Beyond the world’s most familiar white grapes lies a category defined by exploration and character. “Other White Varietal” wines celebrate diversity in winemaking, spotlighting grapes and blends that thrive outside the mainstream while delivering distinctive flavor, texture, and balance. This year’s Best White Varietal selections highlight wines that push boundaries with confidence, showcasing how thoughtful viticulture and intentional winemaking can elevate lesser-known grapes into truly standout performers.

Vint Hill Craft Winery is known for its small-lot approach and focus on varietals well-suited to the Mid-Atlantic climate. Petit Manseng has become a signature grape for the region, prized for its natural acidity, concentration, and aromatic intensity. The 2024 Madison Petit Manseng captures the grape’s hallmark richness while maintaining balance and lift, delivering a wine that is both expressive and refined.

Vint Hill Craft Winery’s Madison Petit Manseng is a compelling example of how regional alignment and varietal choice can shine. The 2024 vintage offers layered aromatics and a textured palate, balanced by vibrant acidity that keeps the wine fresh and focused from start to finish.

Rolling Forks Vineyards, operating under the Allegro label, champions cold-hardy and hybrid varieties designed to flourish in challenging climates. Brianna, a hybrid grape known for its aromatic profile and natural freshness, offers a unique canvas for expressive white winemaking.

The 2024 Brianna stood out for its clarity and balance, delivering aromatic lift and a clean, inviting structure that highlights the grape’s natural appeal. Allegro’s 2024 Brianna is vibrant and approachable, offering an expressive aromatic profile paired with a bright, refreshing palate. The wine’s purity and balance exemplify the potential of hybrid varieties when crafted with intention and care.

Hearst Ranch Winery draws inspiration from California’s Central Coast, producing wines that emphasize balance, food-friendliness, and varietal integrity. Their White Rhône Blend reflects the region’s Mediterranean climate and Rhône varietal heritage.

The 2024 White Rhône Blend brings together complementary white grapes to create a layered, harmonious wine with depth, texture, and aromatic complexity. Hearst Ranch Winery’s White Rhône Blend offers a well-composed expression of Rhône-style whites, combining aromatic lift with a rounded, textured palate that speaks to both craftsmanship and place.

Twin Rocks Estate Winery is known for producing wines that emphasize elegance and varietal expression. Grenache Blanc thrives in warm climates when handled with restraint, offering body without heaviness. The 2024 Lotus Blossom Grenache Blanc delivers a polished, aromatic profile with a textured palate that remains fresh and balanced throughout.

Twin Rocks Estate Winery’s Lotus Blossom Grenache Blanc is a refined and expressive take on the varietal, blending subtle aromatics with a graceful, well-structured palate that highlights the grape’s versatility.

Ironstone Vineyards, located in California’s Sierra Foothills, is one of the leading producers of Symphony, a rare hybrid of Muscat of Alexandria and Grenache Gris. The winery has become synonymous with the varietal, showcasing its aromatic potential and broad consumer appeal. The 2024 Obsession Symphony highlights the grape’s signature floral and fruit-driven profile, delivered with clarity and polish. 

Ironstone’s Obsession Symphony is vibrant and inviting, offering expressive aromatics and a bright, fruit-forward palate. The wine’s balance and approachability make it a standout example of this unique varietal.

From Petit Manseng and Brianna to Rhône blends, Grenache Blanc, and Symphony, this year’s Best White Varietal selections celebrate the breadth and creativity of modern white winemaking. Congratulations to Vint Hill Craft Winery and Allegro – Rolling Forks Vineyards on earning Best of Class honors, and to all finalists for showcasing the diversity, innovation, and excellence recognized at the 2025 San Francisco International Wine Competition.