JUST ANNOUNCED! Winning Wines of the 38th Annual Sierra Foothills Wine Competition

On Friday, April 25, 2019, 25 professional judges worked from early morning to the afternoon tasting through 256 wines across 48 categories, representing the wine regions of Calaveras County, El Dorado County and Amador County. To learn about the history of this wine competition and find the judges biographies, visit our last blog post HERE.

The judging took place at the Calaveras County Fairgrounds where Tom Bender, competition manager, oversaw the teams of judges and a group of esteemed volunteers. “256 wines were entered this year with 90% receiving a medal and 53 wines earning Double Gold or Gold honors. And it is great to see under appreciated and less known grape types such as Semillon, Symphony, Sangiovese, Tempranillo along with numerous Italian and Spanish varietals getting some special recognition. The Barbera class continues to be a foothill winner and this year’s flights of Cabernet Sauvignon were stronger than years past.  Thanks to all the wineries who participated. Wines from the Sierra Foothills region continue to make their mark and show they can compete equally with other more recognized wine regions. Our judges echoed this as well upon their departure," shares Bender.

The results are in and our very own Calaveras County wineries did quite well! Two of three winery winners in the Best of Show category are from Calaveras County. Two of three winery winners in the Best of Calaveras category are from Calaveras County. Congratulations to all of the winners! A medal badge will be sent to the winners for display on wine bottles, in websites and marketing materials.

Get out to some tasting rooms this week and enjoy these award winning wines. View the award winners at the Calaveras County Fair Wine Pavilion, sponsored by the Calaveras Winegrape Alliance, May 16th - 19th. Purchase award-winning wines by the glass, explore educational exhibits and pickup your VIP Tasting "Summer Explorers" Pass.

The complete list of results from the 38th Annual Sierra Foothills Wine Competition are listed in alphabetical order, by winery name, below...

WHITE – Ironstone 2017 Symphony Obsession
 ROSE – Milliaire 2018 White Zinfandel
 RED – J Runquist Wines “The Hill" 2016 Sangiovese

 WHITE – Black Sheep Winery 2017 Semillon

RED - Mineral Wines 2016 Barbera

DESSERT - J Runquist Wines 2018 Muscat Canelli

Shenandoah Pauls Vineyard 2016 Zinfandel

Chardonnay:

Chatom 2018 – Silver

Inner Sanctum Cellars 2018 – Double Gold
 Ironstone Vineyards 2016 “Reserve” – Bronze

Ironstone Vineyards 2017 – Silver

Milliaire Winery 2017 – Bronze

Stevenot Winery 2017 – Silver

Ten By Ten Wines 2017 – Bronze
 

Gewürztraminer:

Milliaire Winery 2017 – Silver
 

Other White Wine Rhone Blend:

Lavender Ridge 2017 “Cote Calaveras” – Silver

Other White Wine Rhone Varietal:

Lavender Ridge 2017 Grenache Blanc - Silver

Other White Wine Varietals:
 Black Sheep Winery 2017 Semillon – Gold/Best of Calaveras White
 Coppermine Winery 2017 Semillon – Silver

Other White Wine Generic Blend:
 Black Sheep Winery “Lily Pad” N/V – Silver
 Drytown Cellars Gold N/V – Silver
 Gossamer Cellars 2017 “Amelice” – Bronze

Metate Hill Vineyards “Barrica” N/V – Bronze
 

Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio:

Gianelli Vineyards 2016 – Bronze

Gianelli Vineyards 2017 – Gold

Milliaire Winery 2018 – Silver

School Street 2018 – Silver

Roussanne:

Sobon Estate 2017 - Gold

Sauvignon Blanc:

Aloria Vineyards 2018 – Bronze
 Coppermine Winery 2017 – Silver

Frogs Tooth Winery 2017 – Bronze
 Hatcher Winery 2018 – Silver

Ironstone Vineyards 2017 – Gold

Le Mulet Rouge Winery 2017 – Bronze

Newsome Harlow Wines 2018 – Bronze

Spanish White Varietals:

