The News
William Chris Wine Co. received a record number of top medals at the 2026 TEXSOM Awards, including one Judge’s Selection and four platinum medals. Uplift Vineyard, a premium label under the William Chris brand, won a Judge’s Selection for its 2024 Sangiovese and three platinum medals. William Chris Vineyards’ 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon, Texas High Plains, also earned a platinum medal. The company also received two Golds for its 2023 Mourvèdre, Texas High Plains, and Wine for the People, Red Wine, Texas, Non-Vintage.
William Chris Wine Co.’s latest splash—six medals at the 2026 TEXSOM Awards, including its first Judge’s Selection—has landed on my radar because it signals a shift for Texas wine in an industry still seeking footing against established regions. Here’s what this award haul means for distributors and retailers.
The 2026 awards featured 19 judges and marked the competition’s 41st year, while last season only 15 Judge’s Selections were awarded across all categories. That single high‑grade honor carries weight in a field that has been highly selective over recent years.
Across its three labels—Uplift Vineyard, William Chris Vineyards, and Wine for the People—the winery earned four platinum medals and two golds, underscoring the consistency of quality that trade buyers look for. The Uplift Vineyard’s 2024 Sangiovese was the Judge’s Selection winner, a first for the company and a signal that its estate‑grown grapes are meeting rigorous benchmarks.
In a broader context, the U.S. wine industry was valued at $84.9 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow 4.2% annually through 2030. Texas production reached 1.2 million cases in 2025—about half of that figure for the entire country—yet still represents less than 2 percent of national output. William Chris’s award haul therefore positions it as a leader within a rapidly expanding state market.
The company also earned its first placement on an international panel, landing at No. 31 on the World’s 50 Best Vineyards list in November 2025—the sole Texas winery to receive that honor. That ranking gives retailers a ready‑made marketing hook and can justify premium pricing on shelf or menu.
William Chris plans to open the Rebecca Caroline Tasting Room in early summer 2026, housed in the historic Hye Post Office building. While the venue will drive experiential demand, it does not carry premises‑only SKUs; distributors and retailers should focus on the widely available Uplift Vineyard Sangiovese and other flagship wines.
The real trade takeaway is that William Chris Wine Co. has moved from a regional player to a credible national contender—evidenced by its first Judge’s Selection, multiple platinum and gold medals, and its ranking as the sole Texas winery on the World’s 50 Best Vineyards list. That credibility gives distributors, retailers, and bars a tangible competitive advantage in an increasingly crowded market.
Original Press Release
Hye, Texas (April 28, 2026) - William Chris Wine Co., a leading voice for Texas wine, has just received a record number of top medals in the 2026 TEXSOM Awards, announced last week. For the first time ever, William Chris Wine Co. earned one Judge’s Selection, the awards’ highest honor, with an additional four platinum medals. Uplift Vineyard, the premium label under the William Chris brand family, is made exclusively from the top estate grapes grown in the vineyard’s 55 acres in Burnet, TX. It took the top standings with a Judge’s Selection for its 2024 Sangiovese and three of the four platinum medals. William Chris Vineyards’ 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon, Texas High Plains, also earned a platinum medal.
“We are incredibly honored to receive this recognition from TEXSOM this year. These wines reflect our commitment to producing high-quality wines that are expressive of both site and vintage. To receive multiple high scores along with a Judge’s Selection is an achievement we are deeply proud of. It affirms that we are accomplishing what we set out to do, and we’re excited to share our work on a broader stage. We’re also proud to contribute to the growing conversation around Texas wine and look forward to what’s ahead for the industry,” shares Claire Richardson, Winemaker, Uplift Vineyard.
2026 TEXSOM Awards gave two Golds to William Chris Vineyards as well for William Chris Vineyards’ 2023 Mourvèdre, Texas High Plains, and Wine for the People, Red Wine, Texas, Non-Vintage.
2026 TEXSOM Awards enlisted the expertise and wisdom of 19 judges from around the country and a professional production team to ensure accuracy and care for every beverage entered for evaluation. This year, TEXSOM Awards marked its 41st year of competitions and celebrated 11 years under the TEXSOM name.
“We’re intentional about where we show our wines and deeply value the perspective of TEXSOM—where some of the most respected sommeliers in the country, and increasingly the world, lend their judgment. Recognition here carries weight. This year’s results reflect the people behind the work. Across Uplift, William Chris Vineyards, Wine For the People, and La Valentia, our production teams continue to raise the bar—thoughtfully, consistently, and with a clear sense of place. I’m particularly proud of the Texas High Plains Mourvèdre and Cabernet. These wines are not only benchmarks for what Texas can do, but they’re also showing up where it matters—on wine lists across the state and beyond through our partners at JB Maverick. It’s meaningful to see Texas wines earning their place at the table,” adds Chris Brundrett, Co-founder, William Chris Wine Company.
In November 2025, William Chris Vineyards was named one of the World’s 50 Best Vineyards, earning a place among the most celebrated wine destinations in the world at No. 31 on the list. The Hill Country estate is the first and only Texas winery to make the list, marking a defining moment for Texas wine and its growing recognition on a global stage.
Founded in 2008 by Bill Blackmon and Chris Brundrett, William Chris has become a leader in Texas wine through a “grown, not made” philosophy that honors Texas fruit, Texas growers, and the communities who support them. The award from the World’s Best Vineyards Academy—made up of more than 700 respected wine and travel experts worldwide—recognizes the estate’s quality, sense of place, sustainable practices, and exceptional hospitality.
Recently, William Chris Wine Company launched Rebecca Caroline, a new sparkling wine brand crafted to showcase traditional winemaking methods and celebrate Texas terroir. In early summer, the team will be opening the Rebecca Caroline Tasting Room in the historic Hye Post Office on Highway 290, where President Lyndon B. Johnson swore in his postmaster general in 1965. The space will blend Texas heritage with a refined, whimsical aesthetic—honoring the building’s postal past while creating a sparkling-forward destination designed for gathering, celebration, and connection.
2026 TEXSOM Awards
Uplift Vineyard, 2024 Sangiovese, Texas, Judges' Selection Medal
Uplift Vineyard, 2024 Cabernet Sauvignon, Texas, Platinum Medal
Uplift Vineyard, 2024 Grenache, Texas, Platinum Medal
Uplift Vineyard, 2024 Marsanne, Texas, Platinum Medal
William Chris Vineyards, 2023 Texas High Plains Cabernet Sauvignon, Platinum Medal
William Chris Vineyards, 2023 Texas High Plains Mourvèdre, Gold Medal
Wine for the People, Red Wine, Texas, Non-Vintage, Gold Medal
Sources consulted (web research):
- William Chris Wine Co Receives Record Number Of Top Medals At 2026 Te…
- Texas Wine Growers Celebrates 12 Medals At Texsom
- 2025 Texsom Awards Texas Results
- Texsom Awards 2023 A Record Breaking Year
- 2023 Texsom Awards Texas Results
Source: BevNET