PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: April Chase, 925-426-7565
BEST OF SHOW
San Francisco Bay Wine Competition Features Finest Fermentations;
Wine Garden To Provide Public Showcase Of Winners At Alameda County Fair
PLEASANTON, CA – June 17, 2004 – The 23rd Annual San Francisco Bay Wine
Competition produced another crop of classy, elegant wines with mass appeal. From the
Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc that shared the Best of Show distinction, to the wonderful
variety of Pinot Grigio, Petite Sirah, Gewurtztraminer, Chardonnay, and others that filled out a
crowded list of winners, the choices were broad for wine enthusiasts. The awards were
announced at a reception on June 15th, held at the Alameda County Fairgrounds.
The Best of Show designation was accorded to two wines, Wente Vineyards’ 2001
Sauvignon Blanc and White Crane Winery’s 2002 Cabernet Franc. Also awarded were 16 gold,
48 silver, and 70 bronze medal wines (see attached for complete listing).
Many of the top wines from this competition will be featured in the Alameda County
Fair’s Wine Garden, sponsored by the Tri-Valley Herald, and will be sold by the glass for
tasting. The Wine Garden, open all 17 days of the Fair, provides a relaxing experience in a
comfortable, shaded oasis in the midst of the excitement and action of the 2004 Fair.
The wine competition, which was held at the Fairgrounds on May 11th, honors the finest
wines from the San Francisco Bay Area. This year, 285 wines from 42 wineries were entered in
the competition. Entries were submitted from the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Solano,
Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, San Benito, and Santa Cruz.
Judges for the competition included renowned wine writer and San Francisco Bay Wine
Competition Chairman Gerald Boyd; Charles Olken, author of Connoisseur’s Guide to
California Wine; and Craig Sandler, owner of Solano Cellars; among others.
The Alameda County Fair invites you to “Come Out And Play!” from June 25th through
July 11th. For more information regarding the Fair, please visit www.AlamedaCountyFair.com.
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SAN FRANCISCO BAY WINE COMPETITION 2004
At The Alameda County Fair
Medal Winery Type Vintage Appellation Vineyard Price
Best of Show
Wente Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2001 San Francisco Bay Vineyard Select $8.95
White Crane Winery Cabernet Franc 2002 Cienega Valley Reserve $35.00
Medal Winery Type Vintage Appellation Vineyard Designation Price
Gold
Bargetto Winery Carignane 2002 Lodi Rauser Vineyard $16.00
Concannon Vineyard Pinot Noir 2002 Central Coast Selected Vineyard $12.00
Concannon Vineyard Meritage - Assemblage 2003 Livermore Valley Limited Release $18.00
David Bruce Winery Pinot Noir 2001 Russian River Valley David Bruce $40.00
Guglielmo Winery Chardonnay 2001 Napa Private Reserve $16.00
J. Lohr Winery Meritage 1999 Paso Robles Cuvee St. E $50.00
Mitchell Katz Winery Petite Sirah 2001 Livermore Valley $14.00
Picchetti Winery Viognier 2003 San Benito County Vista Verde Vineyard $22.95
Retzlaff Vineyards Merlot 2002 Livermore Valley Estate $28.00
Rosenblum Cellars Chardonnay 2002 Russian River Valley Lone Oak Vineyard $25.00
Rosenblum Cellars Zinfandel 2002 San Francisco Bay Planchon Vineyard $20.00
Wente Vineyards Syrah 2001 California Vineyard Selection $12.95
Wente Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2001 San Francisco Bay Vineyard Select $8.95
Wente Vineyards Chardonnay 2002 San Francisco Bay Vineyard Selection $9.95
White Crane Winery Cabernet Franc 2002 Cienega Valley Reserve $35.00
Wood Family Vineyards Merlot 2002 Livermore Valley One Oak Vineyard $22.00
Page 1 of 8
Medal Winery Type Vintage Appellation Vineyard Designation Price
Silver
Byington Vineyard and Winery Chardonnay 2002 Sonoma County $22.00
Chouinard Vineyard Brut Champagne NV California $13.50
Chouinard Vineyard Chenin Blanc 2003 Monterey County $9.50
Cinnabar Vineyards & Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 Santa Cruz Mtns Estate $40.00
