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...
BEST OF SHOW CATEGORY
WHITE – Ironstone 2017 Symphony Obsession ROSE – Milliaire 2018 White Zinfandel RED – J Runquist Wines “The Hill" 2016 Sangiovese
BEST OF CALAVERAS CATEGORY
WHITE – Black Sheep Winery 2017 Semillon
RED - Mineral Wines 2016 Barbera
DESSERT - J Runquist Wines 2018 Muscat Canelli
ZINFANDEL SHOWDOWN WINNER
Shenandoah Pauls Vineyard 2016 Zinfandel
WHITE WINES CATEGORY
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
ROSE WINES CATEGORY
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
RED WINES CATEGORY
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
DESSERT WINES
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