2026
In the 2026 competition, held July 30th, judges Dan Berger, Laura Ness and Greg Richtarek awarded thirty gold medals to the 87 entries. This demonstrates their appreciation of the quality of the wines across the board. Canned wines from many countries and several states were very well received by the judges.
The Sweepstakes Award went to We Are The Uncommon NZ. Remarkably, their five entries garnered four gold medals and two Best of Show awards. All three Freetime Wines from Oregon won gold medals, including a Best of Show Red Wine award for their Pinot Noir. Both wines from Stoller Family Estate won gold medals and their Swing Pinot Gris was awarded Best of Show White Wine. Other top performers were Maker Wine Company from California, winners of four gold medals, and Benmarl Winery in New York, who won three golds.
At the conclusion of the competition, judge Laura Ness remarked, “Cans are the Wild West of Wine right now: anything goes! Consumers should rejoice in the flexibility of this portable format. Whatever you fancy can be had in small doses, from excellent sparkling, rosés and still wines, to creative spritzers.”
The Best of Show award winners for 2026 are:
Red: 2025 Freetime Wine Bright Pinot Noir, Columbia Gorge, Oregon
White: Stoller Family Estate Swing Pinot Gris, American
Rosé: We Are The Uncommon NZ Still Rosé, Marlborough, New Zealand
Sparkling: We Are The Uncommon NZ Bubbly Rosé, Marlborough, New Zealand
Spritzer: The OBC Wine Project Guava Spritz, American
A list and images of all medal winners, including the package design awards, follow.
2026 Best of Show Wines
White: Stoller Family Estate Swing Pinot Gris, American
Spritzer: The OBC Wine Project Guava Spritz, American
Rosé: We Are The Uncommon NZ Still Rosé, Marlborough, New Zealand
Sparkling: We Are The Uncommon NZ Bubbly Rosé, Marlborough, New Zealand
Red: 2025 Freetime Wine Bright Pinot Noir, Columbia Gorge, Oregon
2026 Gold Medal Winners
2026 Gold Medal Winners
Arrebol Wine
2026 Sauvignon Blanc, Casablanca Valley, Chile
Benmarl Winery
Dry Rosé, New York
Marlboro Village Blush, Hudson River Region, New York
Cabernet Franc, New York
Bodega Santa Julia
2025 Tintillo, Mendoza, Argentina
Element 79 Vineyards
Color Wines 2024 Sparkling Rosé, Fair Play, California
Freetime Wine
2025 Lively Pinot Noir Rosé, Columbia Gorge, Oregon
2025 Bright Pinot Noir, Columbia Gorge, Oregon, Best of Show Red Wine
2025 White Pinot Noir, Columbia Gorge, Oregon
La Disruptiva
2024 Rosado, Spain
Maker Wine Company
2025 Rosé of Grenache, Monterey, California
2025 Bubbly Rosé, Paso Robles, California
Red Blend, Paso Robles, California
Brut Bubbles, Lodi, California
Meyer Family Cellars
Piquette, Mendocino County, California
North Avenue Cellars
Red Wine, Sonoma County, California
White Wine, Sonoma County, California
O'Neill Vintners and Distillers
Creamery Chardonnay, California
Prince Michel Vineyard and Winery
S.A.S.S. Wine Cellars Red Flag, Virginia
Stoller Family Estate
Swing Pinot Gris, American, Best of Show White Wine
Swing Pinot Noir, American
Suntory Spirits Limited
Oishiiwine Sparkling White Wine, Japan
The OBC Wine Project
Guava Spritz, American, Best of Show Spritzer
2025 Colorado Bubbles, Grand Valley, Colorado
Vina Carmen
2025 Frida Kahlo Sparkling Moscato, Chile
We Are The Uncommon NZ
Still Rosé, Marlborough, New Zealand, Best of Show Rosé Wine
Bubbly Rosé, Marlborough, New Zealand, Best of Show Sparkling Wine
Still Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand
Bubbly Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand
Wrongfully Right Cocktails
Wine and Cola Cocktail – Cherry, British Columbia/Washington/California
Gold Medal Red Wines
Gold Medal White Wines
Gold Medal Rosé Wines
Gold Medal Sparkling Wines
Gold Medal Spritzers
2026 Package Design Award Winners
