Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/138003
Scene at: Beaulieu Vineyard Tapestry Reserve 2009 Named 'Best of the Best' ineyard & Winery Management (V&WM) and The Press Democrat have concluded the first Press Democrat North Coast Wine Challenge, held May 29 and 30 at the Sonoma Wine Country Hilton in Santa Rosa, Calif. The new wine competition focused exclusively on wines produced in North Coast AVAs, including those in Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Lake, Marin and Solano counties. The wine named as "Best of the Best" from a field of nearly 1,000 entries was the Beaulieu Vineyard Napa Valley Tapestry Reserve 2009, a red Bordeaux-style blend. In keeping with the competition theme, judges represented the best of the North Coast's wine professionals, including sommeliers, winemakers, retailers and media. To bring a variety of perspectives to the judging, each three-person panel included a winemaker, a sommelier or retailer and a member of the media. The North Coast Wine Challenge introduced a new approach to award designations, according to Debra Del Fiorentino, V&WM's director of wine competitions. "Wines were awarded the ranking of Best of Class by Category, Best of County, and ultimately, the great wines," said Steve Best of the Best as the top Falk, CEO of Sonoma Media award." Investments, parent compaIn addition to awardny of The Press Democrat. ing medals, panels submitJudging event sponsors ted point scores for gold included Wine Industry medal wines, based Network, Penta Water, on the 100-point scale. Wine Country Organics, A total of 132 wines Wine Country Shipping, received gold medals. Alsco, Graber Olives, Chief Judge Daryl Sonoma Wine CounGroom, owner/winetry Hilton, Costeaux maker for Groom French Bakery, Vino Wines in Healdsburg, Chapeau, Corks ResCalif., led the event taurant, Big River in its inaugural year. Coffee Company, "We had a fantasLagunitas Brewing tic first event and Company, Sonoma I could not be hapChocolatiers, Olipier with the judging ver's Market, Clover and the results," he Stornetta Farms, said. "Where else in Spring Hill Jersey the world do you get Cheese, Top Nest to taste that many Designs, Screamin' absolutely top-notch Mimi's and Montwines of such divergomery Village Shopsity, except on the ping Center. North Coast of CaliThe Press Dem4 fornia? Picking the ocrat will host a ultimate winners was public tasting July tough, but some really stun14 featuring a selection of ning wines shone through." medal-winning wines from "We live and work in the the competition. For details heart of the leading quality about the public tasting, a list wine region in the country of competition judges and and The Press Democrat is complete results, visit www. committed to bringing new northcoastwinechallenge. focus and attention to our com. 3 1 110 V I N EYARD & WINERY MANAGEMENT | 5 2 July - Aug 2013 w w w. v w m m e d i a . c o m