Our 2022 SF Chronicle Wine Competition Gold Medal Wines

2022 was a great year for our wine, as we received 9 Gold Medals at the 2022 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition . We were also awarded Best of Class award for our 2019 Chardonnay Reserve. For a taste of our featured double gold medal wines, shop our Award Winning Wine Pack and experience these winning bottles for yourself!

Please join us in congratulating our entire winemaking team , including head winemakers Brooks Painter & Peter Velleno for their hard work. Special thanks to our vineyard manager David Bejar who oversees Castello properties year-round.

Awards from the 2022 SF Chronicle Wine Competition

There were over forty-eight judges, representing various North American wine regions, evaluating 5,816 wines from nearly 1,000 wineries for the 2022 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

Bob Fraser, SFCWC executive director, says, “The response from the wineries of North America at our 2022 competition was outstanding. Sweepstakes awards hail from California, Washington and Georgia.

We had a number of wines win Gold and Double Gold Medals, along with a Best of Class medal for our 2020 Reserve Chardonnay. Check out the complete list of award winners:

2019 Chardonnay Reserve – Best of Class, Chardonnay
2017 Il Barone, Cabernet Sauvignon – Double Gold Metal (5th Vintage in a row)
2015 La Castellana, Super Tuscan Blend, Napa Valley – Double Gold Medal
2019 Pinot Noir, Cresta d’Oro Vineyard, Sonoma County – Double Gold Medal (4th vintage in a row)
2019 Pinot Noir, Terra de Promissio, Sonoma County – Double Gold Medal
2019 Pinot Noir, Morning Dew Ranch, Anderson Valley – Double Gold Medal

2016 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley – Gold Medal
2016 Il Passito, Napa Valley – Gold Medal
2018 Pinot Noir, Il Rubino – Gold Medal (3rd vintage in a row)

SF Chronicle Best of Class: 2019 Reserve Chardonnay, Napa Valley

SF Chronicle Wine Judge Mike Dunne, longtime SFCWC wine judge and the former food editor, wine columnist, and restaurant critic noted “Castello di Amorosa 2019 Napa Valley Reserve Chardonnay: Of course any Chardonnay that comes from a castle should be seen as being kingly and queenly, which this is in its golden luminescence, regal carriage, vivid citric fruit and ticklish spiciness. Castello di Amorosa is part of the same royal family that includes V. Sattui Winery, which also won best-of-class for a lighter but nonethess correct interpretation of Chardonnay.”

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Serata Sangria

By castellodiamorosa • July 3, 2026

Recipe Date: April 30, 2026 Difficulty: Easy Measurements: Imperial (US) Serving: 1 INGREDIENTS Serata Sangria 3 oz Serata wine 2 oz orange juice 2 oz pineapple juice Fresh grapes & blackberries, halved Splash of sparkling water Ice Additional Garnish (Optional) Fresh herbs for garnish (mint or basil work beautifully) DIRECTIONS For the Serata Sangria , chill all ingredients for at least a half-hour before preparing. Pour into a 10oz glass (or combine servings into a pitcher) : the Serata wine, orange juice, and pineapple juice. Add a handful of the fresh grapes and blackberries for a burst of natural sweetness. Let the mixture sit for at least 10 minutes so flavors can mingle. Add ice and top with a splash of sparkling water for a crisp finish, then garnish with fresh herbs. Stir gently and serve immediately. This easy sangria recipe balances citrus brightness with subtle sweetness, while the sparkling water keeps it light and refreshing. The addition of fresh fruit and herbs enhances both aroma and flavor, making it an ideal summer wine cocktail or brunch drink . Enjoy & Cheers!