Meritage Accolades

October 2016

Vina Robles Vineyards & Winery

Vina Robles Vineyards & Winery of Paso Robles, CA, has earned top accolades for its 2012 proprietary Meritage -- Suendero.  Robert Parker's Wine Advocate gave it a 90-point rating, while Vinous Magazine awarded it 91 points.  The wine also won a Gold Medal and 91-point rating in the 2016 Sommelier Challenge.

June 2016

Lemon Creek Winery

Lemon Creek Winery's 2013 Meritage has had a banner year winning awards in multiple wine competitions.  The wine earned Double Gold, Best of Class and Best Red Wine of the East at the International Eastern Wine Competition; Gold Medals  at the San Francisco Internatiional Wine Competition, the Great Lakes Wine Competition and the Midwest Wine Challenge; Silver Medals at the San Diego International Wine Challenge and the Taster's Guild Wine Competition; and a Bronze Medal from the Finger Lakes Wine Competitiion.  The winery is located in Berrien Springs, MI.

June 2016

Vina Robles Vineyards & Winery

The 2016 Sunset Internatiional Wine Competition, conducted by Sunset Magazine, has awarded a Gold Medal to the 2012 Suendero Meritage, crafted by Vina Robles Vineyards & Winery of Paso Robles, CA.

April 2015

Triunfo Canyon Vineyards

Kudos to Triunfo Canyon Vineyards, whose 2012 Meritage was awarded a Gold Medal in the 2015 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.  This is the third time Triunfo Canyon Vineyards has won medals at this presitgious competiton, garnering silver medals for its earlier Meritage releases in both 2013 and 2014.

March 2015

Barren Ridge Vineyards

Barren Ridge Vineyards, located in Fisherville, VA, earned a gold medal for its 2010 Meritage at the 2015 Virginia Governor's Cup wine competition.  Of a field of 390 entrants, only 30 wines were awarded gold medals.  Congratulations!

November 2014

Wild Goose Vineyards & Winery

Wild Goose Vineyards & Winery was awarded a gold medal at the recent BC Wine Awards in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia in Canada.  Its 2012 Red Horizon Meritage was the only Meritage wine to win gold at the competition.  This is Wild Goose's second vintage of Meritage.  The 2012 blend is comprised of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot.

May 2014

Topel Winery

Topel Winery's 2010 Meritage won a Gold Medal in the 2014 Sunset Magazine International Wine Competition.

May 2014

Perrine Winery

Perrine Winery's Huguenot Series Meritage (non-vintage) won a silver medal at the East Meets West Wine Challenge, held in Sonoma.

March 2014

Virginia Governor's Cup Winners

Meritage wines took top honors at the 2014 Virginia Governor's Cup competition.  Of the top 12 wines included in the Governor's Case, seven were Meritage or Meritage-style blends, including the King Family Winery 2011 Meritage, Barren Ridge 2009 Meritage, and the North Gate 2011 Meritage.

Gold medal winners included the above, plus the Cobbler Mountain Cellars 2011 Meritage and the Jefferson Vineyards 2010 Meritage.

More than 400 wines were submitted in this year's competition.

March 2014

Harmony Cellars

Harmony Cellars' 2009 Diamond Reserve Meritage has been raking in the medals.  It earned a Gold Medal at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and Double Gold, Best of Show Red Wine at the Florida State Fair International Wine Competition.

March 2014

Great Frogs

The 2012 Great Frogs Meritage earned a Gold Medal and 90-point rating from the Beverage Tasting Institute, www.tastiings.com.

February 2014

Dry Creek Vineyard

The 2010 vintage of The Mariner -- Dry Creek Vineyard's top-of-the-line Meritage -- earned a 90-point rating from Wine Enthusiast Magazine and an 89-point rating from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate. 

February 2014

Vina Robles

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar gave high marks to the last two vintages of the Vina Robles Suendero Meritage.  The 2009 vintage earned a 90-point rating, and the 2010 vintage was awarded 91 points.

February 2014

Robert Hall Winery

The 2011 Robert Hall Winery Meritage recently was awarded a Double Gold Medal in the San Francisco International Wine Competition and a Gold Medal in the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.  It also earned a 90-point review from Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar.

