Organic Wines Uncorked: California State Fair Winners

Saturday, July 16, 2016

California State Fair Winners

The California State Fair wine competition announced the winners of its 2016 wine competition earlier this week. More than 2,800 wines were submitted from 750+ California wineries.

A total of 55 judges tasted the wines (with the help of 170 volunteers), awarding 115 Double Gold medals ands 230 Gold medals.

The oldest wine competition in the U.S., the event dates back to 1854.

The state fair continues through July 24. Some of the wines will be available for sale at the fair. And wine slushies ($5) will be served.

For a list of all the competition results, click here.

Here are some of the top wines from organic vines that took home medals:

Galleano
Cucamonga Valley, South Coast

One of my favorite wineries, this Riverside County wonder has 300+ acres of old vines, including some that date back to the 1920's. Its history runs deeps, and it's one of the few wineries left that makes sweet wines - like port and sherry - of distinction. Along with Zinfandel.

Zinfandel, 98 pts., Double Gold ($35)

Port (NV), Best of California, Fortified Dessert Wine

Ancient Angelica, 91 pts., Silver ($33)

Benziger
Sonoma County, North Coast

The Biodynamic pioneer in Sonoma has some amazing terroir - estate vineyards on Sonoma Mountain and out in Freestone - which is reflected in these Biodynamic Wines, made without additives of any kind (save for sulfites to preserve the wine). You're tasting the actual grapes!

Tribute, 95 pts., Gold, Best of Class of Region ($80)

Pinot Noir-Terra Neuma, Gold ($75)

Cooper Garrod
Santa Cruz Mountains, Central Coast

A Saratoga horse ranch and a winery, created on a former apricot farm, the Cooper Garrod's family winemaking hobby turned into a commercial enterprise - and a medal-winning one at that.

Test Pilot, 2010, 95 pts., Gold, Best of Class of Region ($39)

Syrah, 2012, 95 pts., Best of Class of Region ($33)

McFadden Vineyards
Potter Valley, Mendocino AVA, North Coast

A perennial favorite. From one of my favorite wineries, their best wine.

Brut, 95 pts., Gold, Best of Class of Region ($25)

No comments:

Wines We Cover

We publish information about wines grown from certified organic or Biodynamic vineyards that are generally made with sulfites (which are usually added in small amounts to preserve the wine).

That includes these certification types:

ORGANIC WINE CERTIFICATIONS

• Made with Organic Grapes

Vineyards: certified organic

Vinification: less than 100 ppm of sulfites (i.e. a normal range)

Winery: certified organic facility

Labeling: front or back label

• Ingredients: Organic Grapes

Vineyards: certified organic

Vinification: up to 350 ppm of sulfites (same as for any non organic wine)

Labeling: back label only

BIODYNAMIC® CERTIFICATIONS

• Biodynamic Wine

Vineyards: certified biodynamic

Yeasts: native

Vinification: less than 100 ppm of sulfites; no additives of any kind

Winery: certified biodynamic facility

Labeling: front or back label; Demeter logo may appear

• Made with Biodynamic Grapes

Vineyards: certified biodynamic

Yeasts: native or organic

Vinification: less than 100 ppm of sulfites; limited number of additives permitted

Winery: certified biodynamic facility

Labeling: front or back

Note: unlike organically grown wines, for which there is a category called "Ingredients: Organic Grapes," wines sourced from biodynamic grapes may not make any biodynamic claim on the bottle label. Bottle labeling is reserved for Demeter certified wines only.

SULFITES IN CONTEXT

According to U.C. Davis, the average among all wines in the U.S. (as well as globally) is 80 ppm.

WHAT THE USDA CALLS ORGANIC WINES

Unlike any other nation, the U.S. oddly imposes a no sulfite restriction on wines in order for them to be called Organic Wine. These wines are also called NSA or NAS wines (which stands for "No Sulfites Added" or "No Added Sulfites.")

From the above description, one can see that there are in fact three types of organically grown wines:

1. Organic Wine (less than 15% of all organically grown wine)

2. Made with Organic Grapes

3. Ingredients: Organic Grapes

The vast majority of wines from organic grapes are labeled Made with Organic Grapes, Ingredients: Organic Grapes or are blended with nonorganic grapes and unlabeled.

Fine winemakers do not generally make wine without sulfites and a number of large wine retailers like BevMo do not sell wine in the category of "USDA Organic Wine."

With rare exceptions, this blog does not cover what the USDA calls "Organic Wine."

We are hopeful that the USDA will revise the categorization of organically grown wines and make NSA or NAS wines a category of their own.

This would put the U.S. in accord with the rest of the world, where "Organic Wine" means a wine from certified grapes made within limits on sulfites (generally under 100-150 ppm).

Organic Wines Uncorked

Pages

Saturday, July 16, 2016

California State Fair Winners

No comments:

Post a Comment

Organic Resources