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The Results of The 8th Annual American Fine Wine Competition!

A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of judging the 8th Annual American Fine Wine Competition. As many of you know, the competition was founded eight years ago by the fabulous Shari Gherman and dynamic duo of Monty and Sara Preiser and showcases some of the finest wines in the United States. While many of the highest scoring entries... Read More

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The Results of The 8th Annual American Fine Wine Competition!

A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of judging the 8th Annual American Fine Wine Competition. As many of you know, the competition was founded eight years ago by the fabulous Shari Gherman and dynamic duo of Monty and Sara Preiser and showcases some of the finest wines in the United States. While many of the highest scoring entries hail from California, Oregon, and Washington state, there are always some delightful surprises! Over the past few years, wines from Virginia, Ohio, and New York have definitely impressed and serve as reminders that, when it comes to wine, we should all think (and shop) outside the box.

The judging of over 700 vinous entries took place over two days at Florida International University’s state-of-the-art Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management. Each day began promptly at 9am with all the judges divided into teams of four – palates primed and ready! We then sipped and spit our way through flight after flight of white, red, sweet, and sparkling wines, evaluating and assigning medals where appropriate. With our teeth-staining task complete, I’m happy to share the results with you (drumroll please!):

“BEST OF CLASS”
Dry Riesling – 2013 Glenora Wine Cellars, Finger Lakes
Cabernet Sauvignon – 2012 Peju Province, Napa
Chardonnay – 2012 Maldonado Los Olivos, Napa
Dessert Wine – 2014 Glenora Wine Cellars Riesling Ice Wine, Finger Lakes
Dry Rosé – 2014 Burbank Ranch Picnic Meadow Grenache Rose, Paso Robles
Merlot – 2010 Rombauer, Carneros
Other Red Blend – 2012 Cougars Leap, Black Rock Cuvée, Lake County
Other Red Single Varietal- 2012 Michael David, Inkblot Tannat, Lodi
Pinot Noir- 2011 Russian Hill, Ellen’s Block, Russian River Valley
Cabernet Franc- 2011 Cairdean, Napa
Red Bordeaux Style Blend – 2012 Arietta, H Block, Napa
Sauvignon Blanc – 2012 Arkenstone, Howell Mountain
Sparkling – 2012 Hagafen Cellars Brut Cuvée and 2008 Domaine Carneros Le Reve (tie)
Syrah – 2012 Cline Cellars, Carneros
Viognier – 2013 Russian Hill Estates, Russian River Valley
Zinfandel – 2012 Frank Family, Napa

“BEST OF SHOW”
Dry Rosé – 2014 Burbank Ranch Picnic Meadow Grenache Rosé
Dessert Wine – 2014 Glenora Wine Cellars Riesling Ice Wine
Sparkling – 2012 Hagafen Cellars Brut Cuvée and 2008 Domaine Carneros Le Reve (tie)
Red – 2011 Cairdean Cabernet Franc
White – 2012 Maldonado Chardonnay, Los Olivos Vineyard (second year in a row!)

I hope you enjoyed the results and I’d love to hear what you think: are you fans of any of our winners or did you make any new discoveries? Please let me know in the comment section below. Also, on April 24th, 2015 the American Fine Wine Competition Charity Gala will take place at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino. This promises to be another amazing evening filled with fabulous food, wine, and fun so be sure to mark your calendar! For more information and/or to purchase tickets, please click here and I hope to see you there.

Cheers,

The Results of the 7th Annual American Fine Wine Competition!

It is with great pleasure that I reveal to you the results of the 2014 American Fine Wine Competition! As many of you know, the judging process took place last month at Florida International University’s Chaplin School of Hospitality and after two solid days of sipping, swishing and spitting we selected what we thought were the best of what America has to offer. While St. Supéry’s Dollarhide Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon winning Best of Show Red Wine might not come as much of a surprise, how about the wine that took Best of Class Bordeaux Blend? Namely the 2010 Delaplane Williams Gap Blend from…Virginia. Yes, you heard me, Virginia!

Once again it was fun discovering new wines from around the country, getting to spend time with my fellow judges and making new friends including Alan Kalter of the Late Show with David Letterman who will be the Emcee and Auctioneer at the AFWC Gala on April 4th. So without further ado, here are the results of the Best of Show and Best of Class categories for the 7th Annual American Fine Wine Competition. Please click on the link following the list to see the complete results:

Best of Show Red Wine
2010 St. Supéry Dollarhide Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon (retail price $100)

Best of Show White Wine
2011 Maldonado Chardonnay Los Olivos Vineyard, Napa Valley, California ($42)

Best of Show Sparkling
NV Mumm Napa Santana, Napa Valley, California ($50)

Best of Show Late Harvest
2009 Ceja Dulce Beso, Napa Valley, California

Best of Class:

Best of Class Cabernet Franc
2010 Peju Reserve, Napa, California ($110)

Best of Class Bordeaux Blend
2010 Delaplane Williams Gap Blend, Virginia ($56)

Best of Class Dry Rosé
2012 Rugg Rosé, Napa Valley, California ($18)

Best of Class Merlot
2010 Chateau St. Michelle Cold Creek Vineyard Merlot, Columbia Valley, Washington ($35)

Best of Class Petite Sirah
2011 Michael David Earthquake, Lodi, California ($26)

Best of Class Pinot Noir
2011 Miner Pinot Noir Rosella’s Vineyard, Sta. Lucia Highlands, California ($60)

Best of Class Rhone Blend:
2010 Sol Rouge Gypsy Rouge, North Coast, California ($28)

Best of Class Syrah
2009 Gamache Syrah, Columbia Valley, Washington ($30)

Best of Class Zinfandel
2012 Titus Zinfandel, Napa Valley, California ($30)

Best of Class Other Red
NV Reverie Barbera Diamond Mountain District, California ($30)

Best of Class Other White
2012 Ferrante Gewurztraminer, Ohio ($15)

Best of Class Sauvignon Blanc
201 Beltane Ranch Estate Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma Valley, California ($29)

To view the complete list of all results from the 7th Annual American Fine Wine Competition, please click here. Also, don’t forget to mark your calendars for the AFWC Gala on April 4th, for more information, please click here.

Cheers,