Wine Line: Bargain gold-medal winners
The 2016 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, with 7,164 American wines entered, recently released the results of the winning wines. What’s interesting about the competition is that the wines are judged in price categories. As a consumer, I like that. I’m always looking for inexpensive house wines. I call them Monday wines or daily wines. These are wines you’d serve with leftovers or to your mother-in-law or to your nosy neighbor or for cooking or drinking while you’re cooking.
Mondavi’s Woodbridge brand took a double gold medal for the 2014 sauvignon blanc and the 2014 pinot noir and gold for their 2014 chardonnay. The Moon Series wines from Trader Joe’s took a double gold for the 2014 Honey Moon Viognier and gold for the 2013 Old Moon Zinfandel and the 2014 Velvet Moon Cabernet Sauvignon.
Sutter Home scored a best of class for the NV zinfandel, a double gold for the riesling/moscato and gold for the cabernet sauvignon, sauvignon blanc and gewurztraminer.
Barefoot took double gold for the moscato and pink moscato and gold for the sauvignon blanc and merlot. Fetzer’s gewurztraminer and merlot took gold and their Anthony’s Hill brand won best of class for chardonnay, a double gold for merlot and gold for cabernet sauvignon.
The 2014 Charles Shaw Pinot Grigio won a double gold as did the Gallo Family Vineyards Merlot. Golds went to the Bota Box sauvignon blanc and cabernet sauvignon, Challis Lane for chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon and a best of class medal went to Bandit’s NV cabernet sauvignon.
A decent house wine (or everyday wine) shouldn’t cost a fortune and these medal winners are priced under $7. Give these winning wines a try and see if you agree with the professional judges. I hope you find one that pleases you. For silver and bronze medal winners, you can find more results at www.winejudging.com.
Save the dates
Make sure you put May 7 on your calendar for the Amador Four Fires Festival. In 2015, the first-time event far exceeded expectations for attendance. The event features 40 wineries pouring 140 wines paired with open flame cuisine prepared by Amador’s premier chefs. For more information about this year’s event, go to www.amadorfourfires.com.
The sixth annual Barbera Festival will take place June 11 at Terra d’Oro Winery. This event sells out every year so get tickets early at www.barberafestival.com.
This story was originally published March 8, 2016 at 11:53 AM with the headline "Wine Line: Bargain gold-medal winners."