[June 29, 2021 - Murphys, CA] Winners have been announced for both the Sierra Foothills Wine Competition and the Orange County Fair Competition! 15 Calaveras County Wineries entered the "40th Annual Sierra Foothills Wine Show" that took place on Friday, June 25th at the Calaveras County Fairgrounds. This year, 18 esteemed judges thoughtfully evaluated 211 wines in the day-long event. Professional wine reviewers, judges, and writers from across California included: Tom Bender, Dan Berger, Mark Chandler, Tana Cole, Patrick Dodd, Mike Dunne, Jim Gordon, Michael Kelly, Mike Kerrigan, Ellen Landis, Curtis Mann, Martin Maxwell, Dale Pollard, Susan Reiner-Lyon, Jackson Starr, Jim Twiford, Paul Wagner, and Evan Williams.
Tom Bender, competition manager, oversaw the teams of judges and a group of esteemed volunteers as each wine was thoughtfully evaluated. The annual wine show is hosted by Laurie Giannini, CEO and Fair Manager at the 39th District Agricultural Association, Calaveras County Fair. Laurie and Gay Callan, Calaveras Winegrape Alliance Board Member, Calaveras County Fair Board Member, and Grower, worked together to provide keepsake wine glasses for this year's show.
Of the 211 wines entered, 194 vintners took home medals. Find the complete list of 2021 Sierra Foothills Wine Show winners by wine type below. Enjoy these award-winning wines at tasting rooms throughout Calaveras Wine Country this summer and view our Winery Member Page HERE for visitor information.
Number of medals awarded by type:
Double Golds: 22
Golds: 28
Silver: 88
Bronze: 56
Some of our winery families and vintners shared their thoughts about the recognition received....
Kirsten Locke, Director of Operations, Locke Vineyards, remarks, “Locke Rosé has become a quick popular wine in our line up at The Barn and we are thrilled to hear the results from the Sierra Foothills Wine Show. The 2020 release showcases a field blend of two different varietals from both of our Calaveras vineyards. Thank you for the recognition and loving Locke Rosé!”
Ron Pieretti, Founder and Managing Partner, Prospect 772 Wines shares, "Once again we are very fortunate to receive this recognition. As our vineyard matures, it is becoming more and more expressive and that expression is showing up in the wines. The Sierra Foothills AVA in my opinion is still underrated. There are many remarkable vineyard sites in our wine region and we are just some of the lucky ones who get to Live, Work and Play here.”
Rob and Sheri Hendriks, Proprietors and Vineyard Owners, Aloria Vineyards are ecstatic. "Our family is honored to be recognized with seven medals for our Aloria Estate grown wines. Our vineyard, established in 1996, has given our life meaning and purpose since we began to take it into our hands and hearts. Our 2018 red wines entered this year, were the first harvested as Aloria Vineyards. We set out to express our unique high elevation viticulture and sustainable growing and winemaking practices in our wines. It’s our intention to establish harmony and excellence in our growing region and proudly display Calaveras County on our labels. We also feel especially honored to be awarded a Double Gold for our 2018 Syrah, produced with devotion to the exquisite French and Australian clones for ourselves and clients in the Sierra Foothills, Napa, and beyond. In addition, what we felt was always the star of the vineyard, our Malbec, also received a double gold for our 2018 vintage, and was a confirmation that we weren’t simply biased by loving this wine and sharing it with our guests. We want to especially thank our Calaveras Winegrape Alliance for supporting us over the years, especially through the past year, and we look forward to many more extraordinary vintages to come."
Scott Klann, Newsome Harlow Winemaker, and Proprietor received several medals and commented, "I am very pleased about this wine and the accolades it has garnered. This was a labor of love project between Steve Collum and myself. It was a goal to begin to bring Chenin Blanc back to Calaveras. It had been gone since the mid 80’s when the last block in the county was grafted over to Chardonnay. Steve and I discussed this for many years before deciding to plant this with Joe Grant and his family’s vineyard. Originally we were co-fermenting it with Viognier from the same vineyard but in 2018 we grafted the Vio over to Chenin as well. In 2019 we released it as 100% Chenin Blanc".
