Wine Blog on Ulitzer

Forty-five wine industry professionals from throughout the United States convened June 19th, 20th and 21st to taste, score and rank 4,274 wines from 1,195 wineries during the San Francisco International Wine Competition held at San Francisco's Hotel Nikko. In its 29th year, the San Francisco International Wine Competition examined wines from 26 states and 21 countries. The medal count included 148 Double Gold (a wine is elevated to Double Gold status when all judges on a particular panel agree that a wine deserves a Gold medal), 245 Gold, 1,150 Silver and 1,514 Bronze.

"Best of Show" awards went to: Burgerspital Weingut 2008 Gewurztraminer, Spatlese trocken, Franken, Germany, $34, for Best White Wine; Storrs Winery & Vineyards 2007 Grenache, Central Coast, $26, for Best Red Wine; Moet & Chandon 1995 Vintage Brut, Cuvee Dom Perignon Oenotheque, Epernay, France, $350, for Best Sparkling Wine; and Pullus 2008 Late Harvest Riesling, Stajerska, Slovenia, $35, for Best Dessert Wine.

Constellation Wines U.S., San Francisco, California, was recognized with the "Portfolio Award" for excellence across a wide spectrum of brands. Winemaker Jeff Runquist , Jeff Runquist Wines , Ripon, California, won the coveted Andre Tchelistcheff "Winemaker of the Year" award. The Tasting Panel Magazine "Winery of the Year" award went to Clos du Bois Winery of Geyserville, California.

Anthony Dias Blue , famed food and wine authority, directed the competition in its 29th year, one of the most important and comprehensive wine competitions in the world, both for the quality of wines entered and for the high level of expertise among its judges. Blue remarked that "2009 proved to be an exciting year, showcasing globalization in the wine industry. We tasted a number of impressive international wines including this year's taste off for Best in Show Dessert Wine between a Gewurztraminer from the Czech Republic and a Late Harvest Riesling from Slovenia. It was almost a tie with passions from both sides claiming best."

"Best of Varietal" winners were awarded in eighteen different categories in 2009: Acorn Winery, 2007 Cabernet Franc, Alegria Vineyards, Russian River Valley , $30, won Best Cabernet Franc; Adelaida Cellars, 2007 Viognier, The Glenrose Vineyard Version, Paso Robles, $27, won Best Viognier; Bodega Belondrade, 2008 Verdejo Quinta Apolonia de Belondrade y Lurton, Castilla y Leon Spain , $24, won Best Spanish White; Clos du Bois 2007 Reserve Chardonnay, Russian River Valley , $17, won Best Chardonnay; Chockstone, 2008 Riesling, Grampians, Victoria, Australia, $24, won Best Riesling; Epiphany Cellars, 2006 Petite Sirah, Rodney's Vineyard, Santa Barbara County, $28, won Best Petite Sirah; Gonzalez Byass , 2006 Tempranillo Beronia, Rioja, Spain, $14, won Best Tempranillo; Hahn Estates, 2007 Syrah, Central Coast, $14, won Best Syrah; Harney Lane Winery, 2007 Old Vine Zinfandel, Lizzy James Vineyard , Lodi, $33, won Best Zinfandel; Heller Estate Organic Vineyards, 2005 Meritage Estate Grown, Organic, Carmel Valley, $24, won Best Meritage; Jeff Runquist Wines , 2007 Barbera R, Dick Cooper Vineyard , Amador County, $24, won Best Barbera; Mazuran's Vineyards, 1951 Vintage Port, One Vineyard , New Zealand, won Best Fortified; McKeon-Phillips Winery, 2006 Malbec RSV, Halcyon Vineyard, Paso Robles, $42, won Best Malbec; Napa Creek Winery, 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, $13, won Best Cabernet Sauvignon; Peller Estates Winery, 2008 Pinot Blanc Family Series, VQA, Okanagan Valley, Canada, $11, won Best Pinot Blanc; Ra Nui Wines , 2008 Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand, $18, won Best Sauvignon Blanc; V. Sattui Winery, 2006 Merlot, Napa Valley, $25, won Best Merlot; and York Mountain Winery, 2006 Pinot Noir, Jack Ranch Vineyard , Edna Valley , $32, won Best Pinot Noir.

Eighteen "Best of Nation" awards highlighted the international scope of entries, with four new countries represented this year. "Best of Nation" awards went to: Alamos, Argentina, importer E&J Gallo; Wakefield/ Taylor Wines , Australia, importer Brown Forman Wines; Peterlongo, Brazil, importer Interbev; Katarzyna Estate, Bulgaria, importer Imperial Brands; Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estates, Canada; Concha y Toro, Chile, importer Banfi Vintners; Petr Skoupil Winery, Czech Republic; Moet & Chandon, France, importer Moet Hennessy USA; Burgerspital Weingut, Germany, importer Exceptional Imports; Bodegas Oremus, Hungary, importer Europvin USA; Borgo di Colloredo , Italy, importer Tesori Wines; Mizbasho, Japan, importer Silkroad Wine & Spirits; Bodegas de Santo Tomas, Mexico, importer Torre Wine ; Mazuran's Vineyards, New Zealand; Sandeman, Portugal, importer Pernod Ricard USA; Slovenia, Pullus; Raka, South Africa, importer Cape Ardor; and Gonzalez Byass , Spain, importer San Francisco Wine Exchange.

The 2009 San Francisco International Wine Competition sponsors were The Tasting Panel Magazine, Semifreddi's Breads, Pace Design and Elements Design Group. Blue also thanked Hotel Nikko in San Francisco for hosting the event.

For a complete list of winners and judges, visit the San Francisco International Wine Competition's website: www.sfwinecomp.com. Photos by Martha Bruce Photography can be viewed online at http://www.marthabruce.com/sfiwc2009.