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Sonoma Scores Big at the San Francisco
Chronicle Wine Competition Sonoma
County wineries and growers racked up many
of the most impressive awards given at this
year’s San Francisco Chronicle Wine
Competition. The Sonoma team participated in
bagging all three sweepstake titles – best
sparkling wine, best white wine and best red
wine. And to add to the honors, over a dozen
Best of Class awards were also picked up by
the home team.
The professional judging took place in
Cloverdale at the Citrus Fairgrounds from
January 10-13. 55 judges from around the
country participated in evaluating over 3300
entries. This judging which began over
twenty years ago with a few entries from
local wineries is now the largest
competition of American wine in the world.
Entries were submitted from across the
United States, though the overwhelming
majority originated with wineries here in
California. The competition is tough and not
everyone walks away with a medal. But those
that do, especially the coveted Best of
Class and Sweepstake awards, have a year’s
worth of bragging rights and a promotional
story that can move pallets of wine to the
mouths of consumers.
Here is a recap of the big winners.
- Sparkling Sweepstakes Winner:
1996 Gloria Ferrer Carneros Cuvée –
Sonoma winery, Carneros fruit.
- White Sweepstakes Winner:
2005 Windsor Vineyards Mendocino County
Private Reserve Sauvignon Blanc – Sonoma
winery, Mendocino fruit.
- Red Sweepstakes Winner:
2004 Patz & Hall Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
– Napa winery, Sonoma Coast fruit.
The consistent quality of the fruit and
winemaking in the sweepstakes winners is
verified by their repeated garnering of
awards. Gloria Ferrer won top honors for
another of their bubblies during the most
recent Harvest Fair. Carol Shelton made
Windsor Vineyards the winningest winery in
the universe during her tenure there and the
tradition has been maintained with the new
team. And lastly Patz & Hall took the top
red wine honor two years ago at the
Chronicle and returned for a repeat
performance. They continue to source great
fruit across Napa and Sonoma to create
show-stopping wines.
Each of the Sweepstakes winners above had
to first be judged the best of its class, or
the best of its category of judging. While
numerous gold medals were given to the
entries in class #200, titled Sauvignon
Blanc up to $13.99, only one was chosen as
the best of that class. The honor went to
Geyser Peak for their 2005 California
Sauvignon Blanc, which can be found locally
for less than $10. This wine out-performed
others that are more expensive and produced
in smaller quantities. Kudos to Geyser Peak
for giving us affordable wine in ample
supply!
Here is a complete list of the Best of
Class Superstars where Sonoma growers and
wineries were the lynchpin of success. I’ve
included the published retail prices as
well.
- Gloria Ferrer Champagne Caves 1996
Cuvée Carneros $50.00
- Geyser Peak Winery 2005 Sauvignon
Blanc California $12.00
- Windsor Vineyards 2005 Sauvignon
Blanc Mendocino Co Private Reserve
$16.00
- Roche Carneros Estate Winery 2004
Chardonnay Carneros American Oak Res
$30.95
- Gundlach Bundschu 2004
Gewürztraminer Rhinefarm Vineyard $22.00
- Martin Ray Winery 2004 Pinot Noir
Angeline Russian River Valley $10.00
- Gallo Family Vineyards 2004 Pinot
Noir Sonoma County $15.00
- De La Montanya Winery 2004 Pinot
Noir Russian River Tinas Vineyard $30.00
- Patz & Hall 2004 Pinot Noir Sonoma
Coast $36.00
- Starry Night Winery 2003 Zinfandel
Tom Feeney Russian River $26.00
- Wilson Winery 2003 Zinfandel Reserve
Dry Creek Valley $38.00
- Trois Voyelles 2003 Syrah Alexander
Valley $25.00
- Annapolis Winery 2004 Syrah $30.00
- Sidney 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon
Sonoma County $19.99
- Clautiere Vineyard 2003 Cabernet
Sauvignon Clautiere Vineyard $24.00
- Wattle Creek Winery 2002 Cabernet
Sauvignon Vintage Select Alexander
Valley $85.00
- Kendall-Jackson 2003 Cabernet
Sauvignon Highland Estates $50.00
- deLorimier Winery 2002 Malbec
Alexander Valley Estate $24.00
- Lancaster Estate 2002 Bordeaux
Blends Lancaster Estate Red Wine $65.00
- De La Montanya Winery 2003 Cab/Zin/Syrah
Pinup Cabaret Sonoma Co $38.00
- Artesa 2003 Tempranillo Alexander
Valley $25.00
- Geyser Peak Winery NV Port Cucamonga
Valley Tawny Port $19.00
Check out the rest of the winners online
at
www.winejudging.com.
You can taste the
stars of the judging at Fort Mason on
February 25. Complete details are also
available at
www.winejudging.com/public_tasting.htm.
Congratulations!
Ray
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