Monterey Wine Competition Crowns 2023 Bernardus Rosella’s Chardonnay Best of Monterey

March 24, 2026 – Now in its 33rd year, the Monterey Wine Competition carries on, increasingly supported by entries from Paso Robles, as that region grows. But, every year, it draws entries from Oregon, the Central Valley, Napa and elsewhere in California. There are always some gems to be discovered, and truly great wines rise to the occasion. 

This year, Monterey came out on top of the white wine ladder, courtesy of Bernardus. 

According the Competition Director Rich Cook, there were many more entries from the Monterey region this year: in fact, they made up 20% of this year’s submissions. A shout out to Bernardus, CRU, J. Lohr, Morgan, Scheid, Silvestri and Wrath, for their excellent showings. 

Monterey area wines showed exceedingly well, with Bernardus taking top honors as Best of Monterey County for the 2023 Chardonnay Rosella’s Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands, $55.00, Platinum, 96 points. Wrath scored an impressive Platinum for the Wrath 2024 Swan/828 Pinot Noir Monterey, from the San Saba Vineyard, a wine that truly stood out to me in a recent tasting of the latest Wrath releases. 

The Bernardus Rosella’s Chardonnay also tied with the ZD Wines 2024 Chardonnay Reserve Carneros, $85.00, Platinum, 96 points, for Best of Show White. The price-performance difference comes down to whether you want more or less oak.

Best of Show Rosé went to McGrail Vineyards 2025 Kylie Ryan Rosé Wine Livermore Valley, $28.00, Gold, 91 points. Winemaker Mark Clarin cut his teeth in winemaking with Randall Grahm at Bonny Doon before going to Wente in Livermore, and then to McGrail. 

Best of Show Red Wine was awarded to ZD Wines 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Napa Valley, $230.00, Platinum, 98 points. ZD Wines was declared Winery of the Year, due to the number of Golds and Platinums they earned. They could win the award for Most Expensive Wines entered as well. 

Best of Show Dessert Wine went to Macchia 2024 “Dangerous” Port, Linsteadt Vineyard, Amador County, $30.00, Gold, 93 points. 

Director’s Awards also singled out Best of Varietals, of which we’ve cherry-picked a few of local interest:

Best Albariño: LaZarre 2025 Albariño Edna Valley, $28.00, Gold, 91 points 

Best Blended Red Rhone Varieties:  Silvestri 2021 Grenache (90%) Syrah (10%) Estate Carmel Valley, $25.00, Gold, 92 points

Best Chardonnay: Bernardus 2023 Chardonnay Rosella’s Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands 

Best Riesling, Sweet: Integrity Wines 2023 Riesling Santa Lucia Highlands, $32.00, Gold, 90 points

Best Pinot Noir: J. Lohr 2024 Fog’s Reach Pinot Noir Certified California Sustainable Arroyo Seco $35.00, Platinum, 95 points

Best Syrah (tie): J. Lohr 2023 South Ridge Syrah Certified California Sustainable Paso Robles $15.00, Platinum. 94 points

Best Syrah (tie): Silvestri 2023 Syrah Estate Carmel Valley, $40.00, Platinum, 94 points

Here are the Gold & Silver medals earned by local wineries

As One Cru 2023 Chardonnay Certified Sustainably Grown, Paicines, $27.99, Gold, 90 points

As One Cru 2023 Pinot Noir Chalk Crest Vineyard Paicines, $27.99, Gold, 90 points

As One Cru 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Palisades Trail Vineyard Paicines $32.99 Silver

Note: This is the first year of entering for As One Cru, the latest project by Chris Rodamski, a Canadian food and wine lover who was part of the wildly successful Hundred Acre wine brand in Napa that earned 30+ 100-point scores from Parker. Now, in partnership with The Wine Group, he’s spearheading a collection of fine wines from top vineyards and AVA’s on the West Coast, including a project in Paicines.  More on that another time.

Bernardus 2023 Chardonnay Rosella’s Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands $55.00 Platinum 96 points

Bernardus 2024 SLH Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands $45.00 Gold 92 points

Bernardus 2023 Chardonnay Monterey County $25.00 Gold 91 points

Bernardus 2023 Chardonnay Soberanes Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands $55.00 Gold 91 points

Bernardus 2023 Pinot Noir Garys’ Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands $80.00 Gold 91 points

Bernardus 2023 Pinot Noir Rosella’s Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands $80.00 Gold 91 points

Bernardus 2023 Pinot Noir Sierra Mar Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands $70.00 Gold 90 points

Bernardus 2023 Chardonnay Sierra Mar Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands $50.00 Silver

Cru Winery 2023 SLH Chardonnay Smith & Lindley Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands $25.00 Gold 93 points

Cru Winery 2024 SLH Unoaked Chardonnay Smith & Lindley Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands $20.00 Gold 91 points

Cru Winery 2023 Pinot Noir Monterey $20.00 Silver

Cru Winery 2023 SLH Pinot Noir Smith & Lindley Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands $25.00 Silver

EX 2024 Syrah Monterey $25.00 Gold 91 points (This is Sabrine Rodems low oak, spice-forward sassy Syrah under Wrath’s edgy Ex Vita Label) 

Furthermore Wines 2023 Pinot Noir Rosella’s Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands $80.00 Silver

Idle Hour 2022 Syrah Petaluma Gap $50.00 Silver

Integrity Wines 2022 Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands $38.00 Gold 93 points

