Las Positas Vineyards’ 2020 Albariño Takes Top Honors

February 14, 2022 — The 2022 International Eastern Wine Competition and West Coast Wine Competition match-up has announced Las Positas Vineyards (Livermore Valley, Calif.) 2020 Albariño as the Best of the Best…of the Best. This is the first Albariño to ever win this competition.

This two-pronged contest first chooses winners in the separate International Eastern Wine Competition and West Coast Wine Competition (see parameters below), before the top wines from each are pitted against each other in an East Meets West Taste Off.

Traditionally grown on the Iberian Peninsula, Albariño is a white grape loved for its rich stone fruit flavors, hint of salinity and zippy acidity. Described by judges as “fruit cocktail, “nicely spiced” and “very balanced with a long pleasing finish,” the Las Positas Albariño met the challenge and bested all-comers.

Other Best of Show wines include Trotter 1/16 Wines 2018 Flying J’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon; Coombsville, Calif. (Best Red Wine); Breathless Wines NV Blanc de Blanc; Sonoma County, Calif. (Best Sparkling Wine); Eberle Winery 2021 Cotes-du-Robles Rose; Paso Robles, Calif. (Best Rosé Wine); Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards 2018 Late Harvest Chardonnay Estate Bottles; Russian River Valley, Calif. (Best Dessert / Late Harvest Wine); and SOTO Junmai Daiginjo Nigata Prefecture, Japan (Best Sake).

Founded in 1975, the International Eastern Wine Competition is the oldest competition still in existence. Eligible wines can come from Central and South America, Europe, Africa, Mexico (mainland), Canada (except British Columbia), and all U.S. states not listed below.

The West Coast Wine Competition was established in 1982 and is open to wines from Australia, China, India, Japan, Middle East, New Zealand, Pacific Rim nations, Russia, Tasmania, British Columbia (Canada), Baja Mexico, and the U.S. states of Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.

Each competition is judged independently by experts familiar with the styles and varieties specific to each geographic region. Nine years ago, the final judging round was added. A third competitive element, focused specifically on Riesling wines, gives the competition even more layers of intrigue.

Below is a list of Best of Show, Double Gold and Gold medals awarded at this year’s competition.

Visit www.winecompetitions.com for more information.

2022 International East Meets West Wine Competition

Best of Show Winners

Best of Show

Best of the Best

Best White Wine

Best of the West White Wine

Las Positas Vineyards 2020 Albariño; Livermore Valley, Calif. (GG, 99 pts.)

Best Red Wine

Best of the West Red Wine

Trotter 1/16 Wines 2018 Flying J’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon; Coombsville, Calif. (GG, 98 pts.)

Best Sparkling Wine

Best of the West Sparkling Wine

Breathless Wines NV Blanc de Blanc; Sonoma County, Calif. (GG, 97 pts.)

Best Sake

Best of the West Sake

SOTO Junmai Daiginjo; Niigata Prefecture, Japan (GG, 97 Pts.)

Best Rosé Wine

Best of the West Rosé Wine

Eberle Winery 2021 Cotes-du-Robles Rose; Paso Robles, Calif. (GG, 96 pts.)

Best Dessert/Late Harvest Wine

Best of the West Dessert/Late Harvest Wine

Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards 2018 Late Harvest Chardonnay Estate Bottles; Russian River Valley, Calif. (G, 93 pts.)

Eastern International Wine Competition

Best of Show

Best of the East White Wine

Holy-Field Vineyard & Winery NV Tailgate White; Kan. (BOC, GG, 97 pts.)

Best of the East Cider

Two K Farms Cidery and Winery 2020 Estate Grown Spitzenburg; Mich. (BOC, GG, 96 pts.)

Best of the East Dessert/Late Harvest Wine

Bel Lago 2017 Riesling Ice Wine; Mich. (BOC, GG, 100 pts.)

Best of the East Fruit Wine

Holy-Field Vineyard & Winery NV Over the Rainbow Raspberry; Kan. (BOC, GG, 100 pts.)

Best of the East Red Wine

Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard 2019 Cabernet Franc Reserve, ?? (BOC, GG, 98 pts.)

Best of the East Rosé Wine

Peller Estates 2020 Family Reserve Rosé; Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada (BOC, GG, 96 pts.)

Best of the East Sparkling Wine

Two K Farms Cidery and Winery 2020 Bubbly Riesling; Mich. (BOC, GG, 96 pts.)

Riesling Challenge Winner

Braganini Reserve 2020 Mountain Road Riesling; Mich. (BOC, GG, 98 pts.)

A full list of Double Gold and Gold medals from both the International Eastern Wine Competition and the West Coast Wine Challenge can be found here.

Key: BOC = Best of Class, GG = Double Gold medal, G = Gold medal