Gossamer Grenache Blanc 2016 – Silver

Gossamer Cellars Torrontes 2016 – Bronze

Gossamer Torrontes 2017 “Isabella” – Silver

Inner Sanctum Cellars Verdejo 2017 – Silver

J Runquist Wines Verdelho 2018 – Silver

Symphony:

Ironstone Vineyards 2017 “Obsession” - Gold/Best of Show White

Vermentino:

Shenandoah Winery 2018 – Bronze

Viognier:

Drytown Cellars 2018 – Bronze

Frogs Tooth Winery 2017 – Bronze

Ironstone Vineyard 2016 “Reserve” – Bronze

Lavender Ridge Vineyard 2017 – Silver
 Milliaire Winery 2017 – Silver

Sobon Estate 2018 – SilverTanner Vineyards 2018 – Bronze

Tanner Vineyards 2018 – Bronze

Other Blush:

Shenandoah “Volo Dolce” 2018 – Silver

Rose Varietal:

Gossamer Cellars 2017 Tempranillo – Silver
 Gossamer Cellars 2017 Tannat – Silver
 Hatcher Winery 2018 Cinsault – Silver

Inner Sanctum Cellars 2018 Grenache – Gold

J Runquist Sangiovese 2018 – Bronze
 Lavender Ridge Winery Grenache 2018 – Double Gold

Rose Generic:

Black Sheep Winery “Lily Pad Rose” – Bronze

Drytown Cellars 2018 – Silver

Newsome Harlow Wines 2018 – Bronze

Sobon Estate 2018 – Bronze

White Zinfandel:

Milliaire Winery 2018 – Gold/Best of Show Rose

Alicante Bouschet:

Gossamer Cellars 2016 – Gold
 Milliaire Cellars 2015 “Alley Cat” – Silver

Barbera:

Amador Cellars 2016 – Silver

Chatom 2015 – Gold

Convergence Vineyards 2017 – Bronze

Convergence Vineyards 2017 “Reserve” – Bronze

Frogs Tooth Winery 2016 – Silver

Hatcher Winery 2014 “Reserve” – Silver

J Runquist Wines 2017 “Reserve” – Double Gold

J Runquist Wines 2017 “Amador” – Silver

J Runquist Wines 2017 "Cooper" – Gold

Mineral Wines 2016 – Double Gold/Best of Calaveras Red

Noceto Winery 2014 “Linsteadt” – Bronze
 Shenandoah Vineyards 2017 – Silver

Stevenot Winery 2016 – Silver

Tanner Vineyards – Bronze
 Sobon Estate 2017 – Bronze

Cabernet Franc:

Black Sheep Winery 2015 – Silver
 Coppermine Winery 2015 – Bronze

Ironstone 2015 “Kautz & Kramer” – Bronze

Ironstone Vineyards 2016 “Reserve” – Silver

J Runquist Wines 2017 – Bronze

School Street 2015 – Silver

Cabernet Sauvignon:

Aloria Vineyards 2016 “Renner” -Double Gold

Brice Station Vineyards 2015 – Bronze

Clavey 2013 – Silver

Convergence Vineyards 2017 – Gold

Coppermine Winery 2015 – Silver

Drytown Cellars 2017 – Silver

Inner Sanctum 2016 “The Beginning” – Bronze

Ironstone Vineyards 2014 “Kramer” – Gold

Ironstone 2015 “Kautz & Kramer” – Bronze

Ironstone Vineyards 2016 “Reserve” – Silver

J Runquist Wines 2016 – Double Gold

Le Mulet Rouge Winery 2015 – Silver

Milliaire Winery 2015 “Triumph” – Bronze

Mineral Wines 2016 – Silver
 Sobon Estate 2017 – Silver

Stevenot Winery 2016 – Gold
 Ten By Ten Wines 2016 – Bronze

Grenache:

