“Republican Red Winery today announced it has received three prestigious awards at the 2026 Monterey International Wine Competition, including Best of Show and Platinum for its America 250 Sparkling Wine (scored 94 points) and Gold for its Vino MAHA Cabernet Franc (scored 91 points).”

“The Monterey International Wine Competition is recognized as one of the nation’s respected wine judging events, bringing together experienced industry professionals including winemakers, sommeliers, wine writers, retailers, and educators. Wines are evaluated through a rigorous blind tasting process designed to ensure impartiality, with judges assessing entries based on quality, balance, structure, varietal expression, aroma, and finish. At a time when the US wine industry is experiencing declining consumption and an oversupply of grapes, Republican Red Winery continues to expand its portfolio through thoughtfully developed releases that resonate with consumers seeking meaning and connection in the products they choose. By focusing on craftsmanship, American sourcing, and wines tied to cultural moments and shared values, the winery has identified a distinct niche that continues to support growth even amid broader industry headwinds,” says a Wednesday press release from said winery and this is just so, so maddeningly fucking stupid.

They could’ve just slapped “Trantifa Reserve” on the bottle and it’d be the sa- Forget it. It’s this deeply sus “Monterey International Wine Competition” that merits scrutiny as it carries the air of the little fake “Palme d’Or” emblems you see on the marketing for some dogshit B-movie that, when you look close at them, turn out to say “Entrant, 2025 North Platte Film Festival” or similar.