The 7th edition of the USA Wine Ratings is pleased to announce the 2024 winners. Wines from 24 different countries were submitted with the United States and 98 varietals were submitted, the United States, Italy, and Portugal were the top 3 entrants. The top 3 varieties submitted were cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, and pinot noir.

Terragena Carneros Pinot Noir from the United States gets the best wine award for 2024 USA Wine Ratings.

The USA Wine Ratings looks to recognize, reward, and help promote wines that have successfully been created to identify with and target a specific wine drinker. For any wine brand to earn its place on a retailer’s shelf or a restaurant’s wine list -  and then vitally stay there - they needs to be marketable and consumer-driven. USA Ratings singles out and shines the spotlight on those wine brands that consumers really want to buy and have a clear market value for trade buyers. The 3 main criteria that USA Wine Ratings evaluated the wines on were Quality, Value, and Package.

Christopher Buchanan, Winemaker and Owner of Terragena Carneros Pinot Noir, United States

Chris Buchanan studied Mathematical Economics at Tulane University in New Orleans, LA, and completed his degree with a fascination for the economic concept of “utility.” In 2008, Chris began the early stages of creating his own wine brand that would become the Terragena of today. During this time, he expanded upon basic construction and agricultural skills which had been a hobby in college, and developed a raw property into a functional off-grid oasis and small vineyard in Humboldt County, CA. 

Chris and Terragena left the property in 2021 for new opportunities. In 2011, he completed 180 credit hours plus additional coursework in viticulture and enology from UC Davis to earn his Winemaker Certificate, and in 2013, began working with Bravium Winery in Philo, CA. Today, Chris strives to maximize his utility at every opportunity. Self-described as a scientist by nature, Chris feels winemaking is more akin to alchemy than laboratory science and that, when compared with Europe and the Old World, we have well over 1000 years of research and ancestral knowledge to catch up on. Research and comparison are always ongoing at Terragena with a constant drive to create the best possible wine, or - in other words - to maximize the utility of the grape.

The Terragena Vineyard team, headed by winemaker and vineyard proprietor Chris Buchanan, crafts limited-production wines with the same spirit of adventure that first led them to build their off-grid vineyard in Humboldt County. They are inspired by the ruggedly beautiful hills, forests, and meadows around them to create a wine that expresses these characteristics of the land without any added fluff or distraction. 

They are dedicated to sustainably expressing the unique characteristics of their estate vineyard as well as their diverse partner vineyards by nurturing the wine from the earth to the bottle.

Terragena Carneros Pinot Noir, United States

Here are the winners:

Wine Of The Year: Terragena Carneros Pinot Noir, United States

Red Wine Of The Year: Terragena Carneros Pinot Noir, United States

White Wine Of The Year: Pinot Gris, United States

Rose Wine Of The Year: Satis Dei Tempranillom, Spain

Winery Of The Year: Klenert Wein und Event GmbH, Germany

Best In Show By Country United States: Terragena Carneros Pinot Noir, United States

Best In Show By Country Australia: Taylor Heritage Shiraz, Australia

Best In Show By Country Italy: Cantina Castiadas REI Capo Ferrato Cannonau di Sardegna, Italy

Best In Show By Country France: King Rabbit, France

Best In Show By Country Spain: Sunbay Cellars Bubbles, Spain

Best In Show By Country Portugal: DFJ Vinhos S.A Portada Reserva, Portugal

Best In Show By Country Argentina: Don Rodolfo Brut, Argentina

Best In Show By Country Austria: Blaufränkisch Leithaberg DAC Ried Umriss - Rust, Austria

Best In Show By Country Chile: Axel, Chile

Best In Show By Country Brazil: Évidence Cuvée Brut Rosé, Brazil

View Full 2024 USA Wine Ratings Results Here.