In addition to the medals awarded at our regional wine show, many Calaveras Wineries also took home medals at the 48th Annual Orange County Fair Wine Competition that took place on June 5th-6th. Our local winners include Aloria Vineyards, Ironstone Vineyards, Jazz Cellars, Milliaire Winery, and Mineral Wines. Find the complete list of Orange County Fair Wine Competition winners and results HERE.
AND THE 2021 SIERRA FOOTHILLS WINE SHOW WINNERS ARE...
Wine Style/Winery Vintage Medal Wine Type Special Awards
>WHITE WINES
Chardonnay:
Inner Sanctum Cellars N/V Double Gold
Black Sheep Winery 2019 Gold
Ironstone Winery 2019 Silver Reserve
Stevenot Winery 2020 Silver
Milliaire Cellars 2019 Bronze
Inner Sanctum Cellars 2019 Bronze
Vermentino:
Tanner Vineyards 2020 Silver
Riesling:
Gossamer Cellars 2018 Silver
Drytown Cellars 2020 Silver
Viognier:
Hovey Winery 2019 Double Gold
Mineral Wines 2019 Double Gold
Jazz Cellars 2020 Double Gold "Best of Calaveras - White"
Sobon Estate 2020 Gold
Ironstone Vineyards 2019 Silver Reserve
Newsome Harlow Winery 2019 Bronze
Aloria Vineyards 2020 Bronze
Drytown Cellars 2020 Bronze
Roussannez:
Broll Mountain 2018 Double Gold
Sobon Estate 2020 Bronze
Semillon:
Andis Winery 2020 Bronze Reserve
Black Sheep Winery 2020 Bronze
Sauvignon Blanc:
Andis Winery 2020 Double Gold
Aloria Vineyards 2020 Silver
Le Mulet Rouge Winery 2018 Bronze
White Rhone Varietal:
Bella Grace Winery 2020 Double Gold Grenache Blanc "Best of Show - White"
Spanish White Varietals:
Inner Sanctum Cellars 2019 Silver Verdejo
Gossamer Cellars 2017 Bronze Torrontes
Rhone White Blend:
Mineral Wines N/V Silver
Other White Varietals:
Newsome Harlow Winery 2019 Gold Chenin Blanc
Stevenot Winery 2020 Silver Chenin Blanc
Stevenot Winery 2020 Silver Malvasia Bianca
Amador Cellars 2020 Silver Fiano
Other White Blend:
Black Sheep Winery N/V Gold Lily Pad White
Andis Winery 2020 Silver Cuvee Blanc
Locke Winery 2019 Silver Aspen
Drytown Cellars N/V Bronze
Aloria Vineyards 2020 Bronze Illumination
Inner Sanctum Cellars N/V Bronze Basecamp
Varietal Rose:
Inner Sanctum Cellars 2020 Gold Tempranillo
Vino Noceto Winery 2020 Silver Sangiovese
Aloria Vineyards 2020 Silver Barbera
Gossamer Cellars 2018 Bronze Tempranillo
Gossamer Cellars 2018 Bronze Tannat
Arthur Michael Vineyards 2020 Bronze Sangiovese
Rose Blend:
Bella Grace Winery 2020 Double Gold "Best of Show - Rose"
Locke Winery 2020 Gold "Best of Calaveras - Rose
Sobon Estate 2020 Silver
Other Blush:
Shenandoah Vineyards 2020 Gold Volo Dolce
Sparkling - Brut:
Inner Sanctum 2019 Gold Verdejo
Sparkling - Rose:
Aloria Vineyards 2019 Silver Syrah Rose
Gossamer Cellars 2019 Bronze Etoilee
>RED WINES:
Barbera:
Amador Cellars 2017 Double Gold
