Written by Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association
Livermore Valley Uncorked! 2025 | Celebrating Excellence in Our Region’s Wines
We are thrilled to announce the outstanding winners of the Livermore Valley Uncorked! 2025 Wine Competition! After a rigorous blind tasting by our prestigious panel of judges on April 22, we’re proud to showcase the exceptional wines that represent the best of what our region has to offer.
Award-Winning Wines
Our expert judges evaluated wines across 14 distinct categories, focusing on varietals that showcase Livermore Valley’s unique terroir and winemaking excellence. In total, 140 medals were awarded across all categories. Here are the top award-winners from this year’s competition:
Best Red & Best White
Best Red: Wente Family Vineyards 2021 Limited Release Cabernet Franc
Best White: Las Positas Vineyards 2024 Estate Albarino
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: 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
In addition to these Best of Class winners, the competition awarded:
10 Double Gold medals
28 Gold medals
88 Silver medals
[To see the full list of winners click HERE]
Meet Our Distinguished Judges
What sets Livermore Valley Uncorked! apart is our exceptional judging panel, featuring 13 respected wine professionals from both our local region and across the country. All judges hold a minimum of WSET Level 2 certification or are Certified Sommeliers, bringing their extensive knowledge and experienced palates to the competition.
Our Distinguished Judges
Warner Boin – Certified Sommelier and founder of Confidence Uncorked, specializing in wine education and marketing consulting. A native Texan who now calls Sonoma County home, she makes wine fun and accessible for all.
Stacy Briscoe – Award-winning journalist with 10 years of wine industry expertise as former managing editor for Wine Enthusiast & Wine Industry Network. DipWSET holder teaching at Napa Valley Wine Academy.
Gerald Gilligan – After becoming a Certified Sommelier, Gerald helped launch Double Barrel Wine Bar in Livermore, earning three Wine Spectator Awards of Excellence, teaching specialized classes, & winning Judge’s Choice at Taste Our Terroir.
John Jackson – A data privacy attorney & wine expert with DipWSET level 4 certification. Featured in “In the Dark Wine Sea” & published in Forbes, he has 39K+ Instagram followers & has visited 400+ wineries across 75 wine regions worldwide.
Joe Roberts – Founder of 1WineDude.com. Named among the most influential U.S. wine personalities, he’s written for multiple publications. A regular wine judge, he authored 2 books in 2020: “Wine Taster’s Guide” and “Wine Taster’s Journal”.
Adam Sagehorn – Manager and Certified Sommelier at Zephyr Grill & Bar in Livermore.
Julie Schreiber – Consulting winemaker in Napa, Sonoma, & Livermore Valley, creating award-winning wines rated 90+ points. With a culinary background from CIA & Master’s in Enology from UC Davis, she’s worked with multiple different wineries.
Daryl Tom – Northern California native with 35+ years in food & wine, holds a Level II Sommelier certification from Le Cordon Bleu. After a career at Accenture, he now consults on private wine collections and serves on the Napa Valley Country Club Tasting Panel.
Jeremy Troupe-Masi – A Bay Area native, Jeremy is a Certified Sommelier, Chef, & Small Business Owner. After working at Bohemian Club, Roka Akor SF, & Darcie Kent Estate Winery he now serves on Livermore Downtown Inc.’s board & hosts the “Through the Grapevine” podcast.
Kat C. René – Wine writer, blogger, judge & educator. A native Houstonian, tax attorney, wife, & mother of two, she loves sharing her passion for wine, food, & travel.
Thomas Zarillo – WSET Level 3 and Italian Wine Scholar graduate. Created @winebarchronicles, attended press trips to wine regions globally. Recently moved to Charleston, SC, embracing its wine and food scene while continuing to share wine stories.
Deborah Parker Wong – 2023 Wine Industry Leader, DipWSET, global wine editor for SOMM Journal, National Editor for Slow Wine Guide, & teaches at multiple colleges. She owns a WSET school and completed an MS in Viticulture & Enology at Fresno State.
Experience Uncorked! on May 31st
Don’t miss your chance to taste a sampling of award-winning wines at our grand Uncorked! celebration on Saturday, May 31st from 5-9pm at Murrieta’s Well! This premier event showcases the best wines Livermore Valley has to offer in a stunning setting.
Event Highlights
- Taste Award-Winning Wines: This celebration is dedicated exclusively to our competition winners, giving you the opportunity to taste the very best Livermore Valley has to offer.
- Meet the Winemakers: Speak directly with the talented individuals behind these exceptional wines.
- Educational Seminar (4-5pm): Join us for a special educational session focusing on Livermore Valley’s signature varietals and heritage varietals. Perfect for wine enthusiasts seeking deeper knowledge!
Venue Experiences
Experience a sophisticated tasting journey at the historic Murrieta’s Well estate. Tastings will occur in the elegant barrel room, as well as on the expansive outdoor patio. Explore over dozens of wines that exemplify Livermore Valley’s commitment to quality winemaking. The tasting event will include light appetizers and small bites.
The Judging Process
The competition followed a rigorous blind tasting protocol. Wines were evaluated based on complexity, balance, typicity, and absence of faults.
Get Your Tickets Today!
Join us in celebrating the exceptional wines of Livermore Valley at this premier event. Tickets are selling quickly, so secure yours today at https://www.lvwine.org/event/12648/uncorked.
Event Date: Saturday, May 31, 2025
Time: 5:00pm – 9:00pm
Educational Seminar: 4:00pm – 5:00pm
Location: Murrieta’s Well
Livermore Valley Uncorked! is proudly presented by the Livermore Valley Wine Community, dedicated to advancing, promoting, and protecting the quality wines, vineyards, and experiences of the Livermore Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA).