners:

Cabernet Sauvignon: Ehlers Estate 1886, United States

Chardonnay: Grand Ardeche Chardonnay 2019, France 

Shiraz: Beresford Grand Reserve Shiraz, Australia 

Malbec: Kaiken Ultra Malbec 2019, Argentina 

Merlot: Merlot, Trefethen Family Vineyards, United States 

Pinot noir: Pinot Noir Anderson Valley, United States 

Tempranillo: Sara Rivera Tempranillo 2018, Spain

Riesling: Terragena Wiley Vineyard Riesling, United States

Sauvignon blanc: Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc 2017, Moldova

The full list of medal winners can be viewed on the Sommeliers Choice Awards website.

Beverage Trade Network (BTN) is a global media and B2B networking platform servicing suppliers, buyers, and beverage professionals in the global beverage industry. BTN also owns BevRoute, a magazine for Importers and Distributors, and runs a lineup of trade shows around the world which includes USA Trade Tasting in New York, IBWSS USA in San Francisco in the USA. Beverage Trade Network also owns and runs the London Wine Competition, London Beer Competition, London Spirits Competition, and USA Wine Ratings.