What 7 Winning Golfers Served at their Champions Dinner at The Masters: A Look into Their Wine Selections Chris Lehoux, April 11, 2024 Golf fans may recognize the Azalea cocktail as the official beverage of the four-day Masters Tournament held at Augusta National Golf Club—the fruity mix of vodka, lemonade, and grenadine are undeniably tempting in Georgia’s heat—but wine connoisseurs might be more interested in what the reigning champion selects to pair with their menu for the Masters Tournament Champions Dinner. 2023 Masters Champion, Jon Rahm, celebrates with his trophy. Every year, the Augusta National Golf Club hosts a dinner in honor of the previous year’s champion on the Tuesday of tournament week. The menu is completely customized by the honoree and traditionally pays homage to the former champion’s native from plate to palate. This year, 2023 Masters Champion Jon Rahm showcased the bounty of his home country of Spain by pairing Imperial Gran Reserva 2012 and Contino Blanco 2020 from Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España winery (C.V.N.E) with six tapas and pintxos (small plates) inclusive of Iberico ham, tortilla de patatas, and chicken croquettes, before a Basque crab salad, then a choice of Basque ribeye or turbot and finally crema de nata for dessert. Prior to the dinner, which had the aid of well-known chef José Andrés, Rahm conveyed that Imperial Gran Reserva is “a very special story that links me to my grandad.” The 2023 Masters Champion is the grandchild of a delegate from the Athletic Club de Bilbao, who preferred Imperial Gran Reserva, a distinctive red wine produced only in particular vintages in Rioja, Spain. This wine has become a symbol of significant family events; on his wedding day, Rahm’s father presented him with two bottles of his birth year vintage Imperial Gran Reserva 1994, and another bottle when his first child arrived. Contino Blanco is a white wine sourced from Rioja, made using Viura and Garnacha Blanca grapes. This wine harks back to the style of classic Rioja white wines, offering both longevity and freshness. There’s no mystery that the wine cellar beneath Augusta National’s clubhouse holds some of the most luxurious labels worldwide. In 2020, Irish professional golfer, Rory McIlroy was cited by Irish Golfer stating that being able to access Augusta’s wine ensemble is one of the magnificent experiences of the week (excluding golf). “We’ve tasted all sorts of wine there. I recollect once when we visited with Jimmy Dunne, and he chose — there’s a vineyard, Dunn Vineyards, so we got a bottle of that,” he mentioned, drawing attention to an inventory book of over 30 pages. Over the years, past champions have marked their victories with exceptional wines from around the globe, including Australia and South Africa. The Masters Tournament Champions Dinner in November 2020, which was postponed due to the pandemic, saw 2019 Champion Tiger Woods, a five-time green jacket winner, selecting two Napa Valley wines – a 2015 Shafer Chardonnay from Red Shoulder Ranch and a 2015 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon from Hillside Select. Patrick Reed, the 2018 Champion, also featured Napa Valley wines for his 2019 dinner. He paired a 2016 Chardonnay from Chateau Montelena and a 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon 41st anniversary from Caymus Vineyards with macaroni and cheese, corn creme brulee, and bone-in cowboy ribeye. Sergio Garcia, in 2018, embraced his Spanish heritage by showcasing a 2016 Sketch Albariño from Rias Baixas and a 2014 Pinea Tempranillo from Ribera Del Duero. Jordan Spieth went all American with Texan BBQ at his 2016 Masters Tournament Champions Dinner, pairing Napa Valley favorites; 2011 Cakebread Reserve Chardonnay and 2010 Caymus Vineyards, Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon. When Adam Scott was honored in 2014, the Australian leaned into his heritage with a main course of Australian Wagyu complemented by South Australia’s premier producer, Penfolds—a 2009 Yattarna Chardonnay and 2005 Grange Shiraz. Charl Schwartzel won his green jacket in 2011, so in 2012 he nodded to his South African roots with 2010 Cape of Good Hope, Van Lill & Visser Chenin Blanc as well as 2007 Anthonij Rupert Cabernet Sauvignon to wash down a packed seafood tower inclusive of jumbo lump crab meat, shrimp and King Crab claws and sliced Biltong, a specialty of his native. Only time will tell what wine region will be showcased in 2025, pending the 2024 Masters Champion, but Scott’s advice for Garcia back in 2016 is perhaps an evergreen mantra: “Serve good wine,” Scott told Garcia. “I learned that’s most important.” About the Author: Chris Lehoux Meet Chris Lehoux, an experienced wine connoisseur and dedicated blogger with a deep passion for all things wine-related. With years of expertise in the industry, Chris shares insightful wine reviews, valuable wine tasting tips, expert pairing advice, and captivating tales of vineyard visits. Join Chris on a journey through the world of wine, where every sip is an adventure waiting to be savored! Wine