Chatom 2014 – Bronze

J Runquist Wines 2017 – Silver

Malbec:

Aloria Vineyards 2016 “Renner” – Bronze

Chatom 2014 – Double Gold

Frogs Tooth Winery 2016 – Silver

Shenandoah Vineyards 2016 – Silver

Merlot:

Bianchini Cellars 2012 – Bronze
 Brice Station Vineyards 2015 – Silver

Coppermine Winery 2015 – Silver

Mineral Wines 2016 – Gold

Mourvedre:

Lavender Ridge Winery 2017 – Silver

Other Italian Red Varietals:

Amador Cellars 2016 Montepulciano - Gold

Gianelli Vineyards 2012 Nebbiolo – Bronze

Gianelli Vineyards 2016 Montepulciano – Silver

Gossamer Cellars 2014 Nebbiolo – Bronze

Gossamer Cellars 2014 Teroldego – Silver

Gossamer Cellars 2015 Negroamoro – Silver
 J Runquist Wines 2017 Dolcetto – Double Gold

School Street 2016 Dolcetto – Silver
 

Other Red Blends:

Amador Cellars 2016 “Farmhouse Red” – Double Gold

Black Sheep Winery N/V “Lily Red” – Silver
 Brice Station 2015 “High Country” – Bronze

Clavey Vineyard 2015 “Class III” – Bronze

Convergence Vineyard 2017 “Prospector” – Silver

Drytown Cellars N/V “Red on Red” – Silver

Frogs Tooth Winery 2016 “Serendipity” – Silver
 Ironstone 2017 “Red Obsession” – Gold

Le Mulet Rouge Winery N/V “Zed Red” – Silver

Le Mulet Rouge Winery N/V “Bad Jack” – Bronze

Le Mulet Rouge Winery N/V “Liberte” – Bronze

Milliaire Winery N/V “Simple Red” – Bronze

Milliaire Winery 2016 “Jeunesse” – Silver

Noceto Vineyards N/V “Rosso” – Bronze
 Runquist Wines 2016 “1448” – Gold
 Shenandoah Vineyard 2017 Zingiovese – Gold

Sobon Estate 2016 Red Blend – Silver

Stevenot Winery 2016 “Duetto” – Bronze
 Stevenot Winery 2016 “Danza” – Gold

Other Red Varietals:

J Runquist Wines 2016 Tannat – Gold

J Runquist Wines 2016 Charbono – Gold

J Runquist Wines 2017 Carignane – Gold

J Runquist Wines 2017 Touriga – Gold

Other Rhone Varietals:

Black Sheep Winery 2015 Cinsault – Bronze

Petite Sirah:
 J Runquist Wines 2016 – Double Gold

Lavender Ridge Winery 2016 – Silver

Milliaire Winery 2016 – Silver Ironstone Vineyards 2016 – Bronze

Mineral Wines 2016 – Silver

Sobon Estate 2016 – Gold

Stevenot Winery 2016 – Silver
 

Petite Verdot:

J Runquist Wines 2017 – Silver

Pinot Noir:

Frogs Tooth 2016 “Russian River” – Silver

Ironstone Vineyards 2017 – Bronze

Primitivo:

Convergence Vineyards 2017 – Silver

Drytown Cellars 2015 – Gold
 J Runquist Wines 2017 – Bronze

Sobon Estate 2016 – Silver

Ten By Ten Wines 2016 – Gold

Rhone Style Blends:

Amador Cellars 2015 “GSM” – Silver

Bianchini Cellars 2011 – Silver

Lavender Ridge 2017 “Cote Calaveras” – Silver

Le Mulet Rouge 2015 “Trois Ami” – Bronze

Sangiovese:

Drytown Cellars 2017 – Silver

Frogs Tooth Winery 2016 – Gold

J Runquist Wines 2016 “The Hill” – Gold/Best of Show Red

J Runquist Wines 2017 “Pioneer Hill” – Silver

Noceto Vineyards 2015 “Reserve” – Gold
 Noceto Vineyards 2016 “Original” – Silver

