LUV Wins San Francisco Chronicle 2023 Wine Competition Awards

1/30/2023

composit image of grape vines at LUV with inset images of Barbera and Sauvignon Blanc bottles and award badges

Newcomer Little Uvas Vineyards Takes Home Big Wine Industry Awards

In January, winemakers Rich and Rosy Bergin drove from Little Uvas Vineyards (LUV) in San Martin, CA up to Cloverdale to drop off serveral cases of their small batch, estate-grown varietals to be judged in the San Francisco Chronicle's 2023 Wine Competition.

Each year 60 industry judges taste and evaluate over 5,500 wines from nearly 1,000 wineries. The competition is fierce amongst well-known and established wine makers throughout North America and even more intimidating for wine-industy newcomers like LUV.

In what may be a surprising industry upset, LUV came away with not one, but FOUR coveted 2023 SF Chronicle Wine Competition Awards. A surprise in that, unlike most previous award winners, LUV's estate grown grapes are cultivated in the Santa Clara Valley and not in Napa Valley or other more well-known wine-growing locations on the West Coast.

About The Competiton

The San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition (SFCWC) is currently the largest wine competition in North America. Wineries in the United States, Canada, and Mexico are eligible to enter the competition, although no entries from wines grown or produced outside of North America are eligible to enter. According to the SF Chronicle, "Professional wine judges are sourced throughout the major wine regions in North America to offer diversity of expertise to each judging panel." View the winning SFCWC entries.

LUV's Double-Gold-Winning Wines: Barbera and Sauvignon Blanc

LUV took away Double Gold Awards for their most popular red and white wines.

The Little Uvas Vineyards 2020 Barbera, All You Need is LUV, is a lucious, unique "old-school" varietal that produces a delicous cherry on the nose and a velvety texture on the togue with a long finish.

bottle of LUV Barbera on an orange table with the vineyard in the background

Little Uvas Vineyards' "All You Need is LUV" 2020 Barbera is a Double Gold 2023 SF Chronicle Award Winner

The other popular LUV varietal to take home the Double Gold is the Sea of LUV 2021 Sauvignon Blanc. Keeping this popular wine in stock is a challenge, but those who can get their hands on a glass or a bottle discover hints of white peach and nectarine with a crisp and clean finish. This grape likes the coolness of the morning fog and our master wine maker suggests pairing it with summery specials like garden tomatoes and prawn ceviche.

bottle of LUV Sauvignon Blanc on the bank of a stream with the double gold award badge over image

LUV's 2021 Sauvignon Blanc, "Sea of LUV" voted Double Gold at the San Francisco Chronicle 2023 Wine Competition. Photo credit: Terry Moriyama

LUV's Silver Award Winners: Syrah and Chardonnay

The other varietals to place in the 2023 competiton are the "LUV Potion #9," a 2020 Syrah, and the 2021 LUV Chardonnay "LUV Me Tender."

LUV's Syrah gives notes of sweetness - toffee on the nose and hints of juicy blueberry pie and pairs nicely with something savory like a dish with bacon or short ribs.

bottle of LUV's Syrah on a wine barrel with vineyard in the background and Silver Award badge over image

LUV's 2020 Syrah "LUV Potion #9" was named a Silver Award Winner at the 2023 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

The LUV Chardonnay boasts hints of butter and oak with a balanced acidity from the coastal influences of the Regan Vineyard in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

bottle of LUV's Chardonnay on a wine barrel with vines in the background and silver award badge over image

LUV's 2021 Chardonnay "LUV Me Tender" was named a Silver Award Winner at the 2023 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

“ It’s been challenging getting through this wild weather, and we had to move the wine tasting into The Garage. Hearing the sound of the rain on the tin roof was such a wonderful cacophony of noise.

The Garage is the name we’ve given to our showcase venue, and of course if you name your venue 'The Garage' there's got to be cars, right? You can sip our wines while taking in some fabulously fancy collector cars.

— Rosy Bergin, Co-Owner, Little Uvas Vineyards

Visit Little Uvas Vineyards at The Garage located at 255 Fitzgerald Avenue in San Martin, CA.

While LUV is currently the featured winery at The Garage, other vineyards, like De Rose Wines out of Hollister CA, are setting up shop there as well, so there's always something new to discover! LUV is open Friday 4 pm to 8 pm with Happy Hour pricing, and Saturday and Sunday from 12 pm to 5 pm. Enjoy wine, hand-tossed, wood-fired pizza, and charcuterie boards.

Contact us for parties of six or more, as reservations are highly encouraged for larger groups. Check out our Plan Your Visit page for more information. Be sure to follow us on Instagram @littleuvasvineyards for more updates.

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