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SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL WINE COMPETITION 2019  PAGE 2

 


This year's first-timers were asked to pose for a photo by a professional photographer (not some hacker, like me!).

And then there's "photographer" Chris Sawyer, King of the Selfie.

 

 


Many of the judges look forward to my shenanigans which have become a Day Two Tradition.



This year we had hats in our bag of tricks.


Toshio, Eduardo & Rowald

 


Chris, Lukáša and 1WineDude

 


Wilfred, Katy and Nick

But despite a moment of levity, the judges are all business when there are wines to be evaluated.

 

 


Wendy, Jim & Steven

 


Matt, Drake & Nick

 


Tim, Ron and Rachel

 

 



Tim, John and Sarah

 

 


Michael, Stacie and Phil Myglass

 


Tim, Dana, Jim & Gerald



Robert, Jim and Lilla

 


Patrick, Tonya and Michael

 


Chris, Tracie and Scott

 


Jim, Valery and Jordan

 

 

 


Kevin, Eric and Tim

 


Paul, Liz and Brian

 

 


Mark, Ziggy and George

 


Anthony Dias Blue, Jim Harré and Steven Spurrier

 

 

 

 

 


Alex Creese, Sallye McKenzie, Sharon Martinez and Will Chambers
(They did a great job coordinating my panel's flights of wines for two days!)

 


I routinely bring some interesting beer to thank the volunteer crew and share with panel teammates once we've completed tasting all the wines we've been given.
This year I brought a cool French beer from Brasserie Lebbe, a tiny beer-maker located near Madiran.
He makes but 6,000 bottles annually.

 


All the judges gather in the lobby and there's a group shot.

 


The Head Honcho...Anthony Dias Blue.

 


These gals are the glue that holds this event together.
Chloe Turan, Maddee McDowell and Janine Galligani

 



And so we wrapped up the second day of judging...


We had a little stroll around the neighborhood...

It shouldn't be surprising to note that this roadway is a "one way" street!

 

A few of us then joined Rowald Hepp for a cold German bier.


We then drove down Lombard Street on our way to a favorite dining spot.


That's Coit Tower and the Bay Bridge in the background.

 

We found a table at Dumpling Time and opened a bunch of cool bottles, starting with a Toreta winery Posip from Croatia.






After many interesting dishes, we returned to the Hotel Nikko for a good snooze.
Monday, after all, is the Sweepstakes round...the best of the best!



The judges find a seat and soon we set about to picking the best of the Double Gold Medal wines.

Andy was ready and up to the task.


Steven Spurrier was ready as well...what Bottle Shocks would we experience today?


Sarah Blaufränkisch was ready, as always.

We taste through the Sparkling wines to start and vote for our favorite.  There's a Best of Show bubbly...


From there we move on through the white wines.  Some categories have several Double Gold Medalists that have been sent to the Sweepstakes round.
We first taste those, selecting the best of the various categories before finally tasting all the white wines and selecting the "Best White Wine of the Show."

There are many Double Golds in the Sweepstakes round, so glasses must be cleared and a new set of wines placed back on the table.


Several volunteers tabulate the votes, conferring on each tally to verify the numbers.


Wine Spoken Here.

 


Bratia Berta
(The Berta Brothers)

 





 

 

 

 

 



As things are wrapping up, the Volunteer crew takes a bow.

The judges are extremely appreciative of their efforts...it's a monumental task to handle all the chores the job entails, from opening bottles, to pouring wines (in the correct glass), tabulating the results, clearing the glasses and replacing them with a new flight of wines.

 


Paul has been at each and every year of the San Francisco International Wine Competition and he looks
exactly as young today as he did back at the beginning!

 

 

 


A Big THANKS to the organizers and volunteers
(and Amanda & Anthony Dias Blue).

Or...in the wake of the Covid-19 Pandemic, will this be the case?




