World of Wine – this week! August 24-27

Tim Marson, MW

Tim Marson relocated from his native England to Napa, California in February 2011, where he is VP of Procurement for online retailer My Wines Direct Inc. Marson has judged at several of the most widely recognized international wine competitions, including the International Wine Challenge, London; the Decanter World Wine Awards; and the International Wines & Spirits Competition.

Marson is an honors graduate in classics from Oxford University and entered the wine business in 1997. With experience in retail and trade sales, he joined leading UK importer/distributor Bibendum Wine Ltd. as a buyer in 2006.

Sara Schneider

Wine Editor for Sunset Magazine

Sara Schneider is Sunset Magazine’s wine editor. A graduate of the California Culinary Academy, she was the editor of Bay Food Magazine for three years before joining Sunset. Along with overseeing Sunset’s wine coverage, developing recipes, and writing wine and food stories, she writes a monthly wine column on news, trends, and issues.

Schneider has been nominated twice for James Beard Awards for magazine feature reporting and is the co-author of the book California Wine Country: A Sunset Field Guide

Details of the event:
The 9th annual World of Wine (WOW) Festival is Southern Oregon’s premier wine showcase, with 60 wineries participating this year in an expanded multi-day celebration Aug. 24-27 on the historic Bigham Knoll campus, site of the old Cascade Christian High School in Jacksonville (525 E. Street) and the 1908 Jacksonville Old School. The festival, which sold out eight years in a row at its former location at Del Rio Vineyards, is co-sponsored by the Rogue Valley Winegrowers Association, Southern Oregon Winery Association and the Jacksonville Oregon Business Association.

More than 700 people are expected to attend the public Grand Tasting on Aug. 27, which celebrates this year’s professionally judged wine competition.

Below is a schedule of events and ticket prices: Tickets and more info at www.worldofwinefestival.com

Wednesday, Aug. 24:

5:30 p.m. WOW Welcome Cocktail Reception at Bigham Knoll. ($25 / person))

Thursday, Aug 25:

10 a.m. WOW Sensory Clinic (Flavor Profiles) at Bigham Knoll. ($30 / person)

1 p.m. to 3 p.m. South Stage Cellars Vineyard Tour and Tasting. 125 South 3rd Street, Jacksonville. ($25 / person; $40 / couple)

5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Upper Rogue Wine Trail: Six Wineries, One location. Del Rio Vineyards, 52 N. River Road in Gold Hill. Featuring Rogue Creamery Cheese, The Butcher Shop Meats and The Beagle’s Chocolates. ($10 / person)

6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Wine and Movie at Craterian Theatre in Downtown Medford. Movie: Bottle Shock. Social wine tasting of Umpqua Valley wines start at 6 p.m. Curtains go up for movie at 7:30 p.m. (Movie tickets: $5 / person. Can be purchased at buyrogue.com)

Friday, Aug. 26:

10 a.m. WOW Sensory Clinic (Smells: Good, Bad and Ugly?!) at Bigham Knoll. ($30 / person)

1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Bear Creek Boutique Wineries. Special wine tasting for WOW ticket holders (see worldofwinefestival.com for complete list of participating wineries and map).

6:30 p.m. WOW Gala Dinner at Bigham Knoll. Five premier local chefs will compete live on the Bigham Knoll stage for the title of World of Wine Food Pairing Grand Champion. Attendees will enjoy hors d’oeuvres, five main courses, amuse bouche, dessert, all expertly paired with the 2011 WoW medal winners. Musical entertainment by “Living on Dreams.” Sommelier entertainment by Drew Gibbs of The Winchester Inn. ($125 / person. Limited seating)

The lineup:

• Alan Anderson, Rogue Valley Manor
• Chris Berg, Elements Tapas Bar and Lounge
• Matthew Domingo, Farm2Fork
• Neil Clooney, Smithfield’s
• Paul Becking, C St. Bistro

Top local judges along with audience participation will score the chefs in the following:

Execution, Efficiency, Show / Presentation, Flavor and Texture, Wine Pairing, Creativity, Level of Difficulty, Time Management, Completion of Task, Plating

6:30 hors d’oeuvres stations paired with 2011 Medal winners

7:30 Chef pairing presentations begin

Saturday, Aug. 27:

5 p.m. Grand Tasting and Silent Auction on the campus of Bigham Knoll. ($75 / person)

2011 Southern Oregon World of Wine Competition

Medal Winners – OFFICIAL RESULTS

BOS= Best of Show