Best Riesling — 2025 San Francisco International Wine Competition
Riesling is one of the world’s most transparent grapes, capable of capturing site, climate, and winemaking intent with remarkable clarity. From bone-dry to delicately sweet, the best examples balance acidity, aromatics, and texture, allowing freshness and nuance to coexist in harmony.
This year’s Best Riesling finalists span three distinct global expressions, from historic German vineyards to New World interpretations, each demonstrating why Riesling remains one of the most compelling and versatile white wine varieties in the world.
Winner: Schloss Vollrads — 2022 Prädikatswein Kabinett Riesling
Schloss Vollrads is one of Germany’s most storied wine estates, with a documented winemaking history dating back to the early 13th century. Located in the Rheingau, the estate is internationally revered for its Rieslings that marry tradition, terroir, and precision.
The 2022 Prädikatswein Kabinett Riesling is a classic expression of the Kabinett style — light in alcohol, delicately off-dry, and driven by vibrant acidity. The wine showcases the Rheingau’s ability to produce Rieslings of elegance, clarity, and remarkable balance.
Schloss Vollrads’ 2022 Kabinett Riesling is a masterclass in restraint and harmony. With its crystalline fruit, lifted aromatics, and poised sweetness, the wine delivers depth without heaviness — earning not only Best Riesling honors, but the distinction of Best in Show White for its exceptional balance and purity.
Finalist: Paddy Borthwick — 2024 Riesling
Paddy Borthwick Wines is a family-owned estate known for producing wines that reflect the region’s cool climate and gravelly soils. With a hands-on, vineyard-focused approach, the winery emphasizes natural freshness and varietal clarity across its portfolio.
The 2024 Riesling highlights the purity and energy, combining bright fruit character with a clean, focused structure designed for balance and longevity. This iwne is vibrant, offering lifted aromatics and a lively palate that reflects its cool-climate origins. The wine’s tension and clarity make it both refreshing and expressive.
Finalist: V. Sattui Winery — 2024 Dry Riesling
V. Sattui Winery has been a cornerstone of Napa Valley winemaking for generations, celebrated for its diverse portfolio and commitment to crafting varietally true wines. While Napa is often known for bold reds, the winery’s white wines, particularly Riesling, highlight the region’s versatility.
The 2024 Dry Riesling showcases a distinctly dry interpretation of the grape, focusing on freshness, citrus-driven character, and mineral tension rather than sweetness. V. Sattui’s Dry Riesling offers a crisp take on a classic varietal. The 2024 vintage delivers brightness, with a dry profile that emphasizes structure and refreshment, making it a compelling counterpoint to richer white styles.
From the historic vineyards of the Rheingau to the cool-climate sites of New Zealand and Napa Valley, this year’s Best Riesling finalists showcase the grape’s extraordinary rang. Congratulations to Schloss Vollrads for earning Best Riesling and the coveted Best in Show White, and to Paddy Borthwick and V. Sattui Winery for advancing to the final round with standout expressions of this varietal.
