SommCon’s beverage competition series presented by The SOMM Journal returned this year with two distinct opportunities for spirit and wine producers to demonstrate excellence in quality and craftsmanship – Concours d’Spirits and the new Concours d’Vin.
These esteemed competitions featured six judging panels filled with incredible beverage industry leaders, educators, winemakers, sommeliers, buyers and more including:
Eliza Hoar, Bar Lead, Noble Experiment & Young Blood
Eugenio Jardim, USA Ambassador, Wines of Portugal
Frankie Thaheld, Director of Mixology & Partner, Snake Oil Cocktail Company
Jennifer Carruthers, JC Select Wines
Jesse Rodriguez, Wine Director, SommCon USA
Jon McDaniel, Founder & CEO, Second City Soil
Lisa Redwine, General Manager & Wine Director, Market Restaurant
Lorenzo Muslia, Partner & National Sales Manager, Andis Wines
Luis Garcia, Riboli Family Wine
Maurice DiMarino, Wine & Beverage Manager, Cohn Restaurant Group
Natalie Dulaney, California Sales Manager, Ehlers Estate
Rebekah Sanders, Regional Sales Manager, Duckhorn
Shawn Monnin, Head Bartender, Cohn Restaurant Group
Tahiirah Habibi, Founder, The Hue Society
Vanissa Cominsky, Wine & Spirits Specialist, Prestige-Ledroit
Wanda Cole, Principal, VinBev
San Diego Mission Bay Resort played host to the competitions where national and international spirits and wines were put to the test in a blind tasting format. Accolades including Double Gold, Gold, Silver, and The SOMM Journal Award of Excellence – for an exceptional few – were awarded as follows:
Concours d’Spirits
The SOMM Journal Award of Excellence
New Amsterdam No. 525 Vodka
Tequila AMAN Añejo Tequila
Double Gold Medal
Branson Cognac VS Phantom
Branson Cognac VSOP Royal
Don FulanoTequila Imperial Extra Añejo
Don FulanoTequila Reposado
LIQS Wine Cocktail Mojito
Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey Uncut and Unfiltered Straight Rye
Royal Mash British Vodka
Teryan Armenian Brandy Aged 8 Years
Gold Medal
Argonaut The Claim 2nd Edition Brandy
Batch 22 New American Aquavit Classic Gold
Familia Camarena Tequila Silver/Plato
Faux Pas Tequila & Soda Spicy Mango
High Noon Vodka & Soda Grapefruit
LIQS Wine Cocktail Hard Lemonade
RumChata Limon
RumHaven Rum
Salt Tequila Silver Tequila Chocolate
Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey 1856 Aged
Silver Medal
Don Fulano Tequila Blanco
Don Fulano Tequila Fuerte (100 Proof Blanco)
Don Fulano Tequila Añjeo
Familia Camarena Tequila Añejo
Familia Camarena Tequila Reposado
Faux Pas Vodka & Soda Bartlett Pear
Germain-Robin XO Alambic Brandy
High Noon Vodka & Soda Pineapple
High Noon Vodka & Soda Lime
High Rock Vodka
LIQS Wine Cocktail Margarita
LIQS Wine Cocktail Mango Margarita
LIQS Wine Cocktail Strawberry Margarita
RumChata Original Cream
Tequila AMAN Añejo
Tiger Premium Gin
Two Shores Gin
Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey 1884 Small Batch
Concours d’Vin
The SOMM Journal Award of Excellence
Black Box Brilliant Collection Pinot Grigio
Kunde Winery 2020 Chardonnay
Pacific Rim 2019 Old Vine Riesling
Pomar Junction Vineyard & Winery 2016 Crossing GSM
Double Gold Medal
Amabuki Bananakobo Nama Junmai Daigninjo
Andis Wines 2021 Schioppettino Estate Grown
Banfi Rosa Regale 2021 Dolce Sparkling Rosé
Black Stallion Estate Winery 2019 Limited Release Cabernet Sauvignon
Diora 2019 “La Grande Majesté” Pinot Noir
GIFFT 2019 Pinot Grigio
Kevin O’Leary 2018 Reserve Series Cabernet Sauvignon
Knotty Vines 2019 Pinot Noir
Kunizakari Nigori Kunizakari Nigori Futushu
La Marca Prosecco
Le Vigne Winery 2018 Merlot
Le Vigne Winery 2018 Sangiovese
Maison Simonnet-Febvre 2019 Sauvignon Blanc
Merriam Vineyards 2021 Sauvignon Blanc
Nanbubijin Awa Sparkling Junmai Ginjo Sparkling Sake, Junmai Ginjo
Oak Farm Vineyards 2019 Barbera (Estate Grown)
Owen Roe Winery 2021 Moscato
Ragtag Wine Co. 2017 Meritage
Ragtag Wine Co. 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon
Ragtag Wine Co. 2018 Malbec
Ragtag Wine Co. 2018 Meritage
Ragtag Wine Co. 2018 Petite Sirah
The Landing 2020 Bay of Isles Chardonnay
The.Grenachista 2021 Grenache Blanc
Whitehaven 2021 Sauvignon Blanc
Wiens Family Cellars 2019 Petite Sirah
Wild Thing 2019 Old Vine Zinfandel
Gold Medal
Andis Wines Painted Fields 2020 “Curse of Knowledge” Red Wine