Bella Grace Winery 2018 Gold Amador
Sobon Estate 2019 Gold
Vino Noceto Winery 2017 Silver Linsteadt
Andis Winery 2018 Silver
Bella Grace Winery 2018 Silver Reserva
Convergence Vineyards 2018 Silver Estate
Villa Vallecito Vineyards 2017 Silver
Stevenot Winery 2018 Silver
Shenandoah Vineyards 2018 Silver
Milliaire Winery 2019 Silver
Drytown Cellars 2019 Silver
Bumgarner Wines 2017 Bronze
Convergence Vineyards 2018 Bronze Reserve
Inner Sanctum Cellars 2018 Bronze
Mineral Wines 2018 Bronze
Cabernet Sauvignon:
Convergence Vineyards 2018 Double Gold
Stevenot Winery 2018 Double Gold
Broll Mountain Vineyards 2017 Gold
Mineral Wines 2017 Gold
Black Sheep Winery 2018 Silver Calaveras County
Miliaire Winery 2018 Silver Triumph
Le Mulet Rouge Winery 2016 Silver
Inner Sanctum Cellars 2018 Silver Basecamp
Shenandoah Vineyards 2018 Silver
Miliaire Winery 2018 Silver Calaveras County
Drytown Cellars 2019 Silver
Inronstone Vineyards 2019 Silver Reserve
Sobon Estate 2018 Silver
Locke Winery 2017 Silver
Hovey Winery 2016 Bronze
Inner Sanctum Cellars 2018 Bronze Beginning
Villa Vallecito Vineyards 2017 Bronze
Cabernt Franc:
Shenandoah Vineyards 2019 Gold
Bumgarner Wines 2018 Silver
Ironstone Vineyards 2019 Silver
Black Sheep Winery 2018 Bronze
Mineral Wines 2018 Bronze
Grenache:
Bella Grace Winery 2017 Silver
Gossamer Cellars 2018 Silver
Villa Vallecito Vineyards 2017 Silver
Malbec:
Millairie Winery 2018 Double Gold
Aloria Vineyards 2018 Double Gold
Drytown Cellars 2019 Silver
Le Mulet Rouge Cellars 2017 Silver
Mineral Wines 2018 Bronze
Merlot:
Drytown Cellars 2018 Gold
Milliaire Winery 2018 Silver
Black Sheep Winery 2018 Bronze
Pinot Noir:
Bumgarner Wines 2018 Silver
Drytown Cellars 2019 Silver
Petite Sirah
Sobon Estate 2018 Double Gold "Best of Show - Red"
Broll Mountain Vineyards 2016 Double Gold
Stevenot Winery 2017 Gold
Milliaire Winery 2018 Silver
Convergence Vineyards 2018 Silver
Hovey Winery 2017 Bronze
Mineral Wines 2018 Bronze
Syrah
Aloria Vineyards 2018 Double Gold
Black Sheep Winery 2018 Gold
Tanner Vineyards 2018 Gold
Broll Mountain VineyardS 2016 Silver
Villa Vallecito Vineyards 2017 Silver
Stevenot Winery 2018 Silver
Inner Sanctum Cellars 2017 Silver
Convergence Vineyards 2018 Silver
Mineral Wines 2018 Silver
Le Mulet Rouge Winery 2016 Silver
Le Mulet Rouge Winery 2017 Silver Reserve
Meritage:
Mineral Wines 2016 Double Gold
Tanner Vineyards 2016 Silver
Le Mulet Rouge Winery 2016 Bronze
Sangiovese:
Vino Noceto Winery 2017 Gold Riserva
Gossamer Cellars 2018 Gold
Drytown Cellars 2019 Silver
Vino Noceto Winery 2018 Silver Original
Vino Noceto Winery 2018 Silver Dos Oakies
Alicante Bouschet:
Bumgarner Wines 2018 Double Gold
Tempranillo:
Inner Sanctum Cellars 2018 Gold
