The 2019 USA Wine Ratings, which judges quality, value and packaging was a closely competed challenge with awards for each sub-category of quality, value, and packaging going to different wines. The coveted award for a winery of the year was given to Coyote Canyon Winery H/H Estates Reserve Range which is from Washington State’s 7th American Viticultural Area Horse (AVA) Heaven Hills.

Image: Logo of Coyote Canyon Winery, Winery of the Year | 2019 USA Wine Ratings

With 41 Gold medals awarded, less than 10% of the total number of medals awarded the competition was fierce. Two of the ‘Best in Show’ awards went to the lesser-known grape varietal Petit Verdot. As well as Wine of the Year, Mercer Estates Small Lot Petit Verdot snatched the Best Wine Quality with a dominant score of 95. LGI Wines King Rabbit’s intriguing blend of Malbec Auxerrois Cot 2018 from the deep south of France scored Best Wine in Value with a close 94 points.

La Marca Prosecco N.V. from the E & J Gallo portfolio was awarded Best Wine by Package.

Wine of the Year Mercer Estates Small Lot Series Petit Verdot comes from the AVA Heaven Hills in Washington State, specifically the acclaimed Spice Cabinet Vineyard. Just 91 cases of this precious wine made with meticulous detail were aged for 30 months in new and used French oak barrels. It is an outstanding example of the specific quality and attention to detail that USA Wine Rating winners attend to in their path to creating great wines.

Sid Patel, CEO of USA Wine Ratings reviewed this year's awards

"To be a Best in Show winner in the USA Wine Ratings the wines need to impress a group of high-quality commercial judges and Masters of Wine. The results confirm the quality of entrants in the USA Wine Ratings is a leading competition for wineries, brands, and ranges to enter the USA."

USA Wine Ratings focusses on the aspects of wine propositions that matter to consumers. Its judges score on quality, value, and packaging to assess the product entries, in ways that consumers approach the purchase of wines, thus the winning wines are wines that consumers want to buy.

A key factor that contributes to the quality of USA Wine Ratings is the judges. The leading panel of judges is commercially active and aware, being directly involved in the development of new wine brands, buying and selecting wines for resale. The seniority and experience of the judges include several Masters of Wine, Sommeliers, Wine Buyers, Hotel groups.

CHECK OUT THE LIST OF JUDGES

Full results for the USA Wine Ratings are available on August 19th, 2019 from www.usawineratings.com

2019 USA Wine Ratings Medal Winners

The Main Category Winners

• Wine Of The Year - Small Lot Series Petit Verdot 2015 by Mercer Estates 
• Winery Of The Year - H/H Estates Reserve by Cayote Canynon Winery
• Best Wine By Quality - Small Lot Series Petit Verdot 2015 by Mercer Estates Winery
• Best Wine By Value - King Rabbit Malbec Auxerrois Cot 2018 by LGI Wines
• Best Wine By Package - La Marca Prosecco NV by La Marca / E & J Gallo Winery

​About The USA Wine Ratings

Part of the influential Beverage Trade Network, The USA Wine Ratings recognizes, reward, and help promote wine brands that have successfully been created to identify with and target a specific wine drinker. For any wine brand to earn its place on a retailer’s shelf or a restaurant’s wine list, and then vitally stay there it has to succeed in all these areas. USA Wine Ratings provides a vital forum for product feedback from high-level professionals and the market for products and producers.