Vineyard & Winery Management

NAPA: B Side 2010 Red Wine Blend, Napa Valley ($24.99) SONOMA: W.H. Smith 2010 Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast ($30) MENDOCINO: Husch 2013 Late Harvest Gewurztraminer, Anderson Valley ($25/375 mL) LAKE: Dalliance 2011 Red Wine, Lake County ($19.99) BEST RED: W.H. Smith 2010 Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast ($30) BEST WHITE: Charles Creek 2010 Saralee's Vineyard Chardonnay, Russian River Valley ($32) BEST SPARKLING: Domaine Carneros 2010 Brut Rosé, Carneros ($37) BEST ROSÉ: Kokomo 2013 Pauline's Vineyard Grenache Rosé, Dry Creek Valley ($24) BEST DESSERT: Husch 2013 Late Harvest Gewurztraminer, Anderson Valley ($25/375 mL) W.H. Smith 2010 Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast ($30) BEST OF COUNTY AWARDS BEST OF CLASS AWARDS BEST OF THE BEST For a complete list of winning wines and information about the competition judges, see www.northcoastwinechallenge.com. 6. 7. 9. 11. 12. 8. 10. 1. Robert Merletti, owner/chairman of Vineyard & Winery Management, welcomes judges to the 2014 competition. 2. Judges vote for their favorite wines in the "Best of the Best" round. 3. Chief judge Daryl Groom, winemaker/owner of Groom Wines, gives instructions to judges before the competition begins. 4. Mick Schroeter, director of winemaking for Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards, evaluates a red wine. 5. The Sonoma Coast pinot noir from W.H. Smith was named "Best of the Best." 6. Experienced back room volunteers keep the competition running smoothly. 7. Carrie Boyle, buyer for Total Wine & More, gives a wine a final taste. 8. Rhett Gadke, wine director for Bounty Hunter; Ellen Landis, wine director at Landis Shores Oceanfront Inn; and Lisa Groom, co-owner of Groom Wines, enjoy the patio at VML before the judges dinner. 9. William Bloxsom-Carter, executive chef/director of food and beverage for the Playboy Mansion, discusses the day's wines with Global Wine Company buyer Tim Marson. 10. Dan Berger, author of Dan Berger's Vintage Experiences, discusses the merits of a wine with fellow panelists. 11. Fred Dame, vice president of prestige accounts for American Wine & Spirits of California, chats with winemaker Heidi Barrett of Barrett & Barrett Wines (center) and Courtney Humiston, wine director at Dry Creek Kitchen restaurant. 12. Judges and organizers gather for a convivial dinner at VML winery in Russian River Valley. w w w. v w m m e d i a . c o m 1 1 1

• Cover
• COVER STORY: Witch Way Down- Dowers lead the divine search for ground water. By Tim Teichgraeber
• New Wine Tanks Provide Efficiencies: Automation and design innovations save space and resources. By Ted Rieger
• Powdery Mildew Monitoring and Control Options Expand: Resistant vine breeding is in progress. By Ted Rieger
• Q & A: Helen Bacigalupi - A Sonoma County grapegrower looks backward and forward. By Christopher Sawyer
• Annual Suppliers Guide: Our guide to the industry's top product and service providers.
• Scene at: Wineries + Breweries Unlimited- The annual conference and trade show returns to Virginia.
• Improving Your Image on Social Media: You can shoot great photos with a smartphone. By Shana Bull
• Improving Presentation Skills: Training can result in better sales and communication. By Susan G. Hauser
• Wine, Women & Events: Female-focused events can benefit wineries and charities. By Tina Caputo
• Scene at: The 2014 Press Democrat North Coast Wine Challenge- A Sonoma Coast pinot noir is named "Best of the Best"
• News in Focus: A closer look at the industry's headline news. By Rayne Wolfe, Sean P. Sullivan and Ted Rieger
• Uncorking PR: All of the People, All of the Time: Focus PR efforts on a segment audience. By Paul Wagner
• Wine Wise Marketing: The Color of Money- Lighting and music can boost tasting room profits. By Elizabeth Slater
• End Post: A Critical Time: The era of the super-reviewer is over. By Tyler Colman
• Market Watch: Farmers Market Machinations: Quirky laws stall efforts to open local markets to wine sales. By Tim Teichgraeber
• East Coast: Sense and Nonsense- The East leads research on aroma and flavor. By Marguerite Thomas
• Soil & Cellar: Relief from the Heat- Various tactics protect vines from searing temperatures. By Remi Cohen
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