St. Julian Winery & Distillery, Michigan’s most-awarded winery, continues to strengthen its reputation following the release of the 2023 Michigan Governor’s Cup results.
The Governor’s Cup stands as a unique statewide wine competition. Through a partnership with the Beverage Tasting Institute (BTI), the event relies on professional blind tastings. These tastings rank wines produced across Michigan.
In total, judges awarded ten “Best of Category” honors. St. Julian claimed five of those awards. The winery earned top recognition in vinifera red, hybrid red, fortified, rosé, and specialty wine categories. Notably, many of these winning wines began as St. Julian Wine Club selections. These wines remain exclusive to Wine Club members.
As a result, Wine Club members enjoy priority access to award-winning wines. Some of these selections never reach the general public due to limited production. For that reason, wine lovers can join the St. Julian Wine Club to access these exclusive releases.
The “Best of Category” winners include 2020 Braganini Reserve Cabernet Franc, 2020 Braganini Reserve Petite Pearl, Solera Cream Sherry, BFF Dry Rosé, and Sweet Nancie Sparkling Peach. Additionally, the 2020 Braganini Reserve Cabernet Franc earned one of only two Platinum designations awarded during the competition.
Overall, St. Julian earned nearly 40 medals. These honors include one Platinum and 16 Gold awards.
“The entire St. Julian team is celebrating these results,” says Apollo Braganini, President of St. Julian Winery & Distillery. “Because the competition uses blind tastings, the outcome confirms our leadership in producing exceptional Michigan wines.”
Beyond the competition, St. Julian operates six tasting rooms across Michigan. Visitors can explore award-winning collections, including the Braganini Reserve series. St. Julian remains Michigan’s most-awarded, largest, and longest-operating winery.
For more information and a full list of winners, visit the Michigan Wine Collaborative website.
