Among the greatest joys of running a big wine competition — somewhere behind warm fellowship with the judges and admiring the impeccable performance of my staff and volunteers — is the winery that comes from nowhere to turn in a shining performance.
By coming from nowhere I mean a winery that isn’t already steeped in a tradition of excellence and consumer awareness. Pacific Breeze comes quickly to mind.
Not one of your household names, Pacific Breeze. Founded in 2005, it produces fewer than 3000 cases per year. And it entered but a handful of wines. Yet Pacific Breeze came away from the 2008 San Diego International Wine Competition with two Gold medals and two Silvers. One of its Golds, the 2006 GSM, Grenache Syrah Mourvedre, was nominated for Best of Show red and placed in the “sweepstakes” round of voting for that prestigous prize.
I’m not sure everyone understands how difficult it is to win a Gold medal. This year slightly more than five percent of the more than 2000 wines entered in San Diego were awarded Gold. Silvers are only slightly less difficult to win.
Competition judges are looking for something special when they vote Silver. And when they go to Gold they’re locked in on finding the best of their Silvers.
Even Bronze medals shouldn’t be taken for granted. A Bronze medal indicates a majority of the members of the judging panel believed that wine showed exceptional personality and character.
So hat’s off to Pacific Breeze. Well done.
You might wonder why I don’t have similar words for Pietra Santa, which is also among the strong performers I’ve highlighted today. Pietra Santa may be new to some of you. It’s a small winery in the Central Coast of California that specializes in Italian grape varieties, although it also does well with the so-called international varieties.
But Pietra Santa has been very good for quite some time. I’ve come to expect nothing but blue-chip wines from this stellar California winery.
Pacific Breeze Winery
Gold, Sweeps 2006 GSM, Grenache Syrah Mourvedre High Valley $29.95
Gold 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, Hawk & Horse Vineyards Red Hills $39.95
Silver 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, Signature Series Red Hills $49.95
Silver 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, aCURE eSTATE Vineyard Alexander Valley $39.95
Pietra Santa Winery
Silver 2003 Vache Red Blend, Signature Collection Cienega Valley $45.00
Gold, Sweeps 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon, Signature Collection Cienega Valley $50.00
Silver 2004 Dolcetto Cienega Valley $18.00
Bronze 2004 Merlot Cienega Valley $15.00
Bronze 2006 Pinot Noir Cienega Valley $18.00
Silver 2007 Rosato Cienega Valley $18.00
Bronze 2004 Sangiovese Cienega Valley $18.00
Silver 2006 Chardonnay Central Coast $15.00
Bronze 2004 Chardonnay, Vache Cienega Valley $35.00
Quady Winery
Bronze NV Batch 88 Starboard California $23.99
Silver 2006 Elysium California $24.99
Silver 2006 Essensia California $24.99
Gold NV Deviation California $27.99
Silver 2007 Red Electra California $13.99
Ravenswood Winery
Gold 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County $17.99
Silver 2004 Merlot Sonoma County $14.99
Silver 2005 Zinfandel Napa Valley $14.99
Silver 2005 Zinfandel, Old Vine Sonoma County $14.99
Bronze 2005 Chardonnay Sonoma County $14.99
Raymond Burr Vineyards
Bronze 2004 Cabernet Franc Dry Creek Valley $38.00
Gold 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County $38.00
Gold, Sweeps 2006 Chardonnay Sonoma County $28.00
Raymond Vineyard
Silver 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve Napa Valley $35.00
Silver 2005 Merlot, R Collection California $15.00
Silver 2006 Chardonnay, Reserve Napa Valley $20.00
Silver 2006 Chardonnay, R Collection Monterey County $13.00
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