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After 34 years of conducting one of the nation’s most respected wine competitions, wine columnist/ journalist Dan Berger has changed the name of his former Riverside International Wine Competition.
In 2016, the event’s name changed to Dan Berger’s International Wine Competition which just completed its third year. Read more about us.
2022 Competition
Dan Berger’s International Wine Competition took place on December 15th, 2022.
Jan. 5, 2023
Press Release
Santa Rosa, Calif. – Jeff Runquist Wines of Plymouth, Calif., has again won the trophy as Winery of the Year at the 41st annual Dan Berger’s International Wine Competition – the sixth time in the last seven years that Runquist has won that honor!
Runquist, who makes numerous wines, won four gold or triple gold medals and 15 silver medals in 22 entries. (www.jeffrunquistwines.com)
And for the second year in a row, Carol Shelton Wines of Windsor in Sonoma County was awarded the Small Winery of the Year trophy. Shelton earned five gold or triple gold medals and her 2020 Wild Thing Zinfandel, Mendocino County, Old Vine ($19.99) earned a triple gold and was the best red wine of the competition. (www.carolshelton.com).
The award for Terroir Winery of the Year went to Ferrante Winery of Geneva, Ohio, which won six medals and three best-of-class awards. (https://www.ferrantewinery.com) The Terroir award is given each year to a winery that displays excellence among different grape varieties from challenging and un-conventional areas.
Judges for this year’s competition, which was staged Dec. 15, were mostly winemakers, industry professionals, and wine journalists.
The best white wine of the competition was 2021 Husch Gewürztraminer, Anderson Valley ($18). Best dessert wine was NV Barefoot Moscato ($6.99). Best rosé was 2021 King Estate Rosé of Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley ($19). Best sparkling wine was Trecini NV Prosecco, Rosso Conero ($40).
The International Riesling Foundation (IRF) trophy for best dry Riesling was a dramatic Dry Riesling from Ferrante, Golden Bunches, Grand River Valley ($16). (https://www.ferrantewinery.com) The IRF trophy for best medium dry Riesling went to 2021 Fox Run Vineyards Semi-Dry Riesling, Seneca Lake, New York ($15). (foxrunvineyards.com) Ferrante of Ohio also won the IRF trophy for best medium-sweet Riesling for its 2021 Signature Riesling, Grand River Valley ($15). (https://www.ferrantewinery.com) The IRF trophy for best medium-sweet Riesling went to Ferrante Winery for its 2021 Riesling from Grand River Valley in Ohio ($16). (https://www.ferrantewinery.com) The IRF trophy for best Sweet Riesling went to 2020
Sheldrake Point Riesling Late Harvest ($40). (https://sheldrakepoint.com/)
Wine columnist Dan Berger has staged this competition since 1982, when it was called the Riverside International. The competition is coordinated by Debra del Fiorentino using an expert crew of back-room professionals.