Riesling, Albariño and Grüner Veltliner Rise to the Top at the 2020 Pennsylvania Sommelier Judgment

On October 26, 23 wine experts who represent some of the region’s top wine programs convened for the fourth annual PA Sommelier Judgment. The initiative from the Pennsylvania Winery Association invites Sommeliers, beverage directors, and other industry representatives to participate in a blind tasting of vinifera wines produced in Pennsylvania using grapes grown in the state. Given the Coronavirus pandemic, the event adapted to an outdoor affair this year held in Delaware County where attendees tasted more than 100 Pennsylvania wines submitted by 25 wineries. The panel shared its marks following two extensive tasting rounds revealing the top varietals including Riesling, Albariño and Grüner Veltliner with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Chardonnay rounding out the list.

“Despite challenges with COVID this year, we knew the PA Sommelier Judgment was an important event to prioritize and take place,” shared Jennifer Eckinger, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Winery Association (PWA). “Each year, this event continues to demonstrate its value for both the wineries and the participating sommeliers. Winemakers have the unique opportunity to receive valuable feedback to shape their future vintages and sommeliers are able to familiarize themselves with local offerings to recommend to their customers, thus, expanding the exposure and accessibility of Pennsylvania Wines across the industry.”

The PWA partners with Scott Zoccolillo, Wine Director for Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse, to organize the tasting each year. “The 1976 tasting in Paris was my true inspiration behind the PA Sommelier Judgment where Parisian wines were lined up next to California wines and judged. Our first event mimicked that same concept putting Pennsylvania wines up against California wines proving that Pennsylvania wines can compete not only on a national level but an international level as well. It has since morphed into a focused state tasting where we’re able to closely look at the quality and quantity of the incredible producers right here in Pennsylvania. There has been a lot more interest in local wine from our collective customers, which I attribute to the craft beer culture, and this annual tasting allows us to bring awareness of these producers directly to them, showcasing that local wines are the true craft spirit of the region,” explained Zoccolillo, Wine Director for Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse.

Zoccolillo was joined by his colleagues and peers for a total of 23 panelists who judged over 100 wines over two rounds of blind tasting. A complete list of panelists is listed below. Round 1 judging criteria focused on varietal correctness (appearance, bouquet, taste, and finish), which was rated numerically. The top scoring wines moved on to round two and were judged on a 1-10 scale based on overall impression of the wine.

One of the panelists, Jill Davis, Beverage Director for the Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center, commented on overall trends noting, “In the beverage industry as a whole, we’re seeing less extraction and lower alcohol, which I saw come through in today’s tasting. There are leaner and less ripe styles in the wines across the board.”

Zoccolillo further added, “After doing this for several years now, I can say that every region has a grape that they’re really driving to making a name for themselves and every vintage has a different style of wine that they’re doing really well. There is no one part of Pennsylvania that is any further above or below anyone else. They’re consistently making great quality wines with vintage variations.”

The PWA continues to identify new ways to connect with industry leaders to expand their knowledge in Pennsylvania Wines first-hand with initiatives like the PA Sommelier Judgment – and many others that are wrapping on the heels of Pennsylvania Wine Month this past October – and looks forward to seeing an increase in local wine programming throughout the industry.