Earlier this year (2025), I was once again fortunate enough to be asked to judge the annual Colorado Governor’s Cup wine competition, part of a group of industry veterans who evaluated over 250 wine submissions from 40+ Colorado wineries. This year, we were also treated to entries from 8 Idaho wineries, 1 Arizona winery, and…
Tag: wine competitions
Uncorking Livermore Valley’s Best (Uncorked! 2025 Wine Competition Winners)
I feel as though I have a long history with a crap-ton of wine regions at this point… because, well, I do. Livermore Valley is one such region, and I was thrilled to get back there on a media jaunt late in 2024 after several years of being away. I can now top that off…
Gifts to Wine Lovers From on (Mile) High (Winning Wines From the 2024 CO Governor’s Cup)
The Colorado winemaking scene must be in a seasonally generous mood: it’s got plenty of gifts to bring to all you good little wine lovers out there. This past summer, I was fortunate enough to have been invited once again to judge at the Colorado Governor’s Cup wine competition, a well-run face-off of Colorado wines…
Big Sights Set On Big Skies (Favorites From the 2023 CO Governor’s Cup Wine Competition)
As I gear up for the 2023 Wine Future Conference, here’s a quick-hit post to highlight my favorites from the recent 2023 Colorado Governor’s Cup Wine Competition, at which I once again had the pleasure of judging this year. After just two stints judging this event, it’s become a highlight of my year—the staff, the…