Cinnabar Vineyards & Winery Bordeaux Blend 2001 California Mercury Rising $18.50
Cinnabar Vineyards & Winery Chardonnay 2002 Central Coast $18.00
Concannon Vineyard Merlot 2001 Central Coast Selected Vineyard $12.00
Concannon Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2002 Monterey Reserve Limited Release $18.00
Concannon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 Central Coast Selected Vineyard $12.00
Concannon Vineyard Petite Sirah 2001 Central Coast Selected Vineyard $12.00
Concannon Vineyard Chardonnay 2002 Central Coast Selected Vineyard $12.00
Concannon Vineyard Syrah 2001 Livermore Valley Reserve Limited Release $24.00
Crooked Vine Sangiovese 2001 Livermore Valley $29.99
David Bruce Winery Pinot Noir 2001 Santa Maria David Bruce - Bien Nacido $45.00
Eckert Estate Winery Petite Sirah 2001 Lodi Silvaspoons Vineyard $17.00
Eckert Estate Winery Barbera 2001 Lodi $15.00
Fenestra Winery Proprietary Blend - 2003 Livermore Valley Semonnay $13.00
Fenestra Winery Syrah 2000 Livermore Valley Estate Reserve $19.00
Guglielmo Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 Central Coast Private Reserve $17.00
Guglielmo Winery Zinfandel 2001 Santa Clara Valley Private Reserve - Estate $13.00
J. Lohr Winery Chardonnay 2002 California Cypress $10.00
J. Lohr Winery Syrah 2001 Paso Robles South Ridge $15.00
J. Lohr Winery Sauvignon Blanc 2003 Napa Valley Carol's Vineyard $18.00
Page 2 of 8
Medal Winery Type Vintage Appellation Vineyard Designation Price
J. Lohr Winery Meritage 1999 Paso Robles Cuvee Pau $50.00
Livermore Valley Cellars Zinfandel 2001 Livermore Valley $14.95
Mitchell Katz Winery Viognier - Late Harvest 2001 California $20.00
Palomares Vineyards Port 2002 Monterey County Portguese Style Port $30.00
Red Skye Wine Chardonnay 2002 Russian River Valley $7.99
River Run Vintners Malbec 2000 Santa Clara County Mannstand Vineyard $20.00
River Run Vintners Carignane 2001 Cienega Valley Wirz Vineyard $11.00
Rosenblum Cellars Syrah 2002 California Chateau La Paws Syrah $15.00
Rosenblum Cellars Black Muscat 2002 California Gallagher Ranch $14.00
Rosenblum Cellars Zinfandel 2002 Dry Creek Rockpile Road Vineyard $26.00
Rosenblum Cellars White Blend NV California Cuvee Blanc IV $9.00
Rosenblum Cellars Rhone Style 2002 San Francisco Bay Chateau La Paws Cote du Bone Roan $13.00
Rosenblum Cellars Roussanne 2002 Santa Barbara Fess Parker Vineyard $18.00
Soquel Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 Santa Cruz Mtns Partner's Reserve $50.00
Stony Ridge Winery White Zinfandel 2002 California $4.99
Tamas Estates Pinot Grigio 2003 Monterey $11.95
Tamas Estates Barbera 2001 San Francisco Bay $16.95
Trout Gulch Vineyards Pinot Noir 2001 Santa Cruz Mtns Trout Gulch Vineyard $24.00
Wente Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 San Francisco Bay Vineyard Select $12.95
Wente Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 San Francisco Bay Reserve, Charles Wetmore $24.95
Wente Vineyards Chardonnay 2002 Arroyo Seco, Monterey Reserve, Riva Ranch $16.95
Westover Winery Port - Tawnies NV California $30.00
White Crane Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 1999 Napa Valley Reserve $40.00
Wooden Valley Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 Suisun Valley Estate $12.00
Page 3 of 8
Medal Winery Type Vintage Appellation Vineyard Designation Price
Wooden Valley Winery Merlot 2001 Suisun Valley Estate $12.00
Bronze
Bent Creek Winery Port 2002 Amador Valley St. Amant $23.00
Bent Creek Winery Syrah 2001 Livermore Valley Bent Creek $19.00
Byington Vineyard and Winery Chardonnay 2002 Santa Cruz Mtns $22.00
Byington Vineyard and Winery Alliage 2001 Sonoma County $24.00
Cedar Mountain Winery Chardonnay Del Sol 2003 Livermore Valley Blanches Vineyard $18.75
Cedar Mountain Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 Livermore Valley Blanches Vineyard $22.00
Cedar Mountain Winery Port - Late Bottled Vintage 1999 California $25.00
Chouinard Vineyard Gewurztraminer 2001 Monterey County $10.00
