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 with another media tour just completed in early 2025, assisting Decanter‘s Jonathan Cristaldi with an soon-to-be-released tasting report on the region, and having the pleasure of being one of the judges at the 2025 incarnation of the Livermore Valley Uncorked! Wine Competition.
I’m now very, very happy to share with you the official results of the 2025 Uncorked! competition. Despite the thought that (almost) seen it all when it comes to having been on the wine competition judging circuit for the better part of 15 years, Uncorked! managed to surprise me. All of the entries in the 2025 competition were previously vetted in some way, having nabbed a silver or better medal in other competitions, and/or having achieved a certain score threshold from a major wine publication (above and beyond the more traditional entry requirements involving production amounts and the like).
This made for an easy time judging, relatively speaking, in that the “floor” of quality for the entries was refreshingly high. No real frogs to kiss to get to the princes in this one, folks.
As a result, the wines you see below are all most certainly well worth your time (and your hear-earned cash). Fair warning: some of these will be difficult (if not impossible) to come by without visiting the producers—and if that’s not a fantastic excuse to get your ass out to Livermore Valley, I don’t know what is…
Best of Show Winners
- Best Red: Wente Family Vineyards 2021 Limited Release Cabernet Franc
- Best White: Las Positas Vineyards 2024 Estate Albariño
Best of Class Winners
- Cabernet Sauvignon ($50 and Under): McGrail Vineyards & Winery 2021 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
- Cabernet Sauvignon ($51 and Over): Murrieta’s Well 2021 Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
- Cabernet Franc ($49 and Under): Del Valle Winery 2021 Cabernet Franc
- Other Bordeaux Red Varietals (sic, unfortunately): Wood Family Vineyards 2022 Malbec
- Bordeaux Red Blends: Cuda Ridge Wines 2022 Reserve ‘Melange d’ Amis’ Red Blend
- Italian Red Varieties: Garré Vineyard & Winery 2021 Sangiovese
- Rhone Red Varietals: Concannon Vineyard 2020 Reserve ‘Nina’s Cuvée’ Petite Sirah
- Other Red Varietals: Las Positas Vineyards 2021 Tempranillo
- All Other Red Blends: Concannon Vineyard 2021 Reserve ‘Stampmaker’s GSM’ Red Blend
- Rosé: Garré Vineyard & Winery 2023 ‘Rosato di Sangiovese’ Rosé
- Sauvignon Blanc: Wood Family Vineyards 2024 Sauvignon Blanc
- Chardonnay: Almost Famous Wine Company 2022 ‘Dog Day’ Chardonnay
Cheers!
