The 2025 Sommeliers Choice Awards has named the 2024 Cape Bleue Rosé from Rhone, France as the Best Wine for On-Premise, recognizing it as the standout wine across all categories for bars, restaurants, hotels, and hospitality venues.

The wine also won the Wine Of The Year By The Glass top score.

Crafted with elegance and versatility in mind, Cape Bleue Rosé impressed a judging panel made up of Master Sommeliers, top sommeliers, and on-premise buyers from across the country. The wine scored exceptionally high for its food-friendliness, by-the-glass appeal, price-to-quality ratio, and ability to enhance a wide variety of hospitality settings — from upscale dining rooms to trendy rooftop lounges.

"As per the judges, this elegant wine shines as a top winner — pale pink in hue with fresh florals, thyme, and pomegranate on the nose. The palate is juicy and vibrant, bursting with red berry fruit and finishing with impeccable balance and refreshing finesse. A standout choice for any wine list."

“Cape Bleue Rosé captured exactly what our judges look for — balance, versatility, and broad guest appeal,” said Sid Patel, CEO of Beverage Trade Network. “It’s a wine that sommeliers can confidently recommend and venues can proudly serve.”

This accolade positions Cape Bleue Rosé as a go-to choice for wine programs seeking a rosé that is not only refreshing and beautifully crafted but also tailored to meet the demands of the modern on-premise environment.

Image: Jean-Luc Colombo.

Jean-Luc Colombo is a man of passion, energy, and human warmth. From his mother, a cook from Marseille, he had an early taste for the pleasures of the table which would help him to become an outstanding cook. This naturally led him to the study of enology, to learn the secrets of wine and its natural accompaniments with the dishes of his childhood. Known worldwide for his wines, Jean-Luc is also renowned, for his friendliness, generosity, and sense of hospitality. He fiercely defends the identity and richness of the French gastronomic heritage.

Complementing this success is the announcement that González Byass USA will assume the role of official Importer of Record for the prestigious Jean-Luc Colombo portfolio starting February 1, 2025. Founded in 1994 by Jean-Luc and Anne Colombo, Jean-Luc Colombo Wines are celebrated for their innovative approach to winemaking and dedication to sustainable viticulture. 

Their portfolio features exceptional Syrah-based wines from Cornas, alongside iconic Rhône Valley appellations such as Crozes-Hermitage, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Condrieu, Saint-Péray, Saint-Joseph, and Picpoul de Pinet. This partnership marks a significant milestone for González Byass USA as it expands its portfolio of world-class wines, reinforcing its commitment to providing premium selections for on-premise venues nationwide.

Image: Rhône Valley.

Together, Cape Bleue Rosé and Jean-Luc Colombo Wines exemplify the rich diversity and exceptional quality of Rhône Valley wines that continue to captivate sommeliers and hospitality professionals alike. As the demand for terroir-driven and consumer-friendly wines grows, these brands are perfectly positioned to meet the needs of dynamic on-premise wine programs across the United States.

Judges for 2025 included top sommeliers, on-premise buyers, and master sommeliers. View all judges here.

Key Highlights from the 2025 Competition:

- Master Sommeliers and top on-premise buyers served as judges, bringing unmatched expertise and insight into what today’s hospitality venues need.

- Winning wines include a dynamic mix of by-the-glass-friendly options, premium pours, and high-value bottles that support both profitability and guest satisfaction.

- An increase in sustainable, organic, and low-intervention wines signals evolving preferences across top-tier beverage programs.

- Approximately 1,500 wines were submitted to the 2025 Sommeliers Choice Awards. The United States led the way with 557 entries, followed by France, with Italy, - Australia and Spain rounding out the list of top participating countries.

- The top varietals were chardonnay, pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon, sauvignon blanc, and shiraz. The competition saw growth in white wines.

- The competition also saw Austria and Germany in the top 10 countries that participate for the first time once again showing the growth of White wines in the USA and in on-premise markets.

Whether you're designing a seasonal wine list for a fine-dining restaurant, curating pairings for a hotel tasting menu, or building out a by-the-glass selection for a vibrant bar, the 2025 award winners offer a vetted, high-performing portfolio to work from.