February 2014

Harmony Cellars

Harmony Cellars recently was awarded a Gold Medal at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competiton for its 2009 Diamond Reserve Aria Meritage.

February 2014

Solis Winery

Solis Winery's Cara Mia 2009 Meritage recently won the following awards:

Best of Class of Region, California State Fair Wine Competition

Silver Medal, San Francisco International Wine Competition

Bronze Medals -- Orange County Commercial Wine Competition and Los Angeles International Wine Competition

May, 2013

Franciscan 2009 "Magnificat"

We hate to see Jon Thorsen's series on Meritage close, but he picked a real winner for his last review -- the 2009 Franciscan "Magnificat" Meritage.  One of the original Meritage wines, and still one of the best! http://www.reversewinesnob.com/2013/05/franciscan-estate-magnificat-napa-valley-meritage.html

May, 2013

Arrowhead Spring Vineyards

Jon Thorsen was so infatuated with the Arrowhead Spring Vineyards 2008 Meritage (see  below) that he had to give equal time to its big brother -- the Arrowhead Spring Vineyards 2008 Meritage Reserve!  http://www.reversewinesnob.com/2013/05/arrowhead-spring-vineyards-meritage-reserve.html

April, 2013

Chateau Ste. Michelle

The splurge was worth it for Jon Thorsen, who fell in love with the Chateau Ste. Michelle Artist Series Meritage (2008 vintage).  A beautiful bottle and a wonderful wine!

http://www.reversewinesnob.com/2013/04/chateau-ste-michelle-artist-series-meritage.html

April, 2013

Pollak Vineyards

Pollak Vineyards won the 2013 Monticello Cup for its 2010 Meritage  The Monticello Wine Trail organization conducts the annual competition, which is now in its 22nd year.  Pollak Vineyards beat out more than 60 entries from 20 wineries in the Monticello appellation, one of Virginia's finest grapegrowing regions.

April, 2013

Kirkland Signature 2011 Rutherford Napa Valley Meritage

It's a bulk buy from the folks who bring you Costco!  Jon Thorsen reviews the 2011 Kirkland Signature Rutherford Napa Valley Meritage in his 8th in a series called "Make Mine A Meritage," and he urges everyone to stock up!   http://www.reversewinesnob.com/2013/04/kirkland-signature-rutherford-napa-valley-meritage.html

April, 2013

Estancia

Jon Thorsen reviews Estancia's 2009 Meritage as he winds down a series about Meritage on his blog, Reverse Wine Snob.  http://www.reversewinesnob.com/2013/04/estancia-reserve-meritage.html

March, 2013

Chateau Ste. Michelle

The 2009 Chateau Ste. Michelle Artist Series Meritage was awarded a Platinum Medal in the prestigious 2013 San Diego International Wine Competition.

March, 2013

Dry Creek Vineyard

In his sixth "Make Mine A Meritage" review, Jon Thorsen is literally "sailing" in his praise of Dry Creek Vineyard's 2008 "The Mariner" Meritage.  When we go to major wine events, this wine is always one of the crowd favorites!  http://www.reversewinesnob.com/2013/03/dry-creek-vineyard-mariner-meritage.html#more

March, 2013

Arrowhead Spring Vineyards

The 2008 Arrowhead Spring Vineyards Meritage gets a thumbs-up from Jon Thorsen in his fifth review of "Make Mine A Meritage."  http://www.reversewinesnob.com/2013/03/arrowhead-red-meritage.html

March, 2013

Fox Run Vineyards

Fox Run Vineyards and its 2010 Meritage prove that there is more than Riesling being made in the Finger Lakes District.  Fourth in a series on "Make Mine A Meritage" by Jon Thorsen.  http://www.reversewinesnob.com/2013/03/fox-run-vineyards-meritage.html

February 2013

Dry Creek Vineyard

The 2008 Dry Creek Vineyard Sonoma County Meritage means there is "smooth drinking ahead," says Jon Thorsen in his third Meritage review of February.  http://www.reversewinesnob.com/2013/02/dry-creek-vineyard-sonoma-county-meritage.html

February 2013

Rappahannock Cellars

The Rappahannock Cellars 2010 Meritage was one of 12 gold medalists in the 2013 Virginia Governor's Cup  Wine Competition.  More than 400 wines were entered in the annual competition. 

