Livermore Valley Uncorked Wine Competition
2023 14th Annual Livermore Valley Uncorked
Congratulations to all the award-winning wineries!!
Thank you all for joining us on April 27th for the 14th annual UNCORKED celebration to taste all of our best-of-class wines. Please find a list of those wines as well as all of the other incredible wines that earned medals this year.
Best in Show
Garré Vineyard & Winery 2019 Sangiovese
Gold Medal – 96 Points
| Best White Las Positas Vineyards 2022 Albariño Gold – 94 Points | Best Rosé Las Positas Vineyards 2022 Garnacha Rosado Gold – 92 Points | Best Red Garré Vineyard & Winery 2019 Sangiovese Gold – 96 Points |
Best of Class Wines
Best Sauvignon Blanc: Almost Famous Wine Company 2022 Pistachio Lane Sauvignon Blanc, Gold – 93 Points BUY
Best Chardonnay: Garré Vineyard & Winery 2022 Chardonnay, Gold – 91 Points BUY
Best Spanish White: Las Positas Vineyards 2022 Albariño, Gold – 94 Points BUY
Best Other White: Wine Without Borders 2021 Grüner Veltliner, Gold – 91 Points BUY
Best Rosé: Las Positas Vineyards 2022 Garnacha Rosado, Gold – 92 Points BUY
Best Zinfandel/Primitivo: Wine Without Borders 2021 Primitivo, Silver – 94 Points BUY
Best Other Red: Garré Vineyard & Winery 2019 Sangiovese, Gold – 96 Points BUY
Best Merlot: Darcie Kent Estate Winery 2019 Ghost Vines, Gold – 92 Points BUY
Best Bordeaux Blend: Cellar 13 Winery 2019 Aliheliga, Gold – 94 Points BUY
Best Red Blend: Del Valle Winery 2020 Rosso Delight, Gold – 96 Points BUY
Best Cabernet Franc: Del Valle Winery 2019 Cabernet Franc, Gold – 94 Points BUY
Best Cabernet Sauvignon ($45 and under): Garré Vineyard & Winery 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Gold – 91 Points BUY
Best Cabernet Sauvignon (over $45): The Steven Kent Winery 2019 Single Vineyard Series Cabernet Sauvignon, Gold BUY
Best Petite Sirah: Concannon Vineyard 2019 Reserve Petite Sirah, Captain Joe’s, Gold – 94 Points BUY
Livermore Valley UNCORKED Medal Winners by Category:
Download a complete list of winners here
Sauvignon Blanc
2021 McGrail Vineyards and Winery Peyton Paige Sauvignon Blanc, Silver BUY
2021 Concannon Vineyard Reserve Sauvignon Blanc, Silver BUY
2022 Darcie Kent Estate Winery Sauvignon Blanc, Silver BUY
2022 Almost Famous Wine Company Pistachio Lane Sauvignon Blanc, Gold – 93 Points BUY
2022 Cuda Ridge Wines Sauvignon Blanc, Silver BUY
Chardonnay
2020 Fenestra Winery Chardonnay, Bronze BUY
2021 Wood Family Vineyards “Para Mas Amigas” Chardonnay, Silver BUY
2021 Pruett Farms Burgundian, Silver BUY
2021 McGrail Vineyards and Winery Charlie Rae Chardonnay, Silver BUY
2021 Darcie Kent Estate Winery Chardonnay, Silver BUY
2021 Pruett Farms UnOaked, Bronze BUY
2022 Garré Vineyard & Winery Chardonnay, Gold – 91 Points BUY
Spanish White Wines
2020 Occasio Winery Malvasia Bianca Sparkling, Silver BUY
2022 Las Positas Vineyards Albariño, Gold – 94 Points BUY
2022 Wine Without Borders Albariño, Silver BUY
2022 Las Positas Vineyards Verdelho, Silver BUY
Other White Wines
2022 Fenestra Winery True White, Silver BUY
2022 3 Steves Winery Three Blondes, Silver BUY
2022 The Steven Kent Winery L’Autre Côte Cabernet Franc Blanc, Silver BUY
2021 Murrieta’s Well The Whip, Silver BUY
2021 Wine Without Borders Grüner Veltliner, Gold – 91 Points BUY
Rosé
2022 Wood Family Vineyards “Pink Pearl” Rosé Wine of Grenache, Silver BUY
2022 Darcie Kent Estate Winery Victories Rosé, Bronze BUY
