With the arrival of the 2025 Masters Championship comes one of golf’s most famous traditions - The Champions Dinner. Held on the Tuesday of Masters week, the title defender hosts, picks the menu, and chooses the wine.

With winners hailing from all over the globe, the menus often reflect that, with Champions paying homage to their home country’s cuisine. As menus hit social media in advance of the dinner, fans give their collective opinions on who lived up to the moment (Hideki Matsuyama) and who dropped the ball (Bubba Watson). And while I know what menu I’d set, picking the wine for the occasion would be a bit more difficult for me because A. I don’t know enough about it; and B. I wouldn’t want to disappoint. So I called up my personal sommelier (conveniently my sister, Tierney Driscoll) to comb through some previous menus, tell me what everybody was picking, and recommend some comparable bottles so I could get a sense of what these former champions were sipping on in the Club Room at Augusta National.

Up first? A young Tiger Woods. 

Tiger Woods - 1998

When Tiger Woods won his first of his five green jackets in 1997, he was the youngest golfer ever to do so. His Champions dinner menu a year later reflected it. Cheeseburgers, french fries and milkshakes - perfect for a 22-year old. A somewhat modest meal that some critics guffawed at. However, as he does, Tiger had an ace up his sleeve.

Despite his 22 years or perhaps because of (1975 is Tiger’s birth year), Tiger broke out some heavy hitters showcasing an impressive selection of the 1975 Mouton Rothschild and 1995 Batard Montrachet, Domaine Leflaive. Today, a 2020 of the Domaine Leflaive’s Batard-Montrachet retails for around $1900/bottle. 

Though it is out of the price range of most, it’s a French icon. This area of Burgundy where it’s from is home to some of the most expensive and rare wine in the world. Batard Montrachet is one of the Grand Crus of the Cotes du Beaune area, covering only ~10 hectares.

While some things in life aren’t worth it, Cote du Beaune Grand Crus have earned their price and they’re impossible to replicate. But for those of us outside of the $1900/bottle tax bracket looking to enjoy Burgundy’s finest Chardonnays on a budget without sacrificing style, here’s my suggestion: try nearby Saint Aubin. Domaine Thomas Saint Aubin Champ Tirant $40

Dustin Johnson - 2021

Next up we have Dustin Johnson, who in 2021 served a classic Filet Mignon with family style sides. For his red he opted for a 23 year old Pauillac, the 1998 Chateau Lynch Bages.

A 23 year old version of this wine today costs about $250-300/bottle. Pauillac in Bordeaux is known for producing structured Cabernet based blends that stand up to the test of time and age beautifully. Chateau Lynch Bages is a favorite among wine drinkers worldwide because it has sort of an underdog story.

Back in 1855, the top 61 chateaux in Bordeaux were classified in one of five categories: First Growth, Second Growth, Third Growth, Fourth Growth, and Fifth Growth. Chateau Lynch Bages received a fifth growth classification. However, many argue it drinks like a second growth and a lot of drinkers worldwide enjoy this vineyard year after year because it is such a great, reliable and more affordable option. So hats off to DJ, a man of the people. His 23 year old selection will have had plenty of time to relax some of its harsher tannins with time and develop some secondary fruit flavors. While Lynch Bages is more accessible than some others, it still rings in over $150 for a 2020. If you’re trying to find something similar, many argue Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste is another fifth growth that drinks beyond its classification.

Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste Pauillac, 2021 $75

And for those who can’t quite get themselves to the $75 range.

