South Coast Winery in Temecula, California, claimed top honors at the 2026 Sunset International Wine Competition, earning one Double Gold medal and four Gold medals across its portfolio. The winery's 2025 Verdelho received the Double Gold designation with a score of 96 points. According to the winery's tasting notes, Pacific Ocean breezes and soils composed of loam, sandy loam and decomposed granite create ideal conditions for producing crisp white wines. Judges praised the Verdelho for its clean minerality, refreshing acidity and balanced body. Four additional wines earned Gold medals: the 2024 Big Red Sunshine Primitivo, noted for its ripe red raspberry flavors; 2025 Pinot Grigio Sparkling, featuring notes of cotton candy, mango and pear; 2025 Sparkling Gewürztraminer, offering aromas and flavors of orange blossom, stone fruit and violet; and NV Spumante Diamante, a sweet sparkling wine with apricot notes. In total, South Coast Winery earned nine medals at this year's competition, with every wine submitted receiving an award.
Family Legacy The Temecula Valley winery is owned and managed by family-operated Carter Hospitality.
Jeff Carter, president of Carter Hospitality, said: "We are pleased with South Coast's exceptional results and thank Editor-in-Chief Hugh Garvey and the Sunset magazine team for establishing the competition as a respected showcase for the wine industry. Congratulations to our winery team, led by Master Winemaker Jon McPherson and winemakers Javier Flores and Emily Bloom. Their dedication and craftsmanship make these honors especially meaningful as we celebrate South Coast Winery's 25th anniversary." The winery, founded in 2001, has earned more than 5,000 awards to date and has been named California Winery of the Year five times at the California State Fair Wine Competition. Winning producers will be featured in the October edition of the Sunset Wine Special digital issue and on the publication's accompanying microsite.
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Written by FBM Publications Editors
