Kudos to Sonoma Harvest Fair Winners - Hawley's Meritage and Muscardini's Cassata Cabernet

Two organically grown wines won big at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair's Professional Wine Contest. Winners were announced Oct. 3 and both Hawley and Cassata took home medals.

1. Best of Class - Hawley's 2010 Meritage ($52)

Hawley's first Meritage release - the 2010 - has been on quite the winning streak. This blend - 48% Merlot and 48% Cabernet Sauvigon with 4% of Cabernet Franc - has won several major awards at both the state and county levels. Not bad for a wine's inaugural release.

Paul Hawley with California State Fair awards for Hawley 

First it took home an award at the California State Fair as the Best Red Wine from Sonoma County and the state's best Bordeaux Blend.

Then in October, it was Best of Class at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair.

It's aged 2 years in French oak. 500 cases made and some are apparently still for sale on Hawley's web site.

The wine is bottle labeled "Made with Organic Grapes" (which means both the vineyard and the winery are certified organic).

Aromas: dark berry and plums on the nose with notes of flint and clove.

John Hawley (with his falcon) in the family's Dry Creek vineyard

2. Best of Class - Muscardini Cellars' 2012 Cassata Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

The 23 acre Cassata Vineyard in Glen Ellen in Sonoma Valley is the source for the Cabernet Sauvignon grapes that fueled Muscardini Cellars' Best of Class win in the Cabernets $35-45 class. The vineyard is certified both organic and Biodynamic.

The Cassata family also makes olive oil, which it sells on its own Cassata-Sonoma web site, along with its newly released 2008 Utopium Cabernet Sauvignon.