This top honor is awarded to the wine that achieves the highest overall score based solely on quality, as determined by a panel of Master Sommeliers, wine directors, and on-premise buyers. The judging panel rigorously evaluates wines in a blind-tasting format, focusing on balance, complexity, typicity, and overall excellence in winemaking. The wine scored 96 points and a double gold medal at the 2025 Sommeliers Choice Awards.

The judges praised the wine’s finesse and layered complexity, noting:

“The 2022 vintage boasts lively citrus aromas, dominated by the refreshing scents of lemon and lime, complemented by subtle mineral tones and a hint of chalkiness. On the palate, layers of lemon meringue and confections add a touch of sweetness, perfectly balanced by the wine’s creamy texture. With each sip, subtle hints of nutmeg emerge, enhancing the wine’s medium body and leading to a satisfying, enduring finish that lingers on the palate, leaving a lasting impression of refinement and complexity.”

Produced by Domaine Serene Vineyards & Winery, a name synonymous with premium Oregon wine, the 2022 vintage reflects the winery’s continued commitment to crafting expressive, terroir-driven wines that perform brilliantly in top restaurants, luxury hotels, and fine dining establishments across the country.

One of the judges who is also a Master Sommelier described the wine as “Vanilla, lime, green apple — focused and intense on the palate, and after the restraint in the nose, more than expected. Elegant, finely balanced structure. Long.”

“Winning the Best Wine by Quality category is a testament to the craftsmanship behind this wine and the pedigree of the Dundee Hills,” said Sid Patel, CEO of Beverage Trade Network. “It’s a wine that sommeliers can pour with pride and guests will remember.”

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 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.