Chouinard Vineyard Chardonnay 2003 Monterey County $16.00
Chouinard Vineyard Alicante Bouschet 2001 Lodi Mohr - Fry Ranches $16.50
Chouinard Vineyard Orange Muscat 2003 Paso Robles Joan's Vineyard $16.00
Chouinard Vineyard Zinfandel Port 2001 Lodi Mohr - Fry Ranches, Old Vine $18.00
Chouinard Vineyard White Riesling 2003 Monterey County $11.00
Chouinard Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 San Francisco Bay $18.00
Chouinard Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 Paso Robles $18.00
Cinnabar Vineyards & Winery Merlot 2002 Paso Robles $19.50
Concannon Vineyard Petite Sirah 2000 Livermore Valley Reserve Limited Release $24.00
Concannon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 Livermore Valley Reserve Limited Release $24.00
Concannon Vineyard Syrah 2001 Central Coast Selected Vineyard $12.00
Concannon Vineyard Merlot 2001 Livermore Valley Reserve Limited Release $24.00
Concannon Vineyard Petite Sirah 2000 Livermore Valley Heritage $36.00
Concannon Vineyard Merlot 2002 Livermore Valley Reserve Limited Release $24.00
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Medal Winery Type Vintage Appellation Vineyard Designation Price
Concannon Vineyard Chardonnay 2002 Edna Valley Reserve Limited Release $18.00
Concannon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 Livermore Valley Reserve Limited Release $24.00
Cooper-Garrod Estate Vineyards Viognier 2002 Santa Cruz Mtns Randall Grahm Clone $24.00
Cooper-Garrod Estate Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 1999 Santa Cruz Mtns George's Vineyard $35.00
Cooper-Garrod Estate Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 1999 Santa Cruz Mtns Lone Oak $28.00
Eckert Estate Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 Livermore Valley $18.00
Eckert Estate Winery Malbec 2001 Lodi Silvaspoons Vineyard $15.50
Eckert Estate Winery Charbono 2001 Lodi River Oaks Ranch $16.00
Elliston Vineyards Pinot Blanc 2002 Central Coast $14.00
Equinox Blanc de Blanc 1996 Santa Cruz Mtns Cuvee de Chardonnay $50.00
Fenestra Winery Port 1999 California $17.50
Fenestra Winery Syrah 2000 Livermore Valley Estate $15.00
Fenestra Winery Merlot 2000 Livermore Valley $19.00
Fenestra Winery Dry Rose 2002 California $8.00
Fenestra Winery White Riesling 2002 Arroyo Seco $10.50
Fenestra Winery Semillon 2002 Livermore Valley $9.50
Fenestra Winery Tempranillo 2002 Lodi Silvaspoons Vineyard $17.50
Fenestra Winery Chardonnay 2001 Livermore Valley $16.00
Fenestra Winery Malbec 2002 Lodi $18.00
Fenestra Winery Cabernet Franc 2002 Livermore Valley $17.00
Fenestra Winery Mourvedre 2001 Livermore Valley Estate $16.50
Fenestra Winery Petite Sirah 2000 Lodi $17.00
Fenestra Winery Pinot Noir 2001 Livermore Valley $22.00
Fenestra Winery Alvarelhao 2002 Lodi Silvaspoons Vineyard $16.00
Page 5 of 8
Medal Winery Type Vintage Appellation Vineyard Designation Price
Garre Vineyard and Winery Inc. Cabernet Franc 2001 Livermore Valley $18.00
Guglielmo Winery Merlot 2001 Santa Clara County Private Reserve $16.00
J. Lohr Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 Paso Robles Crosspoint $12.00
J. Lohr Winery Merlot 2000 Paso Robles Crosspoint $12.00
J. Lohr Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 California Cypress $12.00
J. Lohr Winery Merlot 2001 California Cypress $10.00
J. Lohr Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 Paso Robles Seven Oaks $15.00
J. Lohr Winery Chardonnay 2001 Arroyo Seco Arroyo Vista Vineyard $25.00
J. Lohr Winery Valdiguie 2003 Monterey Wildflower $7.50
J. Lohr Winery Merlot 2001 Paso Robles Los Osos $15.00
Livermore Valley Cellars Chardonnay 2003 Livermore Valley Sblendorio Estate $16.00
Mitchell Katz Winery Zinfandel 2001 Livermore Valley Beyer Ranch $16.00
Mitchell Katz Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 Livermore Valley Thatcher Bay $16.00
Mitchell Katz Winery Merlot 2001 Contra Costa County Captain Ron's $16.00
Mitchell Katz Winery Chardonnay 2002 Carneros $13.50
Murrieta's Well Meritage - Vendemia Red 1999 Livermore Valley $32.00
