The California State Fair announced the top wine awards from the California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition on the State Capitol steps this morning. Along with recognizing the Best of Show wines, the Best of Show cheese producer, Bleating Heart Cheese, was also recognized.
This year’s wine competition consisted of 2,829 wine entries received from 746 participating winery brands. Seventy-four judges on 18 panels awarded 2,068 medals, including 52 Double Gold, 217 Gold, 1,085 Silver and 714 Bronze.
Awards were presented by Jim Houston, deputy secretary, California Department of Food and Agriculture, Paul Martin, deputy director, Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development, Rick K. Pickering, chief executive officer, California Exposition & State Fair Sonney Chong, board chair, California Exposition & State Fair and Rick Kushman and Mike Dunne, California State Fair chief wine judges. Also in attendance were representatives from the award-winning wineries and cheese producers.
“We are excited to see this esteemed competition continue to grow with more than 200 additional entries from last year and overwhelming support by the wine industry,” said Pickering. “It’s another example of how the State Fair continues to honor the best of California.”
The first State Fair Wine Competition was held in 1855. The competition is the oldest and one of the most prestigious wine events in the country. Top wines including Best of Region and Best of California winners will be featured at the State Fair in the Save Mart Supermarkets Wine Garden for visitors to enjoy July 11-27.
A complete listing of award-winning wines can be found at
castatefair.org and award winning cheeses can be found at
castatefair.org. Wine Awards:
Best of Show Red
Double Gold 98
Sterling Vineyards
2010 Cabernet Sauvignon
Platinum
Best of Show White
Double Gold 98
Carol Shelton Wines
2012 Coquille Blanc
Best of Show Sparkling
Double Gold 98
McFadden Vineyard
NV Cuvée Brut
Best of Show Pink
Double Gold 98
Pedroncelli Winery
2013 Zinfandel
Signature Selection
Best of Show Dessert
Double Gold 98
Navarro Vineyards
2013 Riesling
Late Harvest
Best Value
Double Gold 98
Fetzer Vineyards
2011 Valley Oaks Moscato
Golden State Winery of the Year
Navarro Vineyards
Best Microwinery Red
Double Gold 98
La Chertosa Old World Wines
2012 Zinfandel
Best Microwinery White
Gold 96
Guardsmen Wines
2013 Albariño
Best Of Region
BEST OF NORTH COAST RED
Gold 95
Castle Rock
2011 Mendocino County
Pinot Noir
BEST OF NORTH COAST WHITE
Double Gold 98
Navarro Vineyards
2013 Mendocino
Pinot Blanc
BEST OF SONOMA RED
Double Gold 98
Hawley Winery
2010 Dry Creek Valley
Meritage
Hawley Vineyard
BEST OF SONOMA WHITE
Gold 95
MacMurray Ranch
2012 Russian River Valley
Pinot Gris
BEST OF NAPA RED
Double Gold 98
Sterling Vineyards
2010 Napa Valley
Cabernet Sauvignon
Platinum
BEST OF NAPA WHITE
Double Gold 98
Trefethen Family Vineyards
2012 Oak Knoll
Chardonnay
BEST OF GREATER BAY RED
Gold 95
Las Positas Vineyards
2011 Alameda County – Livermore Valley
Tempranillo
BEST OF GREATER BAY WHITE
Gold 95
Storrs Winery
2012 Santa Cruz Mountains
Chardonnay
Mountain Vineyard Collection
Wildcat Ridge
BEST OF NORTH-CENTRAL COAST RED
Gold 96
Hahn Winery
2012 Central Coast
Meritage
BEST OF NORTH-CENTRAL COAST WHITE
Double Gold 98
State of Art
2011 Arroyo Seco
Riesling
Mission Ranch Vineyard
BEST OF SOUTH-CENTRAL COAST RED
Gold 95
Peachy Canyon Winery
2011 Paso Robles
Zinfandel
Westside
BEST OF SOUTH-CENTRAL COAST WHITE
Double Gold 98
Carol Shelton Wines
2012 Paso Robles
Coquille Blanc
BEST OF SOUTH COAST RED
Double Gold 98
Fazeli Cellars
2010 Temecula Valley
Phel Phel
BEST OF SOUTH COAST WHITE
Gold 95
South Coast Winery
2013 Temecula Valley
Gewürztraminer
