A number of colleagues questioned my sanity when I announced plans for another wine competition. The Winemaker Challenge would be my fifth competition, and I was launching it in the midst of a stubborn economic downturn.
It was a bit of a white-knuckle ride, but the debut Winemaker Challenge attracted nearly 800 entries from around the globe, giving my 18 winemaker judges plenty to chew on after they arrived in San Diego last week for the tasting evaluations.
The judges were in good form and the tastings went well, making the new event a great success in its first year. The winemakers also turned out to be generous in their assessments, medaling better than 50 percent of the wines entered.
Gloria Ferrer’s 2002 Royal Cuvee Brut ($35) came away with the top prize, winning a unanimous vote as the very first Wine of the Year at the very first Winemaker Challenge.
Chateau Ste. Michelle’s 2008 Dry Riesling ($12) was voted Best of Show White; Napa Valley winery Andretti took Best of Show Red with its 2007 Syrah ($41); Temecula’s Falkner Winery had Best of Show Rose with its 2008 Rosato ($15); and the 2008 Inniskillin Riesling Ice Wine ($80) from Niagara Peninsula collected Best of Show Dessert.
Gloria Ferrer’s Royal Cuvee was also Best of Show Sparkling, of course.
Click here for complete results.
8