Stevenot Winery 2018 Gold
Bumgarner Wines 2017 Silver
Shenandoah Vineyards 2018 Silver
Converngence Vineyards 2017 Silver
Mineral Wines 2017 Silver
Le Mulet Rouge Winery 2017 Silver
Hovey Winery 2018 Bronze
Other Rhone Varietals:
Black Sheep Winery 2018 Double Gold Cinsault
Jazz Cellars 2019 Silver Mourvedre
Rhone Blends:
Prospect 772 Vineyards 2018 Double Gold Truant "Best of Calaveras Red"
Jazz Cellars 2019 Silver Backbeat
Bella Grace Winery 2017 Bronze Combination
Convergence Vineyards 2018 Bronze Ranger
Zinfandel:
Bella Grace Winery 2017 Double Gold Old Vine
Milliaire Winery 2018 Double Gold Ghiradelli Zin Challenge Winner
Black Sheep Winery 2018 Gold Amador
Locke Winery 2017 Gold
Black Sheep Winery 2018 Gold Calaveras
Sobon Estate 2019 Gold Rocky Top
Sobon Estate 2019 Silver Cougar Hill
Sobon Estate 2019 Silver Old Vine
Newsome Harlow Winery 2019 Silver Big John V.
Inner Sanctum Cellars 2018 Silver Skully
Bella Grace Winery 2018 Silver Amador
Milliaire Winery 2018 Silver Clockspring
Andis Winery 2018 Silver Painted Fields
Amador Cellars 2017 Silver Family Reserve
Bella Grace Winery 2017 Bronze Estate
Vino Noceto Winery 2016 Bronze OGP
Bumgarner Wines 2018 Bronze
Amador Cellars 2018 Bronze Estate
Convergence Vineyards 2018 Bronze
Shenandoah Vineyards 2019 Bronze Spec Reserve
Primitivo:
Convergence Vineyard 2018 Double Gold
Gossamer Cellars 2016 Silver
Other Italian Red Varietal:
Gossamer Cellars 2018 Silver Negromaro
Other Red Varietals:
Black Sheep Winery 2018 Gold Touriga
Shenandoah Vineyards 2018 Gold Carignane
Tanner Vineyards 2018 Bronze Carignane
Gossamer Cellars 2018 Bronze Trincadiera
Other Red Blends:
Andis Winery 2018 Gold Painted Fields
Black Sheep Winery N/V Silver Lily Pad Red
Drytown Cellars N/V Silver Red on Red
Amador Cellars 2017 Silver Miscela
Amador Cellars 2018 Silver Farm House
Le Mulet Rouge Winery 2016 Silver Liberte
Arthur Michael Vineyard 2018 Silver Primativo/Barbera
Convergence Vineyards 2018 Silver Italian Job
Convergence Vineyards 2018 Silver El Diablo
Inner Sanctum Cellars 2018 Silver Red Head Ninja
Stevenot Winery 2018 Silver Duetto
Le Mulet Rouge Winery 2017 Silver Tres Amigos
Arthur Michael Vineyard 2015 Bronze Zin/Petite
Bella Grace Winery 2017 Bronze 1646 Red
Stevenot Winery 2017 Bronze Danza Roja
Vino Noceto Winery 2018 Bronze Mistura
Gossamer Cellars 2018 Bronze Rascal
Convergence Vineyards 2018 Bronze Prospector
Shenandoah Vineyards 2019 Bronze Zingiovese
Bella Grace Winery 2017 Bronze Montanagro
Dessert Wines:
Shenandoah Vineyards 2018 Bronze Vintage Port
Bumgarner Wines N/V Bronze Non Vintage Port - Ruby
Other Dessert:
Black Sheep Winery 2016 Silver Fortissmo "Best of Show - Dessert"
Bumgarner Wines N/V Bronze