Integrity Wines 2023 Riesling Santa Lucia Highlands $32.00 Gold 90 points

J. Lohr 2024 Fog’s Reach Pinot Noir Certified California Sustainable Arroyo Seco $35.00 Platinum 95 points

J. Lohr 2023 South Ridge Syrah Certified California Sustainable Paso Robles $15.00 Platinum 94 points

J. Lohr 2024 Arroyo Vista Chardonnay Certified California Sustainable Arroyo Seco $25.00 Gold 92 points

J. Lohr 2023 Hilltop Cabernet Sauvignon Certified California Sustainable Paso Robles $35.00 Gold 91 points

J. Lohr 2025 Wildflower Valdiguié Certified California Sustainable Arroyo Seco $13.00 Gold 91 points

J. Lohr 2024 PAPERWHITE Unoaked Chardonnay Certified California Sustainable Arroyo Seco $13.99 Gold 90 points

J. Lohr 2024 October Night Chardonnay Certified California Sustainable Arroyo Seco $25.00 Gold 90 points

J. Lohr 2023 Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon Certified California Sustainable Paso Robles $17.00 Silver

J. Lohr 2024 Riverstone Chardonnay Certified California Sustainable Arroyo Seco $14.00 Silver

J. Lohr 2024 Falcon’s Perch Pinot Noir Certified California Sustainable Monterey County $17.00 Silver

Morgan Winery 2023 Mourvedre Rodnick Farm Chalone $30.00 Silver

Morgan Winery 2023 Dry Riesling Double L Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands $28.00 Silver

Scheid Vineyards 2022 Pinot Noir Estate Grown Monterey $42.00 Gold 91 points

Scheid Vineyards 2024 Chardonnay Estate Grown; Isabelle’s Vineyard Monterey $32.00 Gold 90 points

Scheid Vineyards 2020 Reserve Claret Estate Grown Monterey $90.00 Gold 90 points

Silvestri 2023 Syrah Estate Carmel Valley $40.00 Platinum 94 points

Silvestri 2023 Barbera Estate Carmel Valley $35.00 Gold 93 points

Silvestri 2022 Rising Tide Pinot Noir Estate Carmel Valley $32.00 Gold 93 points

Silvestri 2021 Grenache (90%) Syrah (10%) Estate Carmel Valley $25.00 Gold 92 points

Silvestri 2021 I’Vendicatori Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Carmel Valley $35.00 Silver

Silvestri 2023 Bella Sandra Chardonnay Estate Carmel Valley $28.00 Silver

Silvestri 2023 Rising Tide Pinot Noir Estate Carmel Valley $32.00 Silver

Silvestri 2021 Eugenia Red Wine Estate Carmel Valley $30.00 Silver

Sunny With a Chance of Flowers 2024 Sauvignon Blanc California $16.99 Silver (Scheid brand)

Tondré 2023 Pinot Noir Tondré Grapefield Santa Lucia Highlands $40.00 Silver

Wrath 2024 Swan/828 Pinot Noir Monterey $39.00 Platinum 94 points

Wrath 2024 3 Clone Chardonnay Monterey $35.00 Silver

Wrath 2024 Pinot Noir Boekenoogen Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands $55.00 Silver

Wrath 2024 Pinot Noir Tondré Grapefield Santa Lucia Highlands $55.00 Silver

Wine director, Rich Cook, has notes on all the Platinum winners on the website, but these were worth including:

Bernardus, 2023 Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay “Rosella’s Vineyard”

This wine shows a deft hand with barrel selection, one that produces a wine with taut acidity and restrained fruit flavors that are enhanced by the oak character and not overwhelmed. The finish maintains the oak toast with a dash of butter, and it lets out a lemon crème note that lingers pleasantly. Dry and seductive, this is a perfect seafood Chardonnay. Excellent!

J. Lohr, Arroyo Seco (Monterey County, California) 2024 Pinot Noir “Fog’s Reach” 

Rich aromas of cherry and strawberry lead to a palate that presents those elements in a dry, elegant style that uses lively acidity to keep the flavors flowing. Accents of rhubarb, soft fall spice and faint herbs make this a complex wine to drink now after decanting, or to save in your cellar for 5-7 years. 

Silvestri, 2023 Carmel Valley Syrah “Estate” 

Lots going on here aromatically… Mint, chocolate, blackberry and a touch of tarry character draw you in, and the lively black fruit palate holds your attention by keeping the other elements in the mix. It’s a fine cooler climate example that is looking for lamb, and you’d be wise to oblige…

Wrath, Monterey Pinot Noir “Swan/828” 2024 

Ripe strawberry leads the aroma parade here, with dusty earth tones and powdery spice joining in. These elements translate well as palate flavors, with bracing acidity carrying it all through a long finish where a kiss of sweet oak joins in. This will be great with roast chicken or turkey.

IN OTHER NEWS

Last Call for the 2021 Boekenoogen Estate Chardonnay:

An email just received from McIntyre offers the final opportunity to secure the last of this vintage of Boekenoogen Chardonnay, made by Garrett Boekenoogen. This special pricing, $32 (reg. $40) is reserved for shipped orders only and ends soon. Ship25 code gets flat rate $25. Min. four bottles.

We also learned that McIntyre will be producing wine from the Boekenoogen Vineyard going forward. The final bottling from Garrett Boekenoogen’s winemaking is the 2022 vintage, currently available in the tasting room. 2021 vintage Cabernet, Zinfandel, and Petite Sirah made by Boekenoogen are all still available.

Get VIP tickets now for the annual SLH Sun, Wind & Wine Gala, coming up Saturday, May 2, at Mer Soleil. SLHMay2

Laura Ness is a longtime wine journalist, columnist and judge who contributes regularly to Edible Monterey Bay, Spirited, WineOh.Tv, Los Gatos Magazine and Wine Industry Network, and a variety of consumer publications. Her passion is telling stories about the intriguing characters who inhabit the fascinating world of wine and food.