2022 Las Positas Vineyards Garnacha Rosado, Gold – 92 Points BUY
2022 Las Positas Vineyards Tempranillo Rosado, Bronze BUY
2022 Wine Without Borders Rosé of Grenache, Bronze BUY
Zinfandel or Primitivo
2019 Garré Vineyard & Winery Primitivo, Silver BUY
2020 Wood Family Vineyards “Big Wood” Zinfandel, Silver BUY
2021 Wine Without Borders Primitivo, Silver – 94 Points BUY
Other Red Varietals (at least 75%)
2021 Darcie Kent Estate Winery Noir Pinot Noir, Silver BUY
2019 Garré Vineyard & Winery Sangiovese, Gold – 96 Points BUY
2019 Del Valle Winery Grenache, Silver BUY
2018 Fenestra Winery Infrared, Bronze BUY
2018 Leisure Street Winery DRV Syrah, Bronze BUY
2020 Cuda Ridge Wines Petit Verdot, Silver BUY
2019 Occasio Winery Touriga Nacional, Silver BUY
Merlot
2019 Darcie Kent Estate Winery Ghost Vines, Gold – 92 Points BUY
2019 Wente Vineyards Nth Degree, Silver BUY
2020 Cuda Ridge Wines Merlot, Gold BUY
Bordeaux Blends
2018 Fenestra Winery Conjugation, Silver BUY
2019 Garré Vineyard & Winery Profound Secret, Silver BUY
2019 Cellar 13 Winery Aliheliga, Gold – 94 Points BUY
2019 Las Positas Vineyards Meritage, Silver BUY
2019 Cellar 13 Winery Tsogodu, Silver BUY
Red Blends
2016 Bent Creek Winery Red on Red, Bronze BUY
2019 Del Valle Winey Luna Del Valle, Silver BUY
2019 Occasio Winery Occasio Telos, Bronze BUY
2019 Wente Vineyards Artiest Series Sonata, Bronze BUY
2020 Murrieta’s Well Zarzuela, Silver BUY
2020 Del Valle Winery Rosso Delight, Gold – 96 Points BUY
2020 Wente Vineyards Artiest Series Duetto, Silver BUY
Cabernet Franc
2018 Occasio Winery Cabernet Franc, Silver BUY
2019 Del Valle Winery Cabernet Franc, Gold – 94 Points BUY
2020 Las Positas Vineyards Cabernet Franc, Silver BUY
2020 Murrieta’s Well Cabernet Franc, Silver BUY
Cabernet Sauvignon ($45 or under)
2018 Rubino Estates Winery Riserva Cabernet Sauvignon, Bronze BUY
2019 Arroyo Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Silver BUY
2019 Garré Vineyard & Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, Gold – 91 Points BUY
2019 Cellar 13 Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, Silver BUY
2019 3 Steves Winery Cab’n Fever, Silver BUY
2020 Firepit Cabernet Sauvignon, Bronze BUY
2020 Almost Famous Wine Company Loyal to the Soil Cabernet Sauvignon, Bronze BUY
Cabernet Sauvignon (over $45)
2018 Concannon Vineyard Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec, Silver BUY
2018 Concannon Vineyard Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Petite Sirah, Silver BUY
2019 Wood Family Vineyards “Clone 30” Cabernet Sauvignon, Silver BUY
2019 Darcie Kent Estate Winery Clone 30, Silver BUY
2019 Concannon Vineyard Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Mother Vine, Silver BUY
2019 The Steven Kent Winery Single Vineyard Series Cabernet Sauvignon, Gold BUY
Petite Sirah
2017 Concannon Vineyard Reserve Petite Sirah, Silver BUY
2018 Ruby Hill Winery Jewel Collection Series Petite Sirah, Estate Reserve, Silver BUY
2019 Leisure Street Winery Petite Sirah, Bronze BUY
2019 Concannon Vineyard Reserve Petite Sirah, Captain Joe’s, Gold – 94 Points BUY
2020 Wood Family Vineyards Petite Sirah, Silver BUY
To download a complete list of UNCORKED medal winners: click here
2022 13th Annual Livermore Valley Uncorked
