The Lake County Wine Awards wrapped up on Thursday morning with judges narrowing gold medal and best of class winners down to four “sweepstakes” awards — best red, white, pink and dessert wines.
Of 185 wines entered into the contest, 22 were selected for the sweepstakes. Best red went Gregory Graham’s 2011 Grenache. Judges named the 2014 Rose of Cabernet Sauvignon from High Valley, a Shannon Ridge label, as the top pink wine. Steele’s Shooting Star label earned white wine honors for their 2013 Sauvignon Blanc.
“Almost every winery in the county makes a Sauvignon Blanc,” observed Steele’s Pamela Duncan. “To receive this award — it’s exciting.”
In the dessert wine category, a 15 year old Port from Chacewater received both the sweepstakes title and less formal raves, as several judges continued to sip the wine after competition closed for the day during Wednesday’s first round of scoring.
The full list of best of class, double gold and gold winners will be released at a later date.
Ten judges from California and around the country traveled to Langtry Estate and Winery for the two day event, produced by the Lake County Winery Association. Wines were entered into 23 categories based upon varietal and price point, the one constant being that 75 percent of grapes in each wine had to be from a Lake County AVA.
AVA is the acronym for American Viticultural Area, defining a unique climate an terroir.
Bob Fraser, director of professional judging for the competition — he also works with the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition — seeks a diverse group for each of the two five-judge panels. He selects at least one expert from wine media, one wine educator, one person from the trade and one with sommelier, food or tourism experience to fill the slots.
The advantage is in the differing perspectives. And although the tasting is blind, judges are allowed to discuss the qualities of each wine before issuing a final verdict.
While the debates at time become extended, the hardly resemble arguments.
“You get to elaborate,” said judge Rick Fraga, a wine educator for Martinelli Winery in Windsor. “It’s more like lobbying.”
“You have to be open,” added Carl Brandhorst, another judge. “You may have missed something.”
Brandhorst is president of the Atlantic Seaboard Wine Association and traveled to Lake County from Fairfax, Virginia.
Several of the judges participated for a second or third time. Throughout the competition, they commented upon the general quality of the wines. Brandhorst mentioned Gregory Graham’s Grenache several times, noting that it erased the dated idea that Petite Sirah and Cabernet Sauvignon dominated the region.
When Mike Dunne, a wine columnist for the Sacramento Bee, first took part five years ago he recognized that two grapes stood out.
“Sauvignon Blanc is still the top white,” he said, “but the reds have become more varied.”
Instead of fearing the judgements, most winemakers appreciate the feedback from those with expertise. Like the judges, they understand there are characteristics admired by a few aficionados and others that offer wider appeal. Winemakers wish to create great bottles and sell their stock.
“The panel of judges was really great,” observed Joy Merrilees of Shannon Ridge. “I was really impressed.”
On the other side of the table, the panel were equally awed.
“There was overall consensus that the quality of wines were at a higher level than before,” Fraser acknowledged.
While Graham said he was pleased with the red wine sweepstakes and the praise, he pointed out that the competition has a greater purpose.
“We’re trying to get recognition for this area,” Graham said. “We can take this on the road and market Lake County. Let’s raise the bar. These competitions are good.”
Mark Burch of Chacewater plans to release his Port to the public at the end of July. He still recalls fortifying the vintage 2000 wine. While he expected positive feedback — he has already sampled the Port — Burch shares Graham’s belief that the Lake County Wine Awards Competition pushes the winemakers to perform.
“It gives Lake County wineries a chance to compete against their own grapes,” Burch noted. “There are a number of vineyards that share their grapes with two or three wineries. That’s fun — to see their different interpretations.”
More importantly, Burch said, the success of local labels means that more grapes remain in the county, ending up behind labels marked “Lake County” rather than Napa or Sonoma.
The public will have an opportunity to test their palates against the judges when the Lake County Winery Association puts on its People’s Choice awards on July 25, hosted by Moore Family Winery.