Syrah:

Amador Cellars 2016 – Silver

Bianchini Cellars 2012 – Bronze
 Clavey 2015 – Bronze

Convergence Vineyards 2017 – Silver

Frogs Tooth Winery 2016 – Silver

Inner Sanctum Wines 2016 – Bronze

J Runquist Wines 2017 – Silver

Lavender Ridge Winery 2016 – Silver

Le Mulet Rouge Winery 2015 – Silver
 Mineral Wines 2016 – Bronze Milliaire Winery 2016 – Silver

Newsome Harlow Wines 2016 – Silver

Sobon Estate 2017 – Silver

Tempranillo:

Amador Cellars 2015 – Silver
 Convergence Vineyards 2017 – Gold

Inner Sanctum Cellars 2016 “Torro” – Bronze

Inner Sanctum Cellars 2016 “La Mera Dona” – Bronze

Ironstone Vineyards 2016 “Limited” – Silver

J Runquist Wines 2016 “Shake Ridge Ranch” – Gold

J Runquist Wines 2017 “Liberty Oaks” – Gold

Mineral Wines 2016 – Silver

Shenandoah Vineyards 2015 – Gold
 Stevenot Winery 2016 – Silver

Meritage:

Le Mulet Rouge Winery 2015 “Artisan” – Silver

Mineral Wines 2015 – Bronze

Tanner Vineyards 2016 “The Pioneer” – Silver

Zinfandel:

Amador Cellars 2016 “Reserve” – Gold

Black Sheep Winery 2015 “Amador” – Silver

Black Sheep Winery 2016 “Calaveras” – Bronze

Convergence Vineyard 2017 – Silver

Hatcher Winery 2014 “Reserve” – Gold

Hatcher Winery 2015 “Estate” – Silver

Ironstone Vineyards 2016 – Bronze

Ironstone Vineyards 2016 “Resv Rous” – Silver

J Runquist Wines 2016 “Nostro” – Silver

J Runquist Wines 2017 “Esola” – Silver

J Runquist Wines 2017 “Massoni Ranch” – Bronze

Le Mulet Rouge Winery 2015 – Bronze

Milliaire Winery 2015 “Ghiradelli” – Bronze

Milliaire Winery 2016 “Old Vine” – Silver

Milliaire Winery 2015 “Clockspring” – Gold

Milliaire Winery 2016 “Ghiradelli” – Bronze

Mineral Wines 2016 – Silver

Newsome Harlow Wines 2017 – Silver

Noceto Vineyards 2014 “GPV” – Bronze

School Street 2015 – Silver

Shenandoah 2017 “Special Resv” – Silver

Shenandoah 2016 “Paul’s Vineyard” – Gold/Showdown Winner

Sobon Estate 2017 Fiddletown – Silver

Sobon Estate 2017 Rocky Top – Silver

Sobon Estate 2016 Rezerve – Gold

Stevenot Winery 2016 – Bronze

Late Harvest Zinfandel:

Milliaire Winery Robert’s Cuvee NV – Silver

Muscat Canelli:

Ironstone Vineyards 2016 – Gold
 J Runquist Wines 2018 – Double Gold/Best of Calaveras Dessert

Milliaire Winery 2015 “Catherine” – Silver

Non Vintage Port - Ruby:

Coppermine Winery – Silver

Gossamer Cellars “Ruby Slippers” - Bronze

Orange Muscat:

Shenandoah Vineyards 2017 – Silver

Other Desserts:

Shenandoah Vineyard “Angelica” – Gold

Red Muscat:

Shenandoah 2017 (Black Muscat) – Gold

Vintage Port:

Brice Station Vineyard 2013 – Bronze

Inner Sanctum Cellars 2014 – Double Gold

Milliaire Winery 2013 (Zinfandel) – Silver

Sobon Estate 2017 – Silver