February 2013

San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

Nine Meritage Alliance members earned top honors for their Meritage wines in the 2013 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition -- the largest American wine competition in the world.  More than 5,500 wines were submitted.  Kudos to the following:

Robert Hall Winery -- Best of Class -- 2010 Paso Robles Meritage

Dry Creek Vineyard -- Best of Class -- 2009 Dry Creek Valley "The Mariner" Meritage

Promenade Wines -- Double Gold -- 2008 Napa Valley Meritage

Lyeth -- Gold -- 2011 California Fleur de Lyeth Meritage

Robert Mondavi Private Selection -- Gold -- 2010 Central Coast Meritage

Larson Family Winery -- Gold -- 2009 Millerick Road Sonoma County Meritage

Estancia Winery -- Gold -- 2010 Paso Robles Meritage

Flora Springs Winery & Vineyards -- Gold -- 2010 Trilogy Meritage

Sterling Vineyards -- Gold -- 2009 Napa Valley Platinum Meritage

February 2013

Hahn Estate Winery

Second in a series about Meritage by Jon Thorsen of Reverse Wine Snob.  He's quite crazy about a very popular Meritage from the Central Coast of California, crafted by Hahn Estate Winery.  http://www.reversewinesnob.com/2013/02/hahn-winery-central-coast-meritage.html

February 2013

Lyeth Estate

Jon Thorsen reviews the 2010 Lyeth Estate Meritage -- the first in a series of reviews on his blog, Reverse Wine Snob.  www.reversewinesnob.com

December, 2012

Geoff Hardy Wines

The prestigeous Winestate Magazine in Australia named Geoff Hardy Wines its Australian Winery of the Year for 2012 and also selected its winemaker, Shane Harris, as the 2012 Australian Winemaker of the Year.

December, 2012

St. Helena Road Maier Family Meritage

The 2009 vintage of St. Helena Road Winery's Maier Family Meritage earned a Double Gold at the 2012 San Francisco International Wine Competition and a Silver Medal in the Mainly Meritage International Wine Competition.

September 2012

Bodegas San Rafael

The 2007 Bodegas San Rafael PASSION Meritage was awarded a Gold Medal in the 2012 China Wine Awards.  More than 2,000 wines were entered, representing producers in 37 countries.

December 2011

Ehret Family Winery

The 2008 Ehret Family Winery Bellarina Meritage Cabernet Blend from Knights Valley was named one of the top wines tasted by the Cabernet Shootout panel in a competition between 287 wines. The wine will now go on to compete in The Cabernet Shootout Challenge in San Francisco, hosted by the Bay Area Wine Society, The Winery-SF and Affairs of the Vine, on January 21, 2012.

October 2011

Trinchero Family Estates

D Magazine goes ga-ga over Trinchero's 2008 Meritage.

September 2011

Dry Creek Vineyard

Forbes Magazine names Dry Creek Vineyard's 2006 "The Mariner" Meritage its Wine of the Week!

September 2011

Rodney Strong Vineyards

The award-winning Rodney Strong Vineyards "Symmetry" Meritage was selected Wine of the Week by the Santa Rosa Press Democrat on September 28.

August 2011

Dry Creek Vineyard

The 2007 Meritage produced by Dry Creek Vineyard earned 92 points and a "Best Buy" rating from Wine & Spirits Magazine.

August 2011

Topel Winery

"Le Mariage," the Meritage produced by Topel Winery, was awarded a Gold Medal at the 2011 Mendocino County Wine Competition for the 2006 vintage.

July 2011

Braman Winery

The Beverage Testing Institute awarded Braman Winery's 2010 Meritage a Gold Medal and "Best Buy" recommendation and ranked it at 93 points. Kudos!

June 2011

Ehret Family Winery

2007 Ehret Family Winery Meritage - Bella's Blend - won a Double Gold Medal at the 2011 San Francisco Chronicle International Wine Competition.