Barton & Guestier 2021 Tourmaline
Bertinelli Estates 2019 Moscato
Black Box 2021 Tart & Tangy Sauvignon Blanc
Carol Shelton Wines 2019 Rockpile Reserve Zinfandel
Cellar Beast Winehouse 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
Chateau La Mer 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon
Derby Wine Estates 2020 Vineyard Select Series Cabernet Sauvignon
Emerald Peak 2019 Pinot Grigio
Firesteed 2021 Pinot Noir
Gran Moraine 2018 Chardonnay
Kikuizumi Hitoshii Rose Sparkling Sake
Kikuizumi Hitosuji Rose Sparkling Kikuizumi Hitosuji Sparkling Junmai
Knotty Vines 2019 Chardonnay
Knotty Vines 2019 Red Blend
Kunizakari Handago Kobo1801 Junmai Ginjo
Le Chemin Du Roi Brut Rose
Le Vigne Winery 2019 Nikiara
Lyra Peak 2020 Moscato
Maison Louis Latour 2019 Domaine de Valmoissine Pinot Noir
Maison Louis Latour 2020 “Chameroy”
Oak Farm Vineyards 2021 Sauvignon Blanc
Pomar Junction Vineyard & Winery 2016 Train Wreck
Rodney Strong Vineyards 2018 Merlot
Rodney Strong Vineyards 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon
Rodney Strong Vineyards 2019 Pinot Noir
Rodney Strong Vineyards 2020 California Chardonnay
Rodney Strong Vineyards Symmetry 2017 Red Wine
The Landing 2019 Bay of Isles Syrah
The Landing 2021 Bay of Isles Rosé
The.Grenachista 2021 Grenache Noir
Tolosa 2019 “1772” Pinot Noir
UPSHOT Wines 2019 Upshot, Red Blend
Wiens Family Cellars 2021 Fiano
Silver Medal
Alamos 2020 Malbec Selección
Andis Wines 2020 Estate Cabernet Franc
Bertinelli Estates 2018 Sangiovese
Black Box 2020 Pinot Noir
Black Box 2020 Red Blend
Black Box 2021 Malbec
Carol Shelton Wines 2021 Coquille Blanc
Carol Shelton Wines 2021 Coquille Rouge
Cellar Beast Winehouse 2021 Pinot Gris
Clos Pegase Winery 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon
Davis Bynum 2018 Pinot Noir
Davis Bynum 2018 River West Chardonnay
Delectus Winery 2019 Merlot
Derby Wine Estates 2021 Cabernet Franc
Derby Wine Estates 2021 Pinot Gris
Dewatsuru Awasake Ashitae Junmai Ginjo
Diora 2019 La Grande Lumiere Chardonnay
Four Stones 2019 Moscato
Four Stones 2021 Shiraz
GAZE Black Cherry
Halie Jean 2019 White Zinfandel
Happy Holidays 2019 Merlot
Happy Holidays 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon
Kevin O’Leary 2021 Reserve Series Shiraz
Knotty Vines 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon
La Marca Prosecco Rosé
Lass & Lee 2019 Chardonnay
Le Chemin Du Roi Brut
Le Vigne 2019 Cuore Della Vigna Super Tuscan Blend
Le Vigne Winery 2018 Petite Sirah
Maison Louis Latour 2019 Chardonnay
Maison Louis Latour 2020 “Les Genievres”
Maison Louis Latour 2020 Gamay
Maison Simonnet-Febvre Brut
Mermaid Valley Vineyard 2018 “Siren’s Song” Red Wine
Mermaid Valley Vineyard 2018 Grenache
Mermaid Valley Vineyard 2018 Zinfandel
Merriam Vineyards 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon
Merriam Vineyards 2018 Estate Merlot
Merriam Vineyards 2018 Malbec
Merriam Vineyards 2020 Pinot Noir
Merriam Vineyards 2021 Rosé of Pinot Noir
Mossy Hollow Estate 2020 Syrah
Oak Farm Vineyards 2019 Cabernet Franc
Oak Farm Vineyards 2021 Fiano
Painted Fields 2020 Old Vine Zinfandel
Painted Fields 2021 Cuvée Blanc
Paso Series 2021 Sauvignon Blanc
Pomar Junction Vineyard & Winery 2014 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Pomar Junction Vineyard & Winery 2015 Cab Forward
Pomar Junction Vineyard & Winery 2015 Reserve Tempranillo
Ragtag Wine Co. 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon
Ragtag Wine Co. 2018 Chardonnay
Ragtag Wine Co. 2018 Syrah
Red Mountain 2018 Thick Skinned
Rodney Strong Vineyards 2017 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Rodney Strong Vineyards 2019 Chalk Hill Estate
Rodney Strong Vineyards 2021 Charlotte’s Home Sauvignon Blanc
Rodney Strong Vineyards 2021 Rosé of Pinot Noir
Rowen Wine Company 2018 Rowen, Red Blend
Rustica Reserve 2019 Old Vine Zinfandel
Starborough 2021 Starlite Sauvignon Blanc
Stoneboat Pinot House 2019 Pinot Noir
Tamarack Cellars 2020 Sauvignon Blanc
The.Grenachista 2019 Grenache Noir
Verdelle Vineyards 2020 Moscato
Viansa 2021 Pinot Grigio
Wiens Family Cellars 2019 “Chateau Grand Rouge” Red Wine
Wiens Family Cellars 2019 Reserve Syrah
*Featured image is from Concours d’Spirits 2021 Winners Circle Tasting.
