Congratulations to our 211 winning wines that took home awards at the 2025 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition! Learn more HERE.
Wine submissions, with tech sheets, for the Uncorked! competition are due by 5pm, March 31st.
To download and print the submission form, click HERE
More info is below.
Event Overview
The Livermore Valley Wine Community is dedicated to showcasing the exceptional wines of our region. Based on regional strengths and historical significance, the following categories will be featured in the 2025 Uncorked! competition:
- Cabernet Franc
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- All Other Bordeaux Red Varietals (excluding CAS and CAF)
- Bordeaux Red Blends (no single varietal above 75%)
- Italian Red Varietals (including Primitivo/Zin)
- Rhone Red Varietals (including Petite Sirah)
- All Other Red Varietals (excluding wines that can be entered in 1-6 above)
- All Other Red Blends (no single varietal above 75%, no single Bordeaux varietal totaling above 25%)
- Rose (<9g/L RS)
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Chardonnay
- All Other Whites, including blends (excluding SB and CH)
Eligibility Requirements
Wines must meet at least one of the following criteria:
Received a Wine Competition Medal (Silver, Gold, Double Gold, or Best in Class, or higher) from:
Received Ratings/Points: 90 or above ratings from the following 3rd party endorsements:
Production Requirements
- Minimum of 50 cases available at time of submission
- Submitted wines must be from vintage 2020 or newer, meaning 2020-2024 vintages are allowed.
- Must be produced and bottled. (no barrel samples)
- Must be Livermore Valley AVA wines
Quality Standards
Submit laboratory analysis test results of the following:
-(Optional) Volatile Acidity (VA):
-(Required) Residual Sugar (RS):
- Reds: 5 g/L or less
- Whites: 9 g/L or less
Judging Analysis
Tasting Evaluation Criteria
Wines will be evaluated on:
- Complexity
- Balance
- Typicity
- Zero faults
Judging Panel
The judging panel will consist of no more than 16 distinguished wine professionals, all holding either WSET Level 2 certification or higher or Certified Sommelier credentials. The panel is balanced between local judges, who reside or work in the greater Bay Area and cannot be currently employed by any participating wineries, and non-local judges from across California and the nation. This diverse mix ensures comprehensive and objective wine evaluation from local, regional and national perspectives.
Award Categories
The following are the award categories for the Uncorked! Competition:
- Silver
- Gold
- Double Gold
- Best of Class
- Best Red Wine
- Best White Wine
Submission Requirements
- Three (3) bottles of each wine submitted:
- Two for judging panel
- One backup bottle
- Complete technical information for each wine including:
- Residual sugar
- Technical specifications
- Vineyard sources
- Specification if wines are made as Organic wine from Organic grapes
- Current suggested retail price
- Net list price for restaurants and bottle shops
- Case production information
Winner Promotion Requirements
As a condition of entry, winning wineries must actively promote both their awarded wines and the Uncorked! event through their marketing channels. This includes featuring the awards in customer newsletters, on all social media platforms, in tasting room displays and materials, and during any off-site events or engagements.
Important Dates
- Submission Deadline: March 31, 2025
- Judging: April 22-23, 2025
- Winners Announced: May 3, 2025
- Uncorked Event: May 31, 2025