SWEEPSTAKES WINNERS

BEST SPARKLING WINE:  CHAMPAGNE COLLET 2008 VINTAGE BRUT

BEST WHITE WINE:  PICCHETTI 2018 Santa Cruz Mountains "Leslie's Estate" CHARDONNAY

BEST RED WINE:  FOG CREST VINEYARDS 2018 Russian River Valley "Upper Block" Estate PINOT NOIR

BEST DESSERT WINE:  RANCHO DE PHILO Cucamonga Valley TRIPLE CREAM SHERRY

 

BEST IN CLASS

Best Blanc de Blancs
Champagne COLLET Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs, Champagne, France
VINTAGE: NV      RETAIL PRICE: $49

Best Sparkling Rosé
J Vineyards and Winery Brut Rosé, Russian River Valley, California USA
VINTAGE: NV      RETAIL PRICE: $45

Best Pinot Gris
Franz Keller Vom Löss Pinot Gris, Baden, Germany
VINTAGE: 2018      RETAIL PRICE: $30

Best Pinot Blanc
AGROPOL MIKULOV Rulandské bílé, Moravia, Czech Republic
VINTAGE: 2017      RETAIL PRICE: 10€

Best Sauvignon Blanc
Mud House Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand
VINTAGE: 2018      RETAIL PRICE: $13

Best Semillon
College Cellars Stan Clarke Vineyard Estate Semillon, Walla Walla Valley, Washington USA
VINTAGE: 2018      RETAIL PRICE: $18

Best Sauvignon Blanc / Semillon Blend
Bird In Hand Two in the Bush Sauvignon Blanc Semillon, Adelaide Hills, Australia
VINTAGE: 2019      RETAIL PRICE: $14

Best Italian White Varietal
Settesoli Grillo, Sicily, Italy
VINTAGE: 2017      RETAIL PRICE: $12

Best White Rhône Varietal
McPherson Cellars Reserve Roussanne, Texas High Plains, Texas, USA
VINTAGE: 2018      RETAIL PRICE: $17

Best Other White Varietal .7% (Residual Sugar) or Below 
Vinarství B\V Müller Thurgau, , Moravia, Czech Republic
VINTAGE: 2018      RETAIL PRICE: Not available in the US

Best Other White Varietal .71% (Residual Sugar) or Above
Ostrožovic Special Collection Lipovina, Tokaj, Slovakia
VINTAGE: 2017      RETAIL PRICE: $29

Best Chenin Blanc
Simonsig Estate Chenin Blanc, Stellenbosch, South Africa
VINTAGE: 2019      RETAIL PRICE: $14

Best Riesling .7% (Residual Sugar) or Below
Bird In Hand Riesling, Clare Valley, Australia
VINTAGE: 2019       RETAIL PRICE: $17

Best Riesling .71% (Residual Sugar) or Above
Vinařství Líbal Ryzlink, Czech Republic
VINTAGE: 2017      RETAIL PRICE: 8€

Best Riesling 6% (Residual Sugar) or above
AGROPOL MIKULOV Ryzlink vlašský Czech Republic
VINTAGE: 2015       RETAIL PRICE: 13€

Best Muscat
Massolino Moscato d'Asti, DOCG, Italy
VINTAGE: 2018      RETAIL PRICE: $23

Best Gewürztraminer
Nepenthe Winemaker's Selection Gewürztraminer, Adelaide Hills, Australia
VINTAGE: 2018       RETAIL PRICE: $18

Best Varietal Rosé • Best Rosé
Bird In Hand Pinot Nero Rosé, Adelaide Hills, Australia
VINTAGE: 2019      RETAIL PRICE: $20

Best Rosé Blend
Sunseeker Rosé , California, USA
VINTAGE: 2018      RETAIL PRICE: $18

 Best Sake
HEAVENSAKE Junmai Daiginjo Sake, Yamaguchi, Japan
VINTAGE: 2019      RETAIL PRICE: $90

Best Gamay Noir
Léon Roux Beaujolais-Villages (Gamay) A.O.C Beaujolais-Villages, France
VINTAGE: 2018      RETAIL PRICE: $15

Best Tempranillo
Duchman Family Winery "Salt Lick Vineyard" Tempranillo, Texas, USA
VINTAGE: 2015      RETAIL PRICE: $52

Best Spanish / Portuguese / Argentine Red, etc.
South Coast Winery Wild Horse Peak Mountain Vineyards Touriga Nacional, South Coast AVA, California, USA
VINTAGE: 2016      RETAIL PRICE: $25?