Best of Show and Best Red goes to Nottingham Cellars’ Micro Lot Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon garnering an impressive 93 points and a unanimous Double Gold rating from our esteemed judges BUY
Best Rosé was awarded to 2021 Almost Famous Winery’s refreshing “Wine Without Borders” Rosé with 91 points and a Double Gold rating BUY
Best White went Darcie Kent’s 2021 Sauvignon Blanc with 92 points and a Double Gold rating. BUY
Best in Class Winners
Other Dry White: 2021 Darcie Kent Estate Winery, Sauvignon Blanc (Double Gold) BUY
Chardonnay: 2020 Wood Family Vineyards, Para Mas Amigas (Gold) BUY
Rosé: 2021 Almost Famous Wine Company, Wine Without Borders (Double Gold) BUY
Cabernet Sauvignon ($40 or Less): 2018 Almost Famous Wine Company, Dog Day (Double Gold)
Cabernet Sauvignon (Above $40): 2017 Nottingham Cellars, Micro Lot Reserve (Double Gold) BUY
Cabernet Franc: 2019 Wood Family Vineyards, Cabernet Franc (Double Gold) BUY
Merlot: 2019 Wood Family Vineyards, One Oak Vineyard (Gold) BUY
Petite Sirah: 2019 Concannon Vineyard, Reserve Petite Sirah Nina’s Cuvee (Double Gold) BUY
Bordeaux Blends: 2018 Almost Famous Wine Company, Choregraphy (Double Gold) BUY
Other Single Varietal Bordeaux: 2019 Cuda Ridge Wines, Petit Verdot (Double Gold) BUY
Primitivo/Zinfandel: 2019 Darcie Kent Estate Winery, Field Blend Zin (Double Gold)
Other Reds: 2019 Las Positas Vineyards, Syrah (Double Gold)
Medal Winning Wines
OTHER DRY WHITE
2021 Almost Famous Wine Company, Pistachio Lane (Gold) BUY
2021 Garré Vineyard & Winery, Pinot Grigio (Gold)
2021 Almost Famous Wine Company, Pistachio Lane (Silver) BUY
2019 Concannon Vineyard, Reserve Semillon (Silver) BUY
2021 Nella Terra Cellars, Viognier (Silver) BUY
2021 Wood Family Vineyards, Albariño (Silver) BUY
CHARDONNAY
2019 Arroyo Cellars, Chardonnay (Gold) BUY
2019 Darcie Kent Estate Winery, Chardonnay (Gold) BUY
2020 Las Positas Vineyards, Estate Chardonnay (Silver) BUY
ROSÉ
2021 Garré Vineyard & Winery, Rosato di Sangiovese (Gold)
2021 Wood Family Vineyards, Pink Pearl (Gold) BUY
2021 Occasio Winery, Occasio Rosé (Silver) BUY
2020 McGrail Vineyards and Winery, Kylie Ryan Rosé (Bronze) BUY
CABERNET SAUVIGNON ($40 OR LESS)
2018 Rubino Estates Winery, Riserva Cabernet Sauvignon (Gold) BUY
2019 Wood Family Vineyards, Viva (Gold) BUY
2019 Almost Famous Wine Company, Firepit (Silver)
2019 Cuda Ridge Wines, Cabernet Sauvignon (Silver) BUY
2018 Occasio Winery, Cabernet Sauvignon (Silver) BUY
CABERNET SAUVIGNON (ABOVE $40)
2018 Concannon Vineyard, Clone 7 Cabernet Sauvignon (Double Gold) BUY
2018 Darcie Kent Estate Winery, Clone 30 (Double Gold) BUY
2017 McGrail Vineyards and Winery, A Jó Elét “The Good Life” (Double Gold) BUY
2018 The Lineage Collection, “The Premier” by Steven Kent Mirassou (Double Gold) BUY
2018 BoaVentura de Caires Winery, Maroon Label (Silver) BUY
2017 Big White House Winery & John Evan Cellars, The Blind Pig (Bronze) BUY
CABERNET FRANC
2019 Darcie Kent Estate Winery, Stone Patch (Double Gold)
2019 Cuda Ridge Wines, Cabernet Franc (Gold) BUY
2018 Occasion Winery, Cabernet Franc (Silver)
MERLOT
2019 Las Positas Vineyards, Merlot (Silver)
2019 Arroyo Cellars, Merlot (Bronze) BUY
2019 Cuda Ridge Wines, Merlot (Bronze) BUY
2019 Darcie Kent Estate Winery, Old Vines (Bronze)
PETITE SIRAH
2018 Concannon Vineyard, Reserve Petite Sirah (Double Gold) BUY
2018 Darcie Kent Estate Winery, Ghost Vines (Double Gold) BUY
2019 Arroyo Cellars, Petite Sirah (Gold) BUY
