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January 28, 2025

Double Gold & Gold Wins at the 2025 SF Chronicle Wine Competition

Celebrating Excellence: Cultivar Wine & Caspar Estate Shine at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

The San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition is the largest of its kind in North America, and it has become a prestigious event where wineries from the United States, Canada, and Mexico compete for recognition. With entries from all bonded wineries across these regions, the competition attracts expert judges from major wine regions across the continent. This year, Cultivar Wine and Caspar Estate were proud to take home multiple prestigious awards, reaffirming the exceptional quality of our wines.

The San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition: A Celebration of Excellence

The San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition isn’t just a contest—it’s a true celebration of North American winemaking. With thousands of wines entered each year, the event draws attention from wine lovers, industry professionals, and enthusiasts alike. What makes this competition stand out is the diversity of expertise that the judges bring to the table. Sourced from prominent wine regions, the panel of professional judges ensures that each wine is assessed with the most refined palates and thorough knowledge.

A Year of Success: Our Award-Winning Wines

We are thrilled to announce that several of our wines stood out in the 2025 competition, earning honors and validating the dedication to quality that defines both Cultivar Wine and Caspar Estate and our wine maker Julien Fayard and his Fayard Wines Here’s a breakdown of the awards we received:

NV Cultivar Brut Rosé, Santa Lucia Highlands – Gold Medal

Our NV Cultivar Brut Rosé earned a Gold Medal, reflecting its lively character and sophisticated balance. Made from carefully sourced grapes from the Santa Lucia Highlands, this sparkling wine showcases enticing aromas of delicate white peach with hints of apricot and a touch of brioche mingle with meyer lemon, with a crisp finish that’s perfect for any occasion. The Gold Medal recognition highlights its high quality and versatility.

2021 Caspar Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley – Double Gold Medal

The 2021 Caspar Estate Cabernet Sauvignon was awarded a Double Gold Medal. Napa Valley is known for its world-class Cabernets, and our wine lives up to the reputation with rich, concentrated flavors of dark fruit, balanced by velvety tannins and a hint of oak. It’s a wine that exemplifies the true craftsmanship of Julien Fayard’s winemaking in one of the world’s premier regions.

2023 Cultivar Cabernet Sauvignon, North Coast – Gold Medal

Our 2023 Cultivar Wine Cabernet Sauvignon from the North Coast also took home a Gold Medal. The North Coast is a broad yet renowned area for producing excellent Cabs, and this wine is no exception. Rich in flavor with layers of blackberry, cassis, and a touch of spice, it demonstrates the quality that the region is known for.

2023 Caspar Estate Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley – Gold Medal

Rounding out our success was the 2023 Caspar Estate Sauvignon Blanc, which earned a Gold Medal. With crisp citrus notes, hints of grass, and a clean finish, this Sauvignon Blanc is a refreshing expression of Napa Valley’s unique terroir. It’s a bright, aromatic wine that pairs beautifully with a variety of dishes and stands as a testament to the exceptional quality of Napa Valley whites.

Our Passion to Create Fabulous Wines

These awards are a testament to the passion and dedication of our winemakers, vineyard workers, and team members who work to create wines of most premium quality. At Cultivar Wine and Caspar Estate, we believe in crafting wines that express the unique character of our vineyards, and the recognition we received from the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition reinforces the pursuit of excellence in everything we do.

Looking Ahead

As we celebrate these achievements, we’re already looking ahead to the next vintage. We’re excited to continue exploring new expressions of our vineyards and to share our wines with you.

Thank you for your continued support, and we hope you’ll join us in celebrating these wins at your next gathering or wine-tasting adventure.

Cheers!
 
SF Wine Competition
April 8, 2023

Cultivar Wine Wins Gold at 2023 SF Chronicle Wine Competition

2023 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

We’re thrilled to announce that Cultivar Wine and Caspar Estate have both been honored in the 2023 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition!
 
🥇GOLD: 2021 Cultivar Rosé
🥇GOLD: 2021 Cultivar Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands
🥇 GOLD: 2018 Cultivar Cabernet Sauvignon, Leaky Lake, Napa Valley
🥈 SILVER: 2021 Caspar Estate Sauvignon Blanc
🥈 SILVER: 2019 Caspar Estate Cabernet Franc
 
We’re incredibly proud to have been recognized in this year’s San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, and we can’t wait to share these award-winning wines with you! There were over sixty judges, representing various North American wine regions, evaluating 5,500 wines from nearly 1,000 wineries for the 2023 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

 

SF Wine Competition
Sip on our 2021 Cultivar Rosé:

For those looking for a treat amidst the sea of reds and whites, we highly recommend giving rosé a sip. Cultivar Wine’s Rosé, in particular, is a standout. Made from hand-selected grapes grown in the picturesque Sierra Foothills of California, this wine embodies a perfect balance of juicy fruitiness and crisp acidity since it is made from 71% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 4% Cinsault Noir grapes.

But it’s not just the delectable taste that makes Cultivar Wine’s Rosé a must-try. The winery’s dedication to sustainable farming practices ensures an environmentally-friendly harvest. Additionally, Cultivar Wine’s commitment to producing small batches means that each bottle of Rosé has been carefully crafted with quality in mind.

Julien Fayard has brought a Provencal flair to this incredible blend of southern Rhone varietals, mostly sourced from the unique terroir of the Sierra Foothills in California. Rosé is one of the most food-friendly wines you can find, so pair this with everything from seared scallops to grilled pork chops.

As we move from Rosé to Pinot Noir, it’s important to understand that this grape is notoriously difficult to cultivate. However, when grown successfully, it produces some of the most exquisite wines.

Let’s start with the Santa Lucia Highlands. This small appellation, located in Monterey County, boasts a unique climate that produces elegant and complex Pinots. The 2023 competition saw a standout performer in the 2021 Cultivar Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir. This wine has a beautiful garnet color and is bursting with flavors of black cherry, raspberry, and spice. It also has a silky texture and a long, satisfying finish.

Moving north to Napa Valley, we find another region that excels in producing top-quality ruby color and is loaded with flavors of ripe blackberries, cherries, and a subtle hint of smoky oak. It also has a smooth and velvety texture.

Leaky Lake
The Leaky Lake vineyard is in the Napa Valley in hills between Rutherford and St. Helena. The winery’s dedication to sustainable farming practices ensures an environmentally-friendly harvest. Additionally, Cultivar Wine’s commitment to producing small batches means that each bottle of wine has been carefully crafted with quality in mind.

Whether you’re a fan of Santa Lucia Highlands’ complexity and elegance there’s a wine  for every preference at the 2023 SF Chronicle Wine Competition. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy a glass of one of these exceptional wines.

Try these pairings at Cultivar San Francisco.

Join the Cultivar Wine Club for first choice of these highly desirable small production wines delivered to your door! ​

Behind the scenes -glasses of wine laid out waiting for the judges at the SF Chronicle Wine Competition – photo from SF Chronicle.

The 2023 SF Chronicle Wine Competition has revealed the best wines of the year, and they are not to be missed. From the award-winning taste of Cultivar Wine’s Rosé to the exquisite flavors of Leaky Lake’s Cabernet Sauvignon, there’s a wine for everyone. These winning wines are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our winemaker Julien Fayard who strives for excellence. So why not treat yourself to a bottle or two and experience the greatness for yourself? As one of the judges put it, “Wine is bottled poetry.” Cheers to the beauty of wine and the art of winemaking.