Sponsored content: San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition winners

The Label Sweepstake winner is VARA Wines (N.M.) New Mexico Viña Cardinal Rose Wine Label. The Label Sweepstake winner is VARA Wines (N.M.) New Mexico Viña Cardinal Rose Wine Label. Photo: Michael Short Buy photo Photo: Michael Short Image 1 of / 9 Caption Close Sponsored content: San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition winners 1 / 9 Back to Gallery

More than 6,700 wines from wineries in North America were entered into the 2020 competition. Out of this enormous field of entries, the following wines stood out to be declared the best of the best, receiving the prestigious American AgCredit Sweepstake Award. Included with each sweepstakes winner are tasting notes by Mike Dunne, contributing wine writer to the Sacramento Bee.

Sparkling Sweepstake

Breathless Wines, (Calif.)

Sonoma County Blanc de Noirs, $32

Penny Gadd-Coster, winemaker

“Breathless” is aptly named, taking away your breath just like your first visit to Yosemite did, thanks to its brassy twilight color, effusive mousse, suggestions of granite as well as wild fruit and almonds in flavor, and a finish as feathery and bracing as spray from Bridalveil Fall.

White Sweepstake

Trader Moon Wine Company (Calif.)

2018 California Honey Moon Viognier, $5.99

More Information For a comprehensive listing of all the Best of Class, double gold, gold, silver and bronze awards, visit www.winejudging.com.

Jesse Pender, winemaker

One monumental Viognier, with an aroma rich, appropriate and continuously unfolding and a flavor forthright in its suggestions of peach and jasmine. The texture speaks to Viognier’s representative viscosity but with a feel more floating than suffocating.

Rose Sweepstake

Ferrari-Carano Vineyard and Winery (Calif.)

2019 Sonoma County Dry

Sangiovese Rose, $15

Sarah Quider, winemaker

Virtually every year at the competition a pink wine based on Sangiovese wins best-of-class. This year it was Ferrari-Carano’s turn. Its 2019 rose is vivid with suggestions of advancing strawberry fruit, rousing acidity and teasing spice.

Red Sweepstake

deLorimier Winery (Calif.)

2016 Crazy Creek Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, $75

Diane Wilson, winemaker

The Crazy Creek packs unusual wallop for Cabernet Sauvignon from Alexander Valley, but the region’s clean fruit, tempered tannins, sleek lines and incomparable balance still are present. Its overall elegance and assurance made it a winner.

Specialty Sweepstake

Ferrante Winery (Ohio)

2017 Grand River Valley Vidal Blanc Ice Wine, $30

Nick Ferrante, winemaker

No need to go all the way to Canada for ice wine rich and balanced; Ohio is close enough. This is pure honeycomb, layered and lasting.

Label Sweepstake

VARA Wines (N.M.)

New Mexico Viña Cardinal Rose Wine Label, $32