2017 Ruby Hill Winery, Jewel Collection Petite Sirah, Estate Reserve (Gold) BUY
2018 Nottingham Cellars, Micro Lot Reserve (Silver)
BORDEAUX BLENDS
2019 Wood Family Vineyards, The Captain (Double Gold) BUY
2019 Almost Famous Wine Company, Firepit (Gold) BUY
2019 Big White House Winery & John Evan Cellars, Chateau Marion (Gold) BUY
2018 Concannon Vineyard, Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Red Blend (Gold) BUY
2018 Occasion Winery, Telso (Silver) BUY
2018 Cellar 13 Winery, Tsogadu (Bronze)
OTHER SINGLE VARIETAL BORDEAUX
2019 Big White House Winery & John Evan Cellars, Malbec (Double Gold)
2019 Darcie Kent Estate Winery, Petit Verdot (Double Gold) BUY
2019 Wood Family Vineyards, Petit Verdot (Gold) BUY
PRIMITIVO/ZINFANDEL
2019 Wood Family Vineyards, Big Wood Zin (Double Gold) BUY
2019 Ruby Hill Winery, Jewel Collection Zinfandel (Gold)
2018 Garré Vineyard & Winery, Primitivo (Silver)
2019 Arroyo Cellars, Zinfandel (Bronze)
OTHER REDS
2018 Garré Vineyard & Winery, Sangiovese (Double Gold)
2019 Las Positas Vineyards, Tempranillo (Double Gold) BUY
2019 Concannon Vineyard, Reserve Stampmakers GSM (Gold) BUY
2018 Garré Vineyard & Winery, Syrah (Gold)
2019 Big White House Winery & John Evan Cellars, Syrah (Silver) BUY
2019 Las Positas Vineyards, Reserve Barbera (Silver)
2019 Las Positas Vineyards, LVVC (Vintners Collective Red Blend) (Silver)
2019 Nottingham Cellars, Casa de Viñas – Select Blocks (Gold) BUY
2021 12th Annual Livermore Valley Uncorked
Below are the medal winners of the 2021 competition: Download Full List of Medal Winners Here
Best in Class Winners
Best Other Dry White: 2020 Malvasia Bianca, Occasio Winery (Double Gold, 96 Points) BUY
Best Chardonnay ($30 and under): 2019 Chardonnay, Cellar 13 (Gold, 91 Points) BUY
Best Chardonnay (over $30): 2019 Chardonnay, Occasio Winery (Gold, 93 Points) BUY
Best Rosé: 2020 Rosé of Grenache “Pink Pearl”, Wood Family Vineyards (Double Gold, 93 Points) BUY
Best Merlot: 2018 Page Mill Winery, Merlot (Double Gold, 93 Points) BUY
Best Rhone Blend: 2017 Fenestra Winery, Infrared (Syrah, Mourvèdre, Grenache) (Double Gold, 94 Points)
Best Bordeaux Blend: 2018 Wood Family Vineyards, “The Captain” (Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon) (Double Gold, 95 Points) BUY
Best Other Red Varietal (at least 75%): 2018 Cuda Ridge Wines, Petit Verdot (Double Gold, 92 Points) BUY
Best Cabernet Franc: 2018 The Steven Kent Winery, L’autre Côte Cabernet Franc (Double Gold, 93 Points)
Best Cabernet Sauvignon ($40 and under): 2018 Darcie Kent Vineyards, Tesla Neighbors Cabernet Sauvignon (Double Gold, 92 Points) BUY
Best Cabernet Sauvignon (over $40): 2018 Nella Terra Cellars, Cabernet Sauvignon (Double Gold, 95 Points) BUY
Best Petite Sirah: 2018 Concannon Vineyard, Nina’s Cuvée Petite Sirah, Reserve Collection (Double Gold, 95 Points) BUY
Download Full List of Medal Winners Here
2020 11th Annual Livermore Valley Uncorked
The 11th Annual Uncorked Competition may have been a little different but continued the trend of ever more impressive selections coming out of our Livermore wineries. Although we could not have an in person celebration, each winning winemaker was recognized at an informal zoom award ceremony. It was amazing to witness the resiliency and care shown throughout the wine-making community. We are so proud to support an amazing community. Together, we will come back even stronger.