Here are the top winners:

Special Awards	Product Name	Country	Vintage	Production Region
Wine Of The Year	JLC Rose Cape Bleue	France	2024	Rhone
Best Wine By Quality	2022 Domaine Serene 'Evenstad Reserve' Chardonnay	United States	2022	Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills
Best Wine By Package	Hecht & Bannier Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence Organic	France	2023	Languedoc AOC
Best Wine By Value	Stoneleigh Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc	New Zealand	2024	Marlborough
Wine Of The Year By The Glass	JLC Rose Cape Bleue	France	2024	Rhone
Winery Of The Year	Anhydrous Icon	Greece	2022	Santorini, Greece PDO
Chardonnay Of The Year	Larry Hyde Chardonnay	United States	2021	Los Carneros (Napa)
Cabernet Sauvignon Of The Year	Mérite Cabernet Sauvignon	Australia	2020	Limestone Coast
Pinot Noir Of The Year	2021 Estate Reserve "select cluster" Pinot Noir	United States	2021	Adelaida District
Sauvignon Blanc Of The Year	Stoneleigh Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc	New Zealand	2024	Marlborough
Merlot Of The Year	Desiderio	Italy	2021	Tuscany
Sangiovese Of The Year	Il Campanile	Italy	2021	Umbria IGT
Shiraz Of The Year	Hare's Chase	Australia	2021	Australia, Barossa Valley
Tempranillo Of The Year	Veguin De Murua Gran Reserva	Spain	2016	Rioja DOCa
Riesling Of The Year	Riesling trocken	Germany	2023	Nahe
Malbec Of The Year	Notre Vue Malbec	United States	2021	Chalk Hill
Non-Alcoholic Of The Year	Pierre Chavin Zero Spritz	France	Non-Vintage	France
White Wine Producer Of The Year	Anhydrous Icon	Greece	2022	Santorini, Greece PDO
Sparkling Wine Producer Of The Year	Blanc de Noirs 2015	France	2015	France
Red Wine Producer Of The Year	Hare's Chase	Australia	2021	Australia, Barossa Valley
Wine Of The Year Brazil	Salton Prosecco Rosé	Brazil	Non-Vintage	Sierra Gaúcha
Wine Of The Year Greece	Anhydrous Icon	Greece	2022	Santorini, Greece PDO
Wine Of The Year Portugal	Herdade Paço do Conde Reserva Antão Vaz	Portugal	2023	Alentejano VRAlentejo DOC
Wine Of The Year South Africa	Aslina Chardonnay	South Africa	2023	Stellenbosch
Wine Of The Year Italy	Il Campanile	Italy	2021	Umbria IGT
Wine Of The Year Australia	Mérite Cabernet Sauvignon	Australia	2020	Limestone Coast
Wine Of The Year Spain	Veguin De Murua Gran Reserva	Spain	2016	Rioja DOCa
Wine Of The Year Chile	Schwaderer Riesling	Chile	2022	Maule Valley
Wine Of The Year Germany	Pinot Noir Wormsberg GG	Germany	2017	Baden
Wine Of The Year Austria	Grüner Veltliner Gottschelle Erste Lage	Austria	2023	Kremstal DAC
Wine Of The Year New Zealand	Stoneleigh Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc	New Zealand	2024	Marlborough
Wine Of The Year Romania	Syrah Reserve	Romania	2019	DOC Dealu Mare
Wine Of The Year France	JLC Rose Cape Bleue	France	2024	Rhone
Wine Of The Year United States Of America	Larry Hyde Chardonnay	United States	2021	Los Carneros (Napa)

View all results here.

About the Sommeliers Choice Awards

Jonathan Ross MS, Master Sommelier, judging at the 2025 Sommeliers Choice Awards, which took place in Chicago on May 19, 2025

Organized by Beverage Trade Network, the Sommeliers Choice Awards is a premier competition judged exclusively by professionals from the on-premise sector, including Master Sommeliers, wine directors, and beverage managers. It is the only wine competition focused solely on what works for hospitality venues, making it an invaluable resource for trade professionals worldwide.