Organic Winners from the 2015 SF Chronicle Wine Competition

The San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition is the country's largest wine competition, with a record number of wines entered in 2015. But it's also one of the most uneven competitions, as few of the state's finest wineries (there are some exceptions) participate, making it not the definitive benchmark for fine wines. However, it's still a worthy competition, unearthing a great variety of wines and putting them side by side in juxtapositions that no wine magazine is likely to compare in the same breath.

So it's interesting to see how things rank.

This year some wineries really came up in the judging - among them was Medlock Ames for its top of the line Cabernet (Kate's and B's which enough judges liked to give it best of class in a very competitive category) against Napa stalwarts Grgich Hills and Rocca.

Tiny McFadden, with its new Brut Rosé, again scored a Double Gold, the same score as Domaine Carneros' top of the line sparkling wine. It's hard to understand how Korbel's Organic Brut got a gold; it doesn't use the traditional Champagne varieties of Pinot Noir/Chardonnay, substituting Colombard and Sangiovese instead.

Campovida scored well for some of its fine wines, as did Sonoma's lesser known Martorana Vineyards in Dry Creek and Petroni Vineyards on Moon Mountain.

Madonna Estate in Napa, run by an old Italian family, won a Double Gold for its Dolcetto ($35) and Lodi star Bokisch Vineyards (with Spanish roots) won a Double Gold for its Grenache ($20).

Lake County's Chacewater, which also sources grapes from its Sierra Foothills vines, did very well, too, winning a Best of Class for its Merlot along with two gold medals for two of its other wines. It's especially noteworthy as most of the wines are in the more affordable, $20ish categories. This young winery won Winery of the Year at the California State Fair in 2012. In addition to traditional marketing, I like that the fact that it sells its wine at the farmers market in Auburn (near some of its vineyards in the Sierra Foothills), a trend I hope will grow among more of the organic producers who can start to educate farmers market buyers about why organic vineyards matter.

One of my favorite, quietly wonderful Napa wineries, Oakville Ranch, won a Double Gold for its Field Blend, a Double Gold for its limited production Chardonnay and a Double Gold for its Cabernet Franc.

Overall, the results should help you to pinpoint some wines you'd like to try. There's lots to choose from.

(All of the Napa and Sonoma wines as well as the wines from Biodynamic vines are all featured in my apps. The app listings include winery descriptions, critics ratings, and information about each wine's certifications, vineyard location, and bottle labeling).

Note: The wines are judged according to varietals and price ranges. I've grouped them all simply by varietal to make it easier to scan them all. If you want to see the price ranges, as well as the vintage information, go to the competition web site for detailed results.

SPARKLING WINES

Double Gold

• Domaine Carneros - Le Reve ($99)
• McFadden Vineyard - Cuvée Rosé ($32)

Gold

• Korbel - Organic ($12.99)

Silver

• McFadden Vineyard - Cuvée Brut ($40)
• Yorkville Cellars - Sparkling Malbec Brut Rosé ($36)

WHITE WINES

Albarino

Silver

• Bokisch Vineyards - Terra Alta ($18)

Bordeaux Blends (White)

Silver

• Campovida - Campo di Stelle ($36)
• Yorkville Cellars - Eleanor of Acquitaine ($28)

Chardonnay

Double Gold

• Oakville Ranch ($50)

Gold

• Petroni Vineyards ($30)

Silver

• Canihan Family Winery ($35)
• Chacewater - Lake County ($33)
• Girasole ($13)
• Handley Cellars - Estate ($25)
• Madonna Estate ($28)
• Medlock Ames - Russian River Valley ($27)
• ZD Wines - Carneros Reserve ($65)

Bronze

• Alma Rosa - El Jabali ($28)
• Bonterra ($13)
• Bonterra - Blue Heron ($50)
• Retzlaff ($22)

Gewürztraminer

Bronze

• Handley ($20)
• McFadden Vineyard ($16)

Pinot Blanc

Silver

• Alma Rosa - La Encantada ($28)

Pinot Gris

Gold

• King Estate - Domaine ($27)

Silver

• Alma Rosa - La Encantada ($19)
• McFadden Vineyard ($16)

Riesling

Bronze

• McFadden Vineyard ($18)

Sauvignon Blanc

Gold

• Bink - Randle Hill ($22)
• Petroni ($24)
• Retzlaff ($24)
• Viluko Vineyards

Silver

• McFadden Vineyard ($16)
• Paul Dolan Vineyards ($18)
• Quivira - Fig Tree (($20)
• Viluko Vineyards ($24)