June 2011

Topel Winery

The lovely 2006 Le Mariage Meritage from Topel Winery was awarded a Gold Medal and was named Best In Class at the 2011 Los Angeles International Wine Competition.

March 2011

Fox Meadow Winery

A big high five to Cheryl and Dan Mortland at Fox Meadow Winery, winner of the 2011 Virginia Governor's Cup for Red Wine. Their 2008 Le Renard Rouge Meritage, a multiple Gold Medal winner, took top honors this year.

September 2010

Dry Creek Vineyard

Wine Enthusiast Magazine awarded the 2006 Dry Creek Vineyard "The Mariner" 92 points in its recent review.

August 2010

Rosemont Vineyard & Winery

The 2007 Rosemont Meritage won Best In Show at the 2010 Atlantic Seaboard Wine Competition, beating out 500 wines submitted by 110 wineries!

August 2010

Atwater Estate Vineyard

Kudos to Atwater Estate Vineyard. Their 2007 Meritage was awarded Best of Category-Red in the 2010 New York State Commercial Wine Competition.

February 2009

Paso Robles, California - The 2006 Suendero red blend by Vina Robles Winery was recently named "Grand Champion Best of Show" at the 2009 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo International Wine Competition, making it the top wine out of 1,879 entries from 583 wineries in 14 countries.

Press release...

July 2010

Dry Creek Vineyard

The 2006 Dry Creek Vineyard "The Mariner" was given a 92-point rating by Wine Spectator Magazine.

July 2010

Saint Helena Road Winery

A big congratulations is due to Saint Helena Road Winery. Their 2007 Maier Family Meritage has been awarded a Double Gold by the San Francisco International Wine Competition 2010.  This is their 2nd Double Gold in three Meritage vintages.

February 2010

Penman Springs Vineyard

Congratulations to Penman Springs Vineyard of Paso Robles. Its 2007 "Artisan Cuvee" Meritage won Best of Class, Judges' Choice at the 2010 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition in the $20-$29.99 Category of Bordeaux Blends.

Castello di Borghese

Castello di Borghese receives 2 Double Gold & 3 Gold Medals from Appellation America's Tasting Panel in Napa. "Best of Appellation" (BOA).

Thanksgiving Farm 2007 Meritage

We're pleased to announce that our Thanksgiving Farm 2007 Meritage, received a Silver Medal in the 2009 Maryland Governor's Cup Competition, and a Bronze Medal in the 2009 Atlantic Seaboard Wine Competition. Our 2007 Meritage is a blend of 64% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Franc, 12% Petit Verdot, and 9% Cabernet Sauvignon. It's a soft, dry red wine in the style of the Merlot-dominated wines from Pomerol, made exclusively from grapes grown in our vineyards at Thanksgiving Farm on rolling hills that were historically planted to tobacco.

2005 Ironstone Reserve Meritage, Sierra Foothills

92 points in the May issue of the Wine Enthusiast.

City of Cork Blog

Money Savor 2 -- Meritage

By Michael Kane on May 12, 2009

Robert Mondavi Private Selection 2006, for only $11, was a very satisfying wine for its price range. (Any $11 wine that has you saying, "I'd get that again," surely passes the value test.) Actually a blend of four California-grown grapes (not the cab franc), the newly launched release gives plenty of plum and black cherry -- but eases off well shy of jammy.

Read the complete article...

February 2009

Dan Berger's Vintage Experiences - Wine of the Week

2006 Love and Meritage, Napa Valley ($28):
This excellent Cabernet-based wine has an herb/cherry aroma with blackberry fruit in the mouth and superb balance. Made by wine maker Bill Knuttel for negociant Bruce Patch from expensive bulk market fruit. It competes with the best in Napa but probably won't get a high score from sight-of-bottle and knowledge-of-price reviewers in large part because it is screwcapped.

January 2009

Saint Helena Road Vineyard & Winery's 2005 Maier Family Meritage won a Double Gold at the American Fine Wine Competition. This was Saint Helena Road Winery's first Meritage vintage.