World of Wine Medalists Announced
— Schmidt Family Vineyards and Quady North share top honors–
— Tickets still available for August 25 Grand Tasting–
The 2012 Southern Oregon World of Wine Festival recently concluded its wine competition, which featured 182 wines from 47 wineries. Nineteen gold medals and 82 silver medals were awarded this year, both all-time highs. Of the 19 gold medal winners, 9 were “double” gold medal winners, meaning that all three judges unanimously agreed on the award. Best of Show honors for White Wine went to Schmidt Family Vineyards for its 2011 Albariño. Schmidt Family Vineyards also won Best of Show honors for Red Wine for its 2009 Tempranillo. This marks the first time in the Festival’s history that a single winery has won multiple Best of Show awards. It’s worth noting that it also marks the second year in a row that a Tempranillo has been awarded Best of Show. In addition, Quady North won Best of Show in the Other Wine category for its 2012 Rosé.
Several wineries received multiple awards, led by Schmidt Family Vineyards with eight medals and Troon Vineyard with six medals. Meanwhile, Brandborg Winery, Pebblestone Cellars, Slagle Creek Vineyard and Quady North each had five medal winning wines. The double gold medal winning wines will be the feature attraction at the reimagined GoldRush Dinner on Friday, August 24th. The Jacksonville Inn will be preparing a gourmet 5-course meal specifically paired to these wines, and all nine of the double gold medal wines will be poured. For ticket information, go to www.worldofwinefestival.com.
“This year marked some important milestones for the Festival,” noted Les Martin, Chairman of the World of Wine Festival. “Not only is it the 10th anniversary of the Festival, but with 19 Gold Medal winners, it represents the best showing yet by our wines. I think this is testament to the ever improving quality of the wines and helps further solidify Southern Oregon as an emerging wine region.”
Wine Judge Sheri Sauter
Three nationally-recognized wine professionals judged the medal competition on August 16th and 17th in Jacksonville. They were Traci Dutton, Sommelier and Chief Wine Buyer for the Culinary Institute of America; Sheri Sauter Morano, Master of Wine (M)W and one of the first American women to earn that designation; and Liz Thach, MW and Professor in the Wine Business Institute at Sonoma State University. The wine competition has repeatedly succeeded in attracting high profile wine judges. In fact, including this year’s judges, it has now entertained 8 of the approximately 30 Masters of Wine who reside in the U.S.
The Grand Tasting is scheduled for Saturday, August 25, from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m., at Bigham Knoll in Jacksonville. All medal winning wines will be available to taste. The event also features a wide array of foods from local restaurants and shops, along with live music. A silent auction will offer unique wines, winemaker dinners, special get-a-ways, and lots of other great items. A portion of the proceeds from the silent auction will go to a scholarship for the UCC Enology and Viticulture program and also to viticulture research at the Southern Oregon Research and Extension Center. One important footnote, to help deal with the late August heat, there will be tent coolers for the first time.
Judge Liz Thach
Tickets to the Grand Tasting are $75 and available online at www.worldofwinefestival.com or at the following locations:
- RoxyAnn Winery, Medford, (541) 776-2315
- Elegance Fine Wines, Grants Pass, (541) 476-0570
- Liquid Assets, Ashland, (541) 482-9463
- South Stage Cellars, Jacksonville, (541) 899-9120
- Agate Ridge Vineyards, Eagle Point, (541) 830-30502012 Southern Oregon World of Wine Festival Wine Competition RESULTS:
Best of Show – White Wine
Schmidt Family Vineyards 2011 Albariño
Best of Show – Red Wine
Schmidt Family Vineyards 2009 Tempranillo
Best of Show – Other WineQuady North 2011 Rosé
DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL WINNERS
Abacela Winery 2009 Estate Grown Port
Brandborg Vineyard and Winery 2011 Gewürtztraminer
