The American Fine Wine Competition (AFWC) hosted the second annual All Americas wine competition at Florida International University’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management this past January 15th. Wine industry experts blindly evaluated 250 wines based on quality metrics to choose the Best of Class (by grape variety or style) and Best of Show overall winning wines.
Five, four-member panels of industry professionals judged the wines throughout the day. Judges for this competition can be educators, distributors, retailers, journalists, restaurateurs, and sommeliers. Notable judges for the All Americas wine competition included writers, Peg San Filippo and Sunny Fraser; sommeliers, Jenn Schmitt, Ervin Machado, and Ray Sholes; restaurateur, Angelo Romano; and writer/publishers/vintners, Sara and Monty Preiser.
Shari Gherman, certified sommelier and President of the AFWC gave insights into the judging. “Panels of independent judges who taste wine, as these people do, can arrive at non-biased conclusions that benefit the consumer and the entire industry.”
Many of the wines entered in this competition come from family-owned wineries. These smaller wineries often produce wines of exceptional quality in lesser known wine regions. Competitions like the All Americas shine light on these producers.
“Silver Spur is a small winery in a state not known for top wines, but it won Best of Class for “other red single varietal,” and Best of Show Red. You can bet it would not have won either but for blind tasting,” said Gherman.
Below are the results.
All Americas Wine Competition Results
BEST OF SHOW:
Sparkling: N/V Breathless, Late Disgorged Brut, Russian River ($59)
White: 2019 Bee Hunter Semillon, Anderson Valley ($42)
Red: 2019 Silver Spur, Aglianico Comanche County, Texas ($59)
Dessert: 2019 Ferrante Vidal Blanc, Ice Wine Grand River Valley, Ohio ($30)
BEST OF CLASS:
Cabernet Franc: 2016 The Winery at SF, North Coast ($40)
Cabernet Sauvignon: 2018 Ehret Family, Hillside Reserve, Knights Valley ($115)
Chardonnay: 2019 Bee Hunter, Anderson Valley ($60)
Dessert: 2019 Ferrante Vidal Blanc, Ice Wine Grand River Valley, Ohio ($30)
Other White Single Varietal: 2019 Bee Hunter Semillon, Anderson Valley ($42)
Other Red Single Varietal: 2019 Silver Spur, Aglianico, Comanche County, Texas ($59)
Petite Sirah: 2019 Bricoleur, Redwood Valley, Fountaingrove District, Sonoma ($55)
Pinot Noir: 2019 Papapietro Perry, Pommard Clones, Russian River Valley, Runner up, Best of Show ($80)
Red Blend: 2019 Zina Hyde Cunningham, Redwood Valley, Zin & Petite Sirah ($48)
Riesling: 2020 Winery at Black Stone Farms, Arcturos, Dry Riesling ($17)
Sparkling: N/V Breathless, Late Disgorged Brut, Russian River ($59)
Syrah: 2018 VIE, Canihan Vineyard, Sonoma ($45)
White Blend: 2018 ONX Estate, Field Day, Paso Robles, SB, Viognier, & Grenache Blanc
($20)
Zinfandel: 2020 Ehret Family, Knights Valley, Sonoma ($60)
Merlot: 2018 Ehret Family, Bavarian Lion Vineyard, Knights Valley ($55)
Red Bordeaux Style Blend: 2016 The Winery SF, BDX, North Coast ($50)
Sake: Yomi Junmai Ginjo- The Afterlife Oregon NV ($18)
Sauvignon Blanc: 2020 Okapi, Napa Valley ($30)
Editor’s Note: Both Sarah Phillips and Jacqueline Coleman have been judges at the American Fine Wine Competition. Learn more about our Wine Guide Miami Editors on our “About” page.
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