The highlight of just about every wine competition I’ve been involved with (more than 50 as either judge, chief judge or director) has been the sweepstakes judging — the final round of tasting and voting that determines best of class or best of show awards.
The results are often surprising. So the outcome of the sweepstakes round at this year’s San Diego International Wine Competition — staged last weekend at San Diego’s Westgate Hotel — caught me a bit off-guard.
There were no surprises. That’s not to say other winners couldn’t have emerged, but those that did were all proven performers and caused little consternation or head-scratching as the wines were unveiled.
Winner in the sparkling category was the 2002 Gruet Winery Grand Rose Brut ($32), one of Gruet’s five medals overall. Though off the beaten path, this New Mexico winery has been a world-class producer for many years.
Best white went to the 2006 Matua Valley Sauvignon Blanc ($12), continuing the love affair Americans have with crisp, pungent Sauvignons from New Zealand’s Marlborough region. The red award was taken by a 2004 Rancho Zabaco Stefani Vineyard Zinfandel ($28), which narrowly edged the 2004 Bennett Lane Maximus ($35), a Rhone/Bordeaux blend from the Napa Valley.
Vina Robles’ delightful 2006 Roseum ($13) won in the rose class, and Rancho de Philo’s Triple Cream Sherry ($35) was a repeat winner in the dessert category in an extremely close vote over the 1999 Quinta do Vesuvio Vintage Port ($55).
My hat’s off to the 30 wine professionals and Chief Judge Michael Franz who helped make this one of the most well-judged competitions of the more than 20 that I’ve directed.
Complete results will be posted soon at the San Diego International Wine Competition website.
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