Initial screening of the wines submitted occurred in March, prior to the pandemic, and was judged over three days by many of the region’s winemakers. From the original 123 submissions, 69 went on to the final round, where they were judged blind by three wine writers, Jim Gordon of Wine Enthusiast, Laura Ness of Spirited and Wine Industry Advisor, and Fred Swan of NorCal Wines.
Best Red and Best in Show went to the statuesque 2016 Ruby Hill Petite Sirah, Reserve Collection. Fittingly, Petite Sirah is a varietal long associated with the Livermore winegrowing region and was first varietally bottled by 3rd generation vintner, Jim Concannon, in 1963. BUY
Best Dry White: 2018 Concannon Vineyards Assemblage Blanc (Sauvignon Blanc & Semillon) (Double Gold) BUY
Best Chardonnay ($30 and under): 2018 Wood Family Para Mas Amigas (Double Gold) BUY
Best White and Best Chardonnay (over $30): 2018 Darcie Kent Vineyards Pistachio Lane Chardonnay (Gold) BUY
Best Rosé: 2019 Occasio Winery Rosé of Grenache (Double Gold) BUY
Best Italian/Spanish Varietal: 2017 Rodrigue Molyneaux Sangiovese
Best Other Red: 2017 Crooked Vine Petit Verdot
Best Merlot: 2015 McGrail Vineyard & Winery Merlot BUY
Best Red Blend: 2017 Wood Family “The Captain” (Merlot and Cabernet Franc) BUY
Best Cabernet Franc: 2016 Occasio Winery Cabernet Franc (Double Gold)
Best Cabernet Sauvignon ($40 and under): 2016 Entropy Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon BUY
Best Cabernet Sauvignon (over $40): 2016 Murrieta’s Well Small Lot Cabernet (Double Gold) BUY
Best Petite Sirah: 2016 Ruby Hill Petite Sirah, Reserve Collection (Double Gold) BUY
Best Of Show pitted all three Best of winners against one another, with the 2016 Ruby Hill Reserve Collection Petite Sirah besting the lot for its embodiment of both the varietal and the region. BUY
View all medal winners for 2020: click here
Congratulations to all the wineries who participated, to all the winning winemakers, and to all those who gave their time and talents to put on this competition during a challenging era. Special thanks go to Georgie Saucedo of the TVC, whose tireless behind-the-scenes efforts made this possible.
Here are a few ways you can still enjoy your local wine region:
- Ship your favorite wines to yourself and your friends
- Join a wine club
- Follow a winery on social media
- Participate in SIP at-home events
- Subscribe to a winery mailing list
- Grab a bottle and do a virtual wine tasting
- Check out the UNCORKED shopping lists of our competition’s favorite wines
For questions, please contact Event Program Manager Georgie Saucedo by email or at (925) 449-8706.
2020 Medal Round Judges: Jim Gordon, Laura Ness, Fred Swan. See the Judges’ bios here.
Looking for the Livermore Valley Uncorked Celebration Event? Click here!
