With so many wines available from all corners of the globe how can one zero in on which ones are worth drinking the next time you're dining out at a restaurant? The 2021 Sommeliers Choice Awards winners list is the perfect way to find your next favorite wine.

The annual wine competition recognizes wines from around the world on the basis of their food pairing ability, typicity, value for money, quality, and packaging & design. Wines entered are tasted by some of the country’s best sommeliers, Master Sommeliers, and wine experts from  E. & J. Gallo Winery, Treasury Wine Estates, Levy Restaurants, The French Laundry, and more.

So the next time you’re looking for a wine, don’t forget about these award-winning wines picked by experts. 

1. 2019 Eroica Riesling

97 points

The 2021 Sommeliers Choice Awards crowned Chateau Ste. Michelle & Dr. Loosen 2019 Eroica Riesling as its Wine of the Year. Chateau Ste. Michelle has been an expert in the production of riesling for more than 45 years and was the first to plant the grape in Washington state. The Eroica Riesling offers sweet lime and mandarin orange aromas with subtle mineral notes. Pair this wine with Asian dishes, Indian curries, crab, and scallops. 

2.Persistence by Reynolds Family Winery

96 points

This Californian red blend from the Reynolds Family Winery brought home ‘Red Wine of the Year’. The family has been creating some of the finest hand-crafted wines since 1999. The bottle has a mustard flower as its emblem, which is a symbol of faith and a metaphor for the value of hard work. The wine has flavors of leather, green tobacco, and a cigar box that broadens into a bold and lush palate of blueberry jam. This Californian red blend tastes best with beef, lamb, veal, and poultry. The bottle has 14.6% net alcohol content.

3.Long Shadows Vintners- Poet’s Leap Riesling

96 points

Inspired by the great wines of Germany and winemaker Armin Diel, the Poet’s Leap Riesling is awarded the wine of the year BTG and White Wine of the Year BTG. This 2019 vintage has nuances of peach and nectarine, hints of white flowers and ginger. The Poet’s Leap Riesling is fresh and textural, driven by ripe apricot and ripe golden apple. The wine goes well with pork, cured meat, spicy food, shellfish, and poultry. 

4.Carracedo

96 points

The Spanish Mencia,  Abad Carracedo Mencía Tinto is recognized as the best wine by country from Spain and Red wine of the year BTG. The wine is packed with lush, brambly, red, and black fruit with high-toned intriguing floral notes of rose and lavender. It also holds slight hints of charcuterie notes, tobacco, and savory herbs. The Carracedo blends impeccably with veal, game (deer, venison), and poultry.

5.Merlot Estate

95 points

The Washington state Merlot originates from the United states’ L’Ecole NO. 41 winery. The 2017 vintage bagged a gold medal in the competition. It is Walla Walla Valley’s finest Merlot. The wine is medium ruby-colored; with red plum, dark cherry, wet gravel, and cheddar notes in the bouquet. On the palate, it is medium-bodied with lively medium acidity. The judges describe it as a dense and polished black plum, cherry, and mocha glide on a velvety textured frame. The palate has complex flavors of berries, chocolate, and leather nuances. The wine best matches with beef, lamb, and veal. 

6.UNO MALBEC

95 points

The Argentinian Malbec comes from the Antigal Winery. Antigal is one of the oldest wineries in the region, dating back to 1897, and is one of the few still in production. The wine is recognized as a gold medal winner by the judges. It has rich chocolate, fig, plum, blackberry, and spice flavors which reinforces the nose. The wine is complex and delicious with flavors of blackberry pie, plum, and redcurrant. The alcohol by volume is 13.9%. It tastes best with Beef, Cheese - Nutty & Semi-Firm, Fish - Meaty & Oily, Mushrooms, Pasta, Turkey.

7.Marcenasco

95 points

Coming from  Barolo and the winery of Renato Ratti, Marcenasco is garnet red in color with a bouquet of licorice and tobacco. It is made from the Nebbiolo grapes from Italy. On the palate, it gives aromas of spice, tobacco, and herbal notes with overtones of red flowers and anise. The fruit is driven by ripe raspberries, figs, and dried strawberries. The wine best pairs with beef, pasta, lamb, and game (deer, venison). The ABV is 14%.

8.Ochetti

95 points

Ochetti is the second entry from the Renato Ratti winery. The wine is made with Nebbiolo grapes from Italy. The nose is classic rose petals, bright strawberries, and raspberries. The wine has notes of dried herbs and sour cherry. Would benefit from 5-10 years of further bottle aging. You can serve this wine with beef, lamb, poultry, and game (deer, venison). The bottle has a net alcohol content of 14%.

9.Black Label

95 points

The Gavi dei Gavi from La Scola aka Black label has been awarded the gold medal by the judges. It comes from the winery of La Scola made from the Cortese grapes. The nose holds flavors of candied grapefruit, pineapple, pear, and green apple nuances. The palate has a long finish that is driven by lime blossom and almond skin. The wine matches best with pasta, shellfish, lean fish, cured meat, appetizers, and snacks.

10.D’Antan

95 points

From the winery of La Scola, D’Antan has won the best wine of the year by country (Italy) at the competition. The wine is made from traditional recipes which makes it a typical Italian Wine. D’Antan has flavors of white peach, smoked pineapple, almond skin, hazelnut, golden delicious apple, and yellow pear. The palate has deep flavors of toasted walnuts and pecans with a caramel finish. The wine tastes best with pasta, cured meat, fish, and spicy food.