Chateau Haut Bages Liberal Pauillac, 2021 $45

Sergio Garcia - 2018

Hailing from beautiful Spain, Sergio Garcia decided to serve Arroz Caldoso de Bogavante, a traditional lobster rice. For his white he chose the 2016 Sketch Albarino from Rias Baixas and for his red a 2014 Pinea Tempranillo from Ribera del Duero. Sketch from Rias Baixas is the gold standard for Albarino production. Sourced from vines planted in 1972 just 150 meters from the sea, the wine is remarkably complex, with a complex process to boot. Fermented in large french oak barrels and kept on lees for 12 months, the wines are then aged underwater at 19 meters for 3 months. Raul Perez is one of the most innovative winemakers worldwide, known for his constant reinvention with different projects throughout Rias Baixas. Despite its $100 price it is in such high demand and at limited production it's nearly impossible to find in the US. So here’s a few other Albarinos worth the try:

Pazo Barrantes Gran Vino Albarino $65

A little sweeter than Sketch but an incredible wine nonetheless.

Val Do Sosego Albarino Rias Baixas, 2023 $20

Great starter albarino from the region.

Tiger Woods - 2020

For Tiger’s 2020 dinner decided to serve some steak and chicken fajitas and for his pairing he went with a couple of notorious Napa selections from Shafer Vineyards, the Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay from Carneros and the Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon  from Stags Leap District in Napa Valley. 

The 2021 Shafer Hillside Select rings in at a hefty $395 but it is the result of decades of dedication to the craft. Shafer’s head winemaker, Elias Fernandez came from modest beginnings, working as a farmworker in Napa alongside his parents. He joined Shafer when the vineyard was only 5 years old and has been with them for the last 40 harvests. In Stags Leap District the warm days and cool nights here help produce big juicy Cabs with great structure. Here’s another big Napa cab of the same style:

Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Artemis, 2021 $70

Charl Schwartzel - 2012

Charl Schwartzel took home the green jacket in 2011, and his 2012 dinner paid tribute to his home country, South Africa. For his dinner pairing he picked a 2010 Van Lil & Visser Chenin Blanc from Cape of Good Hope and a 2007 Anthonij Rupert Cabernet Sauvignon from Franschhoek. Van Lil & Visser Chenin Blanc costs a reasonable $25. This vineyard’s Chenin Blanc comes from old vines on land very close to the Atlantic Ocean. Due to their age these vines naturally only produce low yields or less amount of grapes but each has more complexity and flavor as a result. 

This region in South Africa enjoys very hot days and cool nights which fosters deeper complexity in its wine. While this wine isn’t out of reach at $25 a bottle, it might not be so easy to find. Chenin Blanc is produced in a variety of ways ranging from very sweet to dry. If you’re looking to try something similar, try this:

Spier Seaward Chenin Blanc, 2023 $19

Adam Scott - 2014

Lastly, we have Adam Scott. His dinner was decidedly Australian, opting for an Australian Wagyu New York Strip with, of course, Penfolds. There really isn’t anything more Australian than a big beautiful Shiraz, and Adam Scott delivered with his 2014 Masters Dinner selection - a 2009 Penfolds Chardonnay from Yattama and 2005 Penfolds Shiraz from Grange South Australia. 

Difficult to source and extremely popular for certain vintages, the price of a Penfolds Grange bottle can range from $500 to $900 retail. Penfolds is probably one of the most unique wines on the wine market. Unlike their counterparts in Europe and California it does not rely on a specific terroir to produce its wine and its reputation is the result of hard effort from the vast team of winemakers.

A bottle of Penfolds Grange uses grapes sourced from throughout Southern Australia and yet time and again it produces one of the world’s most impressive Shirazes. For those of us that would like to experience something similar at a reasonable price range i’d explore one of the other Shiraz Penfolds makes or try this Shiraz driven blend from another great Australian producer:

Henschke Henrys Seven SGV, 2015 $40

So who's next? That's the big question as Sunday at the Masters is already underway. All eyes are on the final pairing of Rory McIlroy and Bryson Dechambeau, who have 18 holes to determine who pours the wine come April 7th, 2026. A huge shoutout and thank you to Tierney Driscoll who's research and knowledge shaped this article. For more tips and write ups on wine, how to buy, and what to look for, give her a follow @ti_drisc.