The United States has never been associated with wine. Despite the fact that award-winning wineries dot the country, we tend to underperform globally.
For the most part, the world’s top wines come from France, Spain, and Italy.
Or, at least, they used to.
Thanks to ongoing efforts in Napa Valley and Sonoma County, US wines have started to gain international attention. Other West Coast states like Oregon and Washington have also made waves with their white and red wines.
Over the last few years, some products have even been ranked in one of the top three global wine competitions, the Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA).
So far, no US wines have nabbed awards from the prestigious AWC Vienna and Mundus Vini. But that might change over the next few years.
For now, let’s take a look at which US wines made the cut in 2023. I’ve got all the platinum and gold medalists from the DWWA, along with local favorites from USA Wine Ratings.
Best 2023 US wines from US Wine Ratings
Gloria Ferrer Vineyard (Carneros, California)
Gloria Ferrer is a vineyard located in Sonoma Valley. The grounds are also home to a series of interesting caves, some of which are used for aging the wines. If you’ll be in the area, you can actually visit the Gloria Ferrer Vineyard.
Winning wines (2023):
- Gold: Carneros Cuvee
- Gold: Royal Cuvee
Driscoll Wine Company (Saint Helena, California)
This company zeroes in on the finer things. Even a visit to their website highlights their artisanal approach to making really, really tasty wine. If you’re someone who buys their wine based on the label (like me), then look no further.
Winning wine (2023):
- Gold: Hibou
Penrose Hill (Healdsburg, California)
Similar to Driscoll, the Penrose Hill grounds aren’t open to visitors. However, you can find Penrose Hill wines (including the gold medalist Bramble & Bower) available via Firstleaf. Firstleaf is a new wine subscription box—one that I’ve been eyeing for a while now.
Winning wine (2023):
- Gold: Bramble & Bower
Duck Pond Cellars (Dundee, Oregon)
This Oregon wine comes from the prestigious Dundee region (which you’ll notice in the DWWA section below). Similar to the Gloria Ferrer Vineyard, Duck Pond Cellars is open for visitors. You can take a trip to the tasting room to sample some of its most delectable hits.
Winning wine (2023):
- Gold: Duck Pond Cellars Natural Path Pinot Noire
Cupere (Sonoma, California)
If I were buying wine based on the label, I’d choose Cupere – Love is a Gamble. Same for the name. The entire Cupere experience is incredibly artistic and artisanal. Though it’s a pricier selection, I think it’s worth the pretty penny. Unfortunately, the vineyards aren’t open to visitors.
Winning wine (2023):
- Gold: Cupere – Love is a Gamble
Best 2023 US wines from the DWWA
Earning a shout-out from USA Wine Ratings is a reason to celebrate for any winery. However, the Decanter World Wine Awards is considered one of the most prestigious competitions in the wine world.
In other words, only the creme of the crop get attention from the DWWA.
I’ve highlighted and listed all the platinum and gold winners from the 2023 DWWA wine tastings below. You can also browse all the selections here, including their silver and bronze medalists. Or dive into the list below; I’ve provided vineyard links where possible.
- Platinum: Clos du Val, Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley, 2021 (California)
- Visit the vineyard in Napa Valley
- Platinum: Bledsoe Family Winery, Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley, 2020 (Washington State)
- Visit the vineyard in Walla Walla, Washington
- Gold: Newton, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mount Veeder, 2018 (California)
- Visit the vineyard in St. Helena, California
- Gold: Barefoot Bubbly, Rosé Brut, (California)
- Gold: Domaine Serene, Two Barns Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills, 2019 (Oregon)
- Visit the vineyard in Dayton, Oregon
- Gold: Kenwood Vineyards, Six Ridges Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, 2020 (California)
- Visit the vineyard in Kenwood, California