Carter Estate Vineyards
BEST OF SIERRA FOOTHILLS RED
Gold 95
Moonstone Crossing
2009 Amador County
Wish Upon A Star
John Bree Vineyards
BEST OF SIERRA FOOTHILLS WHITE
Gold 95
Lava Cap Winery
2013 El Dorado
Sauvignon Blanc
BEST OF LODI RED
Gold 95
Michael David Inkblot
2012 Lodi
Cabernet Franc
BEST OF LODI WHITE
Gold 95
Wise Villa Winery
2013 Alta Mesa
Torrontes
BEST OF OTHER CALIFORNIA RED
Gold 95
Jeff Runquist Wines
2012 Stanislaus Ranch
Petit Verdot
Damir Ranch
BEST OF OTHER CALIFORNIA WHITE
Gold 96
Matchbook
2012 Dunnigan Hills
Old Head Chardonnay
BEST OF CALIFORNIA STATE RED
Gold 95
Moonstone Crossing
2009 California
Midnight Caress
BEST OF CALIFORNIA STATE WHITE
Gold 96
Fetzer Vineyards
2012 California
Shaly Loam Gewürztraminer
Best Of California Wines
BEST BARBERA
Double Gold 98
Boeger Winery
2011 Barbera Estate Bottled El Dorado County
BEST BORDEAUX RED VARIETAL BLEND
Double Gold 98
Hawley Winery
2010 Meritage Hawley Vineyard
Estate Grown Dry Creek Valley
BEST CABERNET FRANC
Double Gold 98
Alexander Valley Vineyards
2012 Cabernet Franc Alexander Valley
BEST CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Double Gold 98
B.R. Cohn Winery
2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma Valley
Olive Hill Estate Vineyards
Double Gold 98
Sterling Vineyards
2010 Cabernet Sauvignon
Platinum
BEST CHARDONNAY
Double Gold 98
Grayson Cellars
2012 Lot 11 Chardonnay California
BEST GEWÜRZTRAMINER
Double Gold 98
Navarro Vineyards
2013 Gewürztraminer Anderson Valley
Late Harvest
BEST MALBEC
Gold 97
Martin Ranch Winery
2011 Thérèse Vineyards Malbec
Santa Clara Valley Dos Niñas Vineyard
BEST MERLOT
Double Gold 98
Angeline
2012 Merlot Reserve Sonoma County
BEST OTHER RED VARIETAL BLEND
Double Gold 98
Vina Castellano
2009 Abuelito Placer County
BEST OTHER RED VARIETAL
Gold 95
Helwig Vineyards & Winery
2013 Grenache Frenchmen’s Creek
Shenandoah Valley, Amador County
BEST OTHER WHITE VARIETAL
Double Gold 98
Zocker Winery
2012 Grüner Veltliner Paragon Vineyard Edna Valley
BEST PETITE SIRAH
Double Gold 98
Michael David Earthquake
2012 Petite Sirah Lodi
BEST PINOT GRIS
Double Gold 98
MacMurray Ranch
2013 Pinot Gris Estate Vineyard
Russian River Valley
BEST PINOT NOIR
Double Gold 98
J. Lohr Estates
2012 Falcon’s Perch Pinot Noir
Monterey County
BEST RED GENERIC BLEND
Double Gold 98
Graveyard Vineyards
NV Paso Tombstone Red Paso Robles
BEST RHONE RED VARIETAL BLEND
Double Gold 98
Fazeli Cellars
2010 Phel Phel Temecula Valley
BEST RIESLING
Double Gold 98
State of Art
2011 Riesling Arroyo Seco
Mission Ranch Vineyard
BEST SANGIOVESE
Double Gold 98
Peacock Cellars
2012 Sangiovese Paso Robles
BEST SAUVIGNON BLANC
Double Gold 98
Burnside Road
2013 Sauvignon Blanc
Dry Creek Valley
BEST SYRAH
Double Gold 98
Cairdean Vineyards
2011 Syrah Atlas Peak
BEST TEMPRANILLO
Gold 96
Castoro Cellars
2012 Tempranillo Estate Grown Reserve
Whale Rock Vineyard Paso Robles
BEST ZINFANDEL
Double Gold 98
Steele Wines
2011 Old Vine Zinfandel
Pacini Vineyard Mendocino County
BEST VIOGNIER
Double Gold 98
Gold Hill Vineyard
2012 Viognier El Dorado
Cheese Awards:
Best of Show & Best of Division – Soft Hard Category (Sheep)
Bleating Heart Cheese
Fat Bottom Girl
Best of Show & Best of Division – Semi-Soft Cheese Category (Cow)
Bleating Heart Cheese
Moolicious Blue
For more than 160 years, the California State Fair has showcased the best of California. The best will be celebrated once again at the California State Fair July 11 – 27 at Cal Expo. Tickets to the Fair start as low as $10 for adults, $6 for children, $8 for seniors and $29.99 for a season pass. Information on tickets and special packages is available at
castatefair.org or by calling 916-263-FAIR (3247).
For media inquiries and information please contact Lara N. Popyack at 916-263-3237.