Best Barbera
DANCIN Vineyards "Onore" Barbera, Rogue Valley, Oregon, USA
VINTAGE: 2017      RETAIL PRICE: $39

Best Sangiovese • Best Italian Red
Naggiar Vineyards Estate Grown Sangiovese, Sierra Foothills, California, USA
VINTAGE: 2017      RETAIL PRICE : $29

Best "Other" Italian Red
Duchman Family Winery Oswald Vineyards Aglianico, Texas, USA
VINTAGE: 2015      RETAIL PRICE: $30

Best Merlot
Jackson-Triggs Okanagan ~ Okanagan Valley Gran Reserve Estate Merlot, BC VQA, Canada
VINTAGE: 2016      RETAIL PRICE: $25

Best Malbec
Shadybrook Estate Coombsville Malbec, Napa Valley, California, USA
VINTAGE: 2015      RETAIL PRICE: $95

Best Cabernet Franc
Hamilton Cellars Weinbau Cabernet Franc, Wahluke Slope, Washington, USA
VINTAGE: 2015      RETAIL PRICE: $35

Best Petit Verdot
V. Sattui Winery Petit Verdot, Napa Valley, California, USA
VINTAGE: 2016      RETAIL PRICE: $47

Best Cabernet Sauvignon
Priest Ranch Snake Oil Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California, USA
VINTAGE: 2016      RETAIL PRICE: $100

Best Cabernet / Syrah Blend
Cellardoor Winery Aurora Red Wine, American, USA
VINTAGE: 2015      RETAIL PRICE: $32

Best Premium Bordeaux Blend • Best Bordeaux Blend
San Simeon Stormwatch, Paso Robles, California, USA
VINTAGE: 2015      RETAIL PRICE: $75

Best Non-Bordeaux Blend < $25 • Best Non-Bordeaux Blend
Gnarly Head Double Black Red Blend, Lodi, California, USA
VINTAGE: 2017      RETAIL PRICE: $13

Best Non-Bordeaux Blend > $25
Raffaldini Vineyards & Winery Grande Riserva Proprietary Red Wine, Swan Creek AVA (North Carolina), USA
VINTAGE: 2017      RETAIL PRICE: $55

Best Native American Red
Johnson Estate Winery Concord, Lake Erie (New York), USA
VINTAGE: 2018      RETAIL PRICE: $10

Best Zinfandel
Miro Cellars "Hemar Vineyard" Old Vines Zinfandel, Alexander Valley, California, USA
VINTAGE: 2017      RETAIL PRICE: $40

Best Petite Sirah
Jeff Runquist Wines "Salman Vineyards" Petite Sirah, Clarksburg, California, USA
VINTAGE: 2017      RETAIL PRICE: $28

Best Syrah
Arrington Vineyards Syrah, American, USA
VINTAGE: 2017      RETAIL PRICE: $27

Best Other Rhône Varietal
Carol Shelton Wines Oat Valley Vineyards Old Vine Carignane, Alexander Valley, California, USA
VINTAGE: 2016      RETAIL PRICE: $28

Best Red Rhône Blend
Robert Oatley Vineyards Signature Series GSM, McLaren Vale, Australia
VINTAGE: 2017      RETAIL PRICE: $20

BEST LATE HARVEST & SWEET WINES

Best Sweet Red
Grape Creek Vineyards Grande Rouge Sweet Red Wine, Texas, USA
VINTAGE: 2018      RETAIL PRICE: $22

Best Late Harvest Red
Vinselekt Michlovský Agni (Agni is the grape variety), Moravia, Czech Republic
VINTAGE: 2007      RETAIL PRICE: $17

Best Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc
The King's A Sticky End Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand
VINTAGE: 2018      RETAIL PRICE: $20

Best Late Harvest Riesling
Navarro Vineyards Cluster Select Late Harvest Riesling, Anderson Valley, California, USA
VINTAGE: 2018      RETAIL PRICE: $35

Best Icewine
Inniskillin Niagara Sparkling Vidal Icewine, Niagara Peninsula, Canada
VINTAGE: 2018      RETAIL PRICE: $80

Best Passito
Barboursville Vineyards Paxxito, (Moscato Ottonel & Vidal grapes) Virginia, USA
VINTAGE: 2015      RETAIL PRICE: $32

Best Ruby Port
Grape Creek Vineyard Ruby Port, Texas, USA
VINTAGE: NV      RETAIL PRICE: $33

 

BACK TO THE FIRST PAGE OF THE 2019 JUDGING

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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