Established winery takes the show in Amador

Started in the late 1970s, the Amador County Wine Competition is the oldest in the foothills. It’s different from its bordering El Dorado and Calaveras county competitions in that Amador only allows wines to be entered if they’re made exclusively from grapes grown in the seven-county Sierra foothill appellation. This year saw a record high of 445 wines entered in the Amador judging from more than 70 wineries. The contest was judges by 22 people from a wide range of wine-related backgrounds.

“Judges are delighted by the number of premium wines our competition receives every year and how the quality of the wines seems to go up a level, too,” observed Scott Mahon, the competition director.

This year’s big winner was Terra d’Oro Winery in the Shenandoah Valley, which had the best medal-winning batting average. The winery also came away with the Best of Show Award for its Montevina 2012 Zinfandel. This wine also was awarded Best Red Wine and Best Amador Zinfandel.

Montevina was the original name and label for the Terra d’Oro Winery, which was founded in 1970. It can be said that it was the first winery in the revival of the Amador grape-growing region. At the competition, Terra d’ Oro Winery also picked up a double gold for its 2013 Petite Sirah along with Golds for its 2013 Barbera, 2013 Teroldego and 2013 Aglianico, all three being Italian varietals that Terra d’Oro has pioneered over the years. The winery also picked up nine Silver medals; it’s been on a roll as of late, having also won double gold medals for four wines entered in the recent El Dorado County Fair competition.

A double gold medal is awarded when everyone on a panel of judges agrees that a wine is a Gold medal winner.

Karen Spencer, the competition’s publicist, found it interesting that the Amador County Fair seems to have different wineries rise to the Best of awards and top medal counts each year.

“Our judges are not resolved to one particular style or group of wineries,” she observed.

In 2014, wineries that won multiple Gold medals and some top honors included Amador Cellars, Morse Wines and Renwood Winery. This year, a new group has moved into the winner’s circle.

Other big winners at the Amador competition include Helwig Winery’s award for Best White Wine of Show and Best Amador Rhone for its 2014 Rousanne. It also picked up a double gold medal for its 2014 Marsanne, another Rhone-style white grape.
Vino Noceto Winery won a gold and Best Blush Wine for its 2014 Rosato d Sangiovese. Best Amador Iberian and a double gold went to Cooper Vineyards for its 2013 Grenache. Dillian Wines won Gold and Best Amador Italian for its 2013 Sangiovese.

In all, 21 double-gold medals along with 62 gold, 166 silver and 131 bronze medals were awarded. A number of the top winning wines will be featured and poured from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Amador County Fair. Tickets are $25 and include wines from more than 40 winemakers, appetizers and commemorative glasses. Call 245-6921 for tickets and more information.

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