Vineyard & Winery Management

WINE COMPETITIONS Scene at: Cream sherry takes the top prize in inaugural judging ineyard & Winery Man- agement's inaugural U.S. National Wine Competition, held April 9-12 in Santa Rosa, Calif., brought together profession- al judges from across the United States, led by chief judge Gerald D. Boyd. After panelists had tasted through more than 1,100 American wines, the judges' overwhelming choice for Best of Show was the non-vintage Rancho de Philo Tri- ple Cream Sherry from California's Cucamonga Valley appellation. The wine is made in the traditional Spanish solera barrel aging pro- cess, from mission grapes. "Key to the success of a wine competition is the professional caliber of the judges," Boyd noted. "As chief judge, I selected experi- enced judges who understand the wide range and diversity of wines available today to the U.S. wine consumer." Sweepstakes winners came from a variety of states, includ- SWEEPSTAKES WINNERS INCLUDED: Best of Show: Rancho de Philo NV Triple Cream Sherry, Cucamonga Valley AVA, California ($35) Best Sparkler: Weibel Vineyards NV Peach Flavored Sparkling Wine, California ($11) Best White: Miletta Vista Winery 2011 Brianna, Nebraska ($15) Best Red: Hovey Winery 2009 Walker Vineyard Barbera, El Dorado AVA, California ($22) Best Rosé: Waterbrook 2011 Sangiovese Rosé, Columbia Valley AVA, Washington ($12) Best Fruit: Vizcarra Vineyards at Becker Farms 2010 Spiced Apple, Niagara Escarpment AVA, New York ($9.95) Best Dessert: Rancho de Philo NV Triple Cream Sherry, Cucamonga Valley AVA, California ($35) For complete results please visit: http://www.vwm-online.com/wine_competitions/us_national/results.asp 2 1 ing Nebraska, New York, Wash- ington and California. "The top awards given at the competition are clear evidence that the quality of U.S. wines more than meets the demand of an increasingly sophisti- cated wine consumer," he added. The competition celebrates the diversity of American wines made from vinifera, native and hybrid grapes. It also represents the dis- tinctiveness of the nation's wine- growing regions. 110 VINEYARD & WINERY MANAGEMENT JULY - AUG 2012 WWW.VWM-ONLINE.COM

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