Bronze

• Bonterra ($12.99)

Viognier

Gold

• Cooper-Garrod ($29)

Silver

• Campovida ($34)
• Bonterra ($13)

RED WINES

Bordeaux Blends (Red)

Silver

• Hawk and Horse - Block Three ($35)
• Imagery - Estate ($65)
• Medlock Ames - Snakepit ($60)
• Terra Savia - Meritage ($22)

Cabernet Franc

Double Gold

• Cooper-Garrod ($33)
• Oakville Ranch ($110)

Cabernet Sauvignon

Best of Class

• Medlock Ames Kate's and B's ($75)

Gold

• Imagery - Estate ($65)
• Lucinda & Millie ($15)

Silver

• Hawley ($43)
• Martorana ($45)
• Medlock Ames ($42)
• Muscardini - Cassata ($48)
• Oakville Ranch ($80)
• Retzlaff ($39)

Bronze

• Bonterra ($14)
• Grgich Hills ($60)
• Hawk and Horse ($65)
• Paul Dolan Vineyards ($25)
• Petroni Vineyards ($70)
• Rocca Family Vineyards - Collinetta ($95)
• Rocca Family Vineyards - Grigsby ($85)

Dolcetto

Double Gold

• Madonna Estate ($35)

Grenache

Double Gold

• Bokisch Vineyards - Terra Alta ($20)

Silver

• Quivira - Wine Creek Ranch ($32)

Merlot

Best of Class

• Chacewater - Sierra Foothills ($21)
• Rocca Family ($60)

Gold

• Grgich Hills Estate ($44)

Silver

• Imagery - Estate ($65)
• Martorana ($33)
• Retzlaff ($30)

Bronze

• Hawley ($29)

Petite Sirah

Silver

• Barra of Mendocino ($22)
• Hawk and Horse Vineyards ($48)

Bronze

• Martorana ($42)

Pinot Noir

Double Gold

• Domaine Carneros - The Famous Gate ($75)
• ZD Wines - Founder's Reserve ($75)

Gold

• Sokol Blosser - Dundee Hills ($45)

Silver

• Alma Rosa - La Encantada Mt. Eden Clone ($45)
• Alma Rosa - La Encantada - Clone 115 ($45)
• Benziger Family Winery - Arbore Sacra ($75)
• Castoro Cellars - Whale Rock ($30)
• Domaine Carneros - Estate ($36)
• King Estate - Domaine ($70)
• Madonna Estate ($32)
• Merriam Vineyards - Three Sons ($75)
• ZD Wines - Carneros ($50)

Bronze

• Bonterra ($14)
• Canihan Family Winery - Exuberance ($70)
• Naughty Boy Vineyards ($23)

Primitivo

Silver

• Campovida - Dark Horse Vineyard ($36)

Red Blends

Silver

• Bonterra - McNab ($50)
• Chacewater - Sierra Foothills ($24)
• McFadden Vineyards - Coro Mendocino ($37)
• Petroni Vineyards - Rosso di Sonoma ($25)
• Rocca Family Vineyards - Vespera ($55)

Bronze

• McEvoy - Red Piano ($35)
• Yorkville Cellars - Hi Roller Red ($19)

Rhone Blends

Silver

• Quivira - Elusive ($34)

Sangiovese

Silver

• Barra Vineyards ($18)

Syrah

Gold

• Chacewater - Sierra Foothills ($21)
• Petroni ($40)

Silver

• Canihan Family Winery ($49)
• Rocca Family ($50)

Zinfandel

Double Gold

• Oakville Ranch - Field Blend ($55)

Gold

• Chacewater - Sierra Foothills ($21)

Silver

• Carol Shelton - Lopez Vineyard/Cucamonga ($21)
• Cesar Toxqui Cellars - Split Rock ($30)
• Grgich Hills Estate ($35)
• Martorana Vineyards ($35)
• Milliaire Winery - Clockspring ($26)
• Paul Dolan Vineyards ($25)
• Quivira - Quest ($38)

Bronze

Bonterra ($14)

DESSERT WINES & PORT

Port

Silver

• Hawk and Horse Vineyards - Latigo ($85)
• Heitz Wine Cellars - Ink Grade Port ($35)

White Dessert

Gold

• Pacific Rim - Vin de Glaciere ($14)

Bronze

• McFadden Vineyards - Late Harvest Riesling ($18)