Gold medal bargains

Wine is not complicated. All you have to do is find a wine that you like, at a price you can afford and drink it. That’s it. However, if you want to learn more about wine, you need to taste more and that can get pretty expensive. Here’s a suggestion, go to www.winejudging.com and click on the 2018 San Francisco Wine Competition medal winners.

There were 7,000 wines from 35 states entered and award-winning wines were determined by 67 professional judges. The good news is that the wines are separated by their retail price, so you can choose a medal winner that you can afford and available locally. You can check to see if your palate agrees with the judges. Another suggestion: always share wine with your friends, but only if they bring a delicious appetizer. Good wine, food and friends sounds like a party to me

Trader Joe’s

If you shop at Trader Joe’s, please don’t write and ask why there isn’t a store between Modesto and Fresno. I don’t know. I have e-mailed and suggested the village of Livingston, but have gotten no response. If you love Charles Shaw wines, they took a gold for the 2016 white zinfandel in the above competition. They also won silver medals for the 2016 pinot grigio, the 2014 cabernet sauvignon, the 2014 merlot, the 2015 shiraz and a bronze for the 2016 chardonnay. Way to go Chuck!

I’ve written about the Trader Moon wines ($4.99-$6.99) in earlier columns and said they were good values. Here’s why: The 2016 Bay Moon Sauvignon Blanc took best of class, golds went to the 2016 MoonX Pinot Noir and the 2016 Velvet Moon, silvers to the 2016 Red Blend, 2015 Old Moon Zinfandel, 2015 Andean Moon Malbec and the 2016 Honey Moon Viognier. Did I mention good value?

Bev-Mo

Challis Lane wines sold at Bev-Mo ($9.95) scored three double gold medals (that means all the judges agreed it was gold-worthy); they are the 2015 sauvignon blanc and the 2106 chardonnay and pinot grigio. A gold went to the 2016 cabernet sauvignon, a silver to the 2015 merlot and a bronze to the 2014 zinfandel. That’s 3 double golds, a gold, a silver and a bronze. And oh yea, as you read this, I’m pretty sure they have their 5-cent sale going on. If so, what are you waiting for?

Behind the Cellar Door

The premier event at 40 Amador County wineries will take place March 3-4. This is an amazing weekend of wine, food, music and most of all fun. Be there. Cheers to all!

This story was originally published February 27, 2018 at 2:01 PM with the headline "Gold medal bargains."