Our quarterly update and aggregation of wine ratings from the world’s most respected wine reviewers and publications (9300 ratings added this quarter) results in some wineries moving up, e.g. from a 4 star rating to a 4 1/2 star rating*, and others moving down. While hundreds of wineries recently received great scores for their wines, the high scores for the wineries listed below resulted in a higher overall rating for the winery on AmericanWineryGuide.com.
If scores were always a precise and consistent measurement of wine quality, a rating increase from one vintage to the next would indicate that a winery is making better wines, either due to the skill of the winemaker or the quality of the grapes. In reality, there are several external factors – new or different raters, score inflation, etc. – that might explain why a wine from one vintage is scored higher lower than the previous year’s vintage. While some people dismiss ratings for these and other reasons, we believe ratings are a valuable tool for discovering new varieties, regions and wineries in a cost effective manner. In that spirit of exploration and discovery, we present our quarterly list of American wineries on the rise!
*The overall rating takes into account both the average rating received and the number of ratings received. Ratings are also calculated for each varietal; a winery might have an overall rating of 4 stars, but a rating of 4.5 stars for a particular varietal. Vintages included are 2005 to current for reds and 2007 to current for whites. The average price is based on rated wines only.
New AWG 5 Star Wineries
California
Napa Valley
Levy & McClellan | $425 | WA
(Map and Complete List of 5 Star Napa Wineries)
New AWG 4 1/2 Star Wineries
California
Napa Valley
Hewitt Vineyard | $100 | WA, WS
PharaohMoans | $105 | WA, WE, ST
(Map and Complete List of 4 1/2 Star Napa Wineries)
Monterey
Talbott Vineyards & Winery | $37 | WA, WE, ST
(Map and Complete List of 4 1/2 Star Monterey Wineries)
Paso Robles
Clos Solene | $84 | WA, ST
Nicora Wines | $49 | WA
(Map and Complete List of 4 1/2 Star Paso Robles Wineries)
Santa Barbara
The Hilt | $47 | WA, ST
(Map and Complete List of 4 1/2 Star Santa Barbara Wineries)
Oregon
Willamette Valley
Tendril Wine Cellars | $52 | WS
(Map and Complete List of 4 1/2 Star Willamette Valley Wineries)
Washington
Walla Walla Valley
Feather at Long Shadows | $58 | WE, WS
(Map and Complete List of 4 1/2 Star Walla Walla Wineries)
New AWG 4 Star Wineries
California
Clear Lake
Hawk & Horse Vineyards | $59 | BTI
(Map and Complete List of 4 Star Clear Lake Wineries)
Napa Valley
Anthem Winery | $83 | WA, WS
Bouchaine Vineyards | $34 | BTI
Hobel Wine Works | $75 | WS
Mathew Bruno | $64 | WS
Saunter Wines | $104 | WA
(Map and Complete List of 4 Star Napa Wineries)
Monterey
Lucienne | $46 | ST
(Map and Complete List of 4 Star Monterey Wineries)
San Francisco
Waits-Mast Family Cellars | $44 | WE
Santa Barbara
Frequency Wines | $34 | WA, ST
Liquid Farm | $46 | WA, ST
Seagrape Wine Company | $29 | ST
(Map and Complete List of 4 Star Santa Barbara Wineries)
Sonoma
O’Connor Vineyards | $35 | PR
(Map and Complete List of 4 Star Sonoma Wineries)
Oregon
Willamette Valley
CAW Wines | $39 | WA
William Hatcher Wines | $48 | WE, WS
(Map and Complete List of 4 Star Willamette Valley Wineries)
Washington
Yakima Valley
Double Canyon Vineyards | $40 | WS
(Map and Complete List of 4 Star Yakima Valley Wineries)
New AWG 3 1/2 Star Wineries
California
Edna Valley
Rob Murray Vineyards | $36 | WA
(Map and Complete List of 3 1/2 Star Edna Valley Wineries)
Napa Valley
Robinson Family Winery | $54 | WE
Rossi-Wallace | $28 | WS
TwentyFour Wines | $85 | WS
(Map and Complete List of 3 1/2 Star Napa Wineries)
Paso Robles
Hearthstone Vineyard | $30 | WA, ST
Proulx and Blackburn Wine Company | $34 | WA, ST
Record Family Wines | $31 | ST
Tobin James Cellars | $81 | ST
(Map and Complete List of 3 1/2 Star Paso Robles Wineries)
Santa Barbara
Jalama Wines | $39 | WA, ST
(Map and Complete List of 3 1/2 Star Santa Barbara Wineries)
Sonoma
Bink Wines | $31 | WE
Draxton Wines | $21 | BTI
Fotinos Vineyard | $50 | BTI
Haraszthy Family Cellars | $18 | BTI
(Map and Complete List of 3 1/2 Star Sonoma Wineries)
Other
Parrish Family Vineyard | $37 | ST
Wisconsin
Chateau St. Croix Winery & Vineyard | $25 | BTI
(Map and Complete List of 3 1/2 Star Wisconsin Wineries)