2019 10th Annual Livermore Valley Uncorked
The 10th Annual Uncorked Celebration included 12 varietal categories. The sold-out crowd of wine lovers were able to sample the best of the best Livermore Valley AVA-grown wines. This public event held on Thursday, April 4th showcased all the medal-winning wines from 60 wineries. Livermore City Manager Marc Roberts was our charismatic MC for the event. Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty enthusiastically announced our winners. They were a dynamic duo! The VIP Winemaker Lounge was all the rage and included a private reception where guests were the first the sample the winning wines one hour prior to the general public. This reception also included butler-passed hors d’ oeuvres and mingling with the winemakers. Later, VIP guests enjoyed a private inter-active Banana Fosters dessert station paired with their winemaker host’s favorite wines. Yum!
Las Positas Vineyards Verdelho 2018 took home Best in Show, along with Best in Class for “Other Dry White”. Best Rose went to Garre Vineyard and Winery with Rosato di Sangiovese 2018. Best Red went to Stony Ridge Trifecta 2016 under the “Red Blend” category. For a complete list of all the award-winning wines, click here.
Our huge thanks to all of the winegrowers and winemakers who showcased the quality of what our region’s viticulture heritage and savvy land preservation strategies can produce. A delicious win-win for all! Our enormous gratitude to each of the judges and volunteers who made this event possible!
To see the best wines in each category, please check our complimentary Wine Shopping List here.
For questions, please call us at (925) 449-8706.
Looking for the Livermore Valley Uncorked Celebration? Click here!
2018 Livermore Valley Uncorked
The ninth year of the wine competition boasted 12 revamped varietal categories that attracted more than 100 Livermore Valley wines vying to be the best of the best. The competition was tougher than ever before with space for only 60 wines to move on to the medal round and qualify for your unlimited wine-tasting pleasure at the public Livermore Valley Uncorked celebration held on Thursday, April 12th at the Palm Event Center.
On the night of the celebration, the best of the categories were announced by Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty to the crowd of wine enthusiasts and winemakers alike eager to hear the top winners. The newest Best category, Best Rosé, was added just last year when it took the competition by storm, winning Best in Show. This year, a new rosé won the honor of Best Rosé as the judges’ palates determined McGrail Vineyards’ Kylie Ryan Rosé 2017 was the top entry. DePorted 2012 by BoaVentura de Caires Winery was awarded the distinction of the Best Sweet Wine. The title of Best White went to the Best Other Dry White varietal, Longevity’s Pinot Blanc 2017. All of the Tri-Valley’s medal-winning wines are fantastic. Yes, we may be a little biased. However, this year, one wine garnered four medals and three titles. The Best Cabernet Franc, Best Red, and Best in Show was Wood Family Vineyards’ Cabernet Franc 2015.
Our huge thanks to all of the winegrowers and winemakers who showcased the quality of what our region’s viticulture heritage and savvy land preservation strategies can produce. A delicious win-win for all! Our enormous gratitude to each of the judges and volunteers who made this event possible!
To see the best wines of each category, please check our complimentary Wine Shopping List here.
For questions, please call us at (925) 449-8706.
Looking for the Livermore Valley Uncorked Celebration? Click here!
2017 Livermore Valley Uncorked
More than 80 wines representing over 30 wineries competed in the 2017 Livermore Valley Uncorked wine competition. Uncorked showcases wines made from grapes grown in the Livermore American Viticultural Area. Many of these grapes are quite literally the fruit of land preservation efforts in the Tri-Valley that wouldn’t be possible without Tri-Valley Conservancy’s great land, park, city and county partners and all of our amazing supporters.
2017 was the first year a Rosé category was added to the competition and everyone was swept off their feet by one of the entries which took Best in Show! To see the best wines of each category, please check our complimentary Wine Shopping List here.
Check out all of the 2017 competition’s Ribbon-Winning wines here.
You can see the 2017 Livermore Valley Uncorked Photo Gallery here.
Our heartfelt gratitude to all of the winemakers, wine growers, judges and volunteers who made this event the most successful yet. Thank you!
For questions, please call us at (925) 449-8706.
Looking for the Livermore Valley Uncorked Celebration? Click here!