Ledger David 2010 Orion’s Nebula
Pebblestone Cellars 2008 Syrah
Pebblestone Cellars 2011 Pinot Gris
Schmidt Family Vineyards 2011 Albariño
Schmidt Family Vineyards 2009 Tempranillo
Quady North 2011 Rosé
Quady North 2009 Arsenal
GOLD MEDAL WINNERS
Abacela Winery 2009 Estate Grown Malbec
Abacela Winery 2011 Estate Grown Grenache Rosé
Bridgeview Vineyard and Winery 2010 Black Beauty Tempranillo
Cuckoo’s Nest Cellars 2011 Aromatíque
Del Rio Vineyards 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon
Delfino Vineyards 2010 Tempranillo
Foris Vineyards and Winery 2008 Cabernet Franc – Siskiyou Terrace
Kriselle Cellars 2009 Tempranillo
Pebblestone Cellars 2011 Viognier
Slagle Creek Vineyard 2008 Syrah
SILVER MEDAL WINNERS
Abacela Winery 2007 Reserve Tempranillo
Agate Ridge Vineyard 2008 Estate Bottled Petite Sirah
Agate Ridge Vineyard 2009 Estate Bottled Syrah
Agate Ridge Vineyard 2011 Weeknight White
Brandborg Vineyard and Winery 2008 Love Puppets Pinot Noir
Brandborg Vineyard and Winery 2009 Riesling
Bridgeview Vineyard and Winery 2009 Blue Moon Pinot Noir
Bridgeview Vineyard and Winery 2009 Black Beauty Syrah
Caprice Vineyards 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon
Carpenter Hill Vineyard 2009 Petite Sirah
Cliff Creek Cellars 2006 Claret
Cliff Creek Cellars 2008 Merlot
Cliff Creek Cellars 2006 Estate Grown Syrah
Cuckoo’s Nest Cellars 2011 Pinot Gris
Cuckoo’s Nest Cellars 2009 Two Birds
Daisy Creek Vineyard 2009 Malbec
Del Rio Vineyards 2010 Claret
Delfino Vineyards 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon
Delfino Vineyards 2010 Syrah
Folin Cellars 2008 Syrah
Foris Vineyards and Winery 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon
Foris Vineyards and Winery 2010 Pinot Blanc
Grizzly Peak Winery & Vineyards 2010 Malbec
Henry Estate Winery 2010 Müller Thurgau
Kriselle Cellars 2009 Cabernet Franc
Kriselle Cellars 2010 Viognier
LaBrasseur Vineyard 2010 Ethan Cole
LaBrasseur Vineyard 2011 Riesling
LaBrasseur Vineyard 2010 Syrah
Ledger David 2010 Chardonnay
Ledger David 2010 Sangiovese
Fly High and Longsword Vineyards 2010 Invitation Chardonnay
Misty Oaks Vineyard 2011 Julio’s Hill Pinot Gris
Misty Oaks Vineyard 2009 Stuckagain Heights Pinot Noir
Misty Oaks Vineyard 2008 Gobblers Knob Red Blend
Belle Fiore Winery 2009 Monte Fiore Cabernet Franc
Belle Fiore Winery 2009 Monte Fiore Syrah
Pebblestone Cellars 2008 Cabernet Franc
Pebblestone Cellars 2008 Merlot
Plaisance Ranch 2010 Ranch Red
Pyrenees Vineyard & Cellars 2011 Sémillon
Quady North 2008 Syrah – Steelhead Run Vineyard
Quady North 2009 Syrah – Mae’s Vineyard
Quady North 2011 Pistoleta
Red Lily Vineyards 2007 Tempranillo
Rocky Knoll Vineyard 2008 Dunbar Red
RoxyAnn Winery 2009 Cabernet Franc
RoxyAnn Winery 2011 Pinot Gris
RoxyAnn Winery 2009 Sky Hill Red
RoxyAnn Winery 2009 Syrah
Schmidt Family Vineyards 2009 Malbec
Schmidt Family Vineyards 2009 Merlot
Schmidt Family Vineyards 2009 Mighty Mac Red
Schmidt Family Vineyards 2009 Syrah
Schmidt Family Vineyards 2011 Viognier
Schmidt Family Vineyards 2011 Roussanne
Schultz Wines 2010 Blessed Merlot
Serra Vineyards 2007 Bendock Estate
Serra Vineyards 2011 Rosa Marie Rosé
Slagle Creek Vineyard 2009 Estate Merlot
Slagle Creek Vineyard 2008 Estate Reserve Red
Slagle Creek Vineyard 2009 Pini Tempranillo
Slagle Creek Vineyard 2010 Clover
Soloro Vineyard 2010 Blood Stain
Soloro Vineyard 2007 Grenache
Soloro Vineyard 2010 Syrah
Soloro Vineyard 2010 Thunderegg Cut
South Stage Cellars 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon
South Stage Cellars 2009 Grenache
South Stage Cellars 2008 Alchemy
Spangler Vineyards 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
Spangler Vineyards 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve
Spangler Vineyards 2010 Petite Sirah
Tesóaria Vineyard & Winery 2010 Éponyme
Tesóaria Vineyard & Winery 2011 Dolcetto
Trium Wines 2007 Growers’ Cuvée
Troon Vineyard 2009 Old Vine Meritage
Troon Vineyard 2010 Chardonnay
Troon Vineyard 2010 Insomnia Port
Troon Vineyard 2008 Syrah Reserve
Troon Vineyard 2011 Foundation ’72 Vermentino
Troon Vineyard 2010 Kubli Bench Zinfandel