Picchetti Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 1999 Alexander Valley $28.95
Picchetti Winery Proprietary Blend - Red 2000 California Pavone $18.95
Red Skye Wine Syrah 2001 Santa Barbara County $12.60
Red Skye Wine Merlot 2001 Russian River Valley Akiyoshi & Hopkins River Ranches $8.99
Rios-Lovell Winery Petite Sirah 2000 Livermore Valley Estate $22.00
Rios-Lovell Winery Chardonnay 2003 Livermore Valley Estate Reserve $16.00
River Run Vintners Grenache 2002 Cienega Valley Miller Vineyard $15.00
Rosenblum Cellars Viognier - Late Harvest 2002 Lodi Ripken Vineyard $16.00
Page 6 of 8
Medal Winery Type Vintage Appellation Vineyard Designation Price
Rosenblum Cellars Meritage 2001 Napa Valley Holbrook Mitchell Trio $36.00
Rosenblum Cellars Mourvedre 2002 San Francisco Bay Chateau La Paws Mouvedre $15.00
Rosenblum Cellars Zinfandel 2002 San Francisco Bay Carla's Vineyard $24.00
Rosenblum Cellars Syrah 2002 Lodi Abba Vineyard $18.00
Rosenblum Cellars Syrah 2002 Sonoma County Hillside Vineyard $26.00
Rosenblum Cellars Viognier 2002 Lodi Kathy's Cuvee $14.00
Rosenblum Cellars Zinfandel 2002 Alexander Valley Harris Kratler Vineyard $30.00
Rosenblum Cellars Zinfandel 2002 Sonoma County Maggie's Reserve $42.00
Rosenblum Cellars Zinfandel 2002 San Francisco Bay Continente Vineyards $16.00
Rosenblum Cellars Zinfandel 2002 Contra Costa County Oakley Vineyards $12.00
Rosenblum Cellars Merlot 2002 Russian River Valley Lone Oak Vineyard $18.00
Rosenblum Cellars Marsanne 2002 Dry Creek Dry Creek $18.00
Rosenblum Cellars Petite Sirah 2002 Napa Valley Pickett Road Vineyard $22.00
Solis Winery Syrah 2001 Santa Clara Valley $17.00
Solis Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 Santa Clara Valley Reserve $34.00
Solis Winery Chardonnay 2001 Santa Clara Valley Estate $12.00
Soquel Vineyards Pinot Noir 2002 Santa Cruz Mtns Partner's Reserve $55.00
Stony Ridge Winery Merlot 2001 Livermore Valley Reserve $12.99
Stony Ridge Winery Malvasia Bianca NV California $9.99
Stony Ridge Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 Livermore Valley Reserve $12.99
Tamas Estates Zinfandel 2001 San Francisco Bay $14.95
Trout Gulch Vineyards Blanc de Blancs 1994 Santa Cruz Mtns Trout Gulch Vineyard $25.00
Viano Vineyards Zinfandel Port 2001 Contra Costa County Old Vine $12.00
Viano Vineyards Petite Sirah 2000 Contra Costa County Reserve Selection $11.00
Page 7 of 8
Medal Winery Type Vintage Appellation Vineyard Designation Price
Wente Vineyards Merlot 2001 San Francisco Bay Reserve, Crane Ridge $17.95
Wente Vineyards Pinot Noir 2001 Monterey County Reserve, Reliz Creek $17.95
Wente Vineyards Riesling 2003 Arroyo Seco, Monterey Vineyard Selection $8.95
Westover Winery White Port NV California Chocolate $20.00
Westover Winery White Port NV California $20.00
Westover Winery Port NV California Chocolate $25.00
Westover Winery Port NV California Reserve $25.00
Westover Winery Zinfandel 2001 Livermore Valley Beyer's Ranch $16.95
White Crane Winery Syrah 2002 Livermore Valley Reserve $36.00
Wood Family Vineyards Syrah 2002 Livermore Valley Clark Vineyard $22.00
Wood Family Vineyards Cabernet Franc 2002 Livermore Valley $22.00
Wood Family Vineyards Zinfandel 2002 Livermore Valley Beyer Ranch $24.00
Wooden Valley Winery Pinot Noir 2002 Suisun Valley Estate $10.00
Wooden Valley Winery Syrah 2001 Suisun Valley Estate $8.00
Wooden Valley Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 Suisun Valley Estate $12.00
Wooden Valley Winery Chardonnay 2002 Suisun Valley Estate $10.00
Wooden Valley Winery Johannisberg Riesling 2003 Monterey County $7.00
JUDGES - 2004
Gerald D. Boyd, Chairman Jerry Cooper, Wine Salesman
Young’s Market Estates Group
Chuck Hovey, Winemaker Chris Munsell, Asst. Winemaker
Stevenot Winery Geyser Peak Winery
Charles Olken, Wine Writer Craig Sandler, Owner
Connoisseur’s Guide to California Wine Solano Cellars
Alison Schneider, Winemaker/Brandymaker Darrell Scarlott, Home Winemaker
Jepson Vineyards Contra Costa Wine Group
Page 8 of 8
Heather Pyle, Wine Consultant Bill Traverso, Co-Owner
Traverso’s