California Cab Takes Top Prize at Lotte's Annual Blind Wine Tasting

"We have saved the reveal of the red wine category winner for last. Please uncover the label."

As the black wrapping and cloth were peeled away from the bottle, cheers and applause broke out across the room. The winner was Force & Grace Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2023, submitted by Naracellar — a wine from Paso Robles, a California wine region that remains relatively little known in South Korea. It earned the highest score of any red or white wine in the blind tasting.

The Blind 2026 took place Friday afternoon on the 76th floor of Signiel Seoul in Songpa-gu, Seoul. Now in its third year, the event is a blind wine tasting competition hosted by Lotte Department Store. Eight domestic importers — Kumyang International, Ahyoung FBC, Lotte Chilsung, Naracellar, Kooksoondang, Shindong Wine, Enoteca Korea and Shinsegae L&B — submitted 50 wines not yet available in South Korea. After a preliminary round, 16 wines advanced to the final: eight reds and eight whites.

The Blind draws inspiration from the legendary 1976 blind tasting known as the Judgment of Paris. Marking the 50th anniversary of that event, this year's competition featured a panel of 11 judges. Four sommeliers affiliated with Lotte Department Store — Gyeong Min-seok, Kim Min-jae, Choi Jun-seon and Han Hee-su, whose credentials include wins at the Asia Best Sommelier Competition and national team competitions — joined the panel alongside Kim Hee-eun and Yoon Dae-hyeon, chefs at Michelin one-star restaurant Soul. Rapper Han Hae, who holds a WSET Level 3 qualification, food and beverage brand marketing specialist Ahn Dong-gyun, Byeon Yong-jin, deputy chief of Wine21, influencer Bitterfan, and Lee Ji-min, chief executive of Daedong Yeojudo, rounded out the panel.

The judges evaluated each wine solely on taste and aroma, with labels completely concealed. The competition focused on selecting wines that both enthusiasts and everyday consumers could enjoy.

The red wine judging was by far the competition's most dramatic moment. By the time the seventh wine had been scored, four entries had averaged in the 86-point range — meaning a difference of just 0.1 point could separate the rankings. The eighth and final red wine then came in with an average score of 88.4, the highest of any entry across both categories.

Sommelier Han Hee-su said the result felt like a tribute to the Judgment of Paris. "A New World wine has once again stirred things up, and in that sense it felt like a homage to what happened 50 years ago," she said. "When you taste blind, you can't tell whether a wine is from the Old World or the New — the quality gap simply isn't there. It drove home again just how much New World wines have improved across the board."

The white wine category was won by Kumyang International's Selbach Riesling Kabinett Feinherb Tradition 2024, which averaged 88.3 points. Kim Seung-young, head of the wine and spirits team at Lotte Department Store, said the result caught everyone off guard. "Everyone was surprised to see a German Riesling — a variety that accounts for a tiny share of total imports — take first place over marquee whites like New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc," he said.

Judge Han Hae said the panel's reactions aligned without any discussion. "We hadn't consulted each other, but we all came away with the same impression — that's how competitive and high-quality the wine was," he said. Chef Yoon Dae-hyeon said he hoped the competition would help overlooked wines find their moment. "I hope this event gives undiscovered wines a chance to shine," he said.

The winning wines will go on exclusive sale at Lotte Department Store in September, priced under 100,000 won (about $65) for the red and under 50,000 won for the white. Winners from the first two editions sold out completely, with a combined 20,000 bottles cleared. Given demand from chuseok gift shoppers, a sellout this year looks equally likely.

The Blind was launched to rekindle consumer interest in a wine market that had stagnated after the COVID-19 pandemic, and it has steadily built a mainstream following. Friday's event drew 300 attendees through advance registration, which sold out within two days.

Throughout the evening, guests sampled wines from all eight importers against a panoramic backdrop of the Seoul skyline. "I saw an ad for the event on social media and signed up," said Kwon, 37. "I will definitely buy the wines that won the blind tasting." Lee Do-yeon, 46, said she drinks wine regularly and welcomed the variety on offer. "I love wine, so I drink it often," she said. "Being able to try so many different wines was wonderful."