With wine, there is no in between
– it’s either love or hate at first taste – and the stamp of
approval from a prestigious wine competition isn’t going to change
anyone’s mind when they reach for their favorite bottle.
With wine, there is no in between – it’s either love or hate at first taste – and the stamp of approval from a prestigious wine competition isn’t going to change anyone’s mind when they reach for their favorite bottle.
This from a guy who just added three new medals to his trophy case from the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition – the largest competition of American wine in the country.
“No one’s ever said to me ‘I like this wine … but did it win a gold?'” said Matt Oetinger, wine maker and president of Fernwood Cellars on Redwood Retreat Road. “Either you like it or you don’t.”
Competing against more than 4,200 other entries, local wineries held their own in the increasingly popular competition. Santa Clara Valley growers brought dozens of medals back from the Cloverdale Citrus Fair, where judging took place earlier this year.
Over the last 30 years, local vintners have worked to make themselves competitive with viticultural giants to the north. From Solis Winery’s crisp estate Fiano, which earned Best of Class, to newcomer Satori Cellars’ bronze medal wining estate Cabernet Sauvignon, the Santa Clara Valley wineries offer myriad varietals and experiences to the taster looking for something different from the big name wineries of Napa and Sonoma, said Jason Goelz, wine maker and co-owner of Jason Stephens Winery on Watsonville Road
“There’s a misperception that we don’t have good wines here,” Goelz said. “That couldn’t be farther from the truth.”
Though Jason Stephens only opened its doors in October, Goelz’s Cabernets and Syrah brought home two bronze medals and one silver. Like many growers in the valley, his grapes – all of which are grown at the winery – rely on the warm, cloudless days and cool nights for their award winning taste.
The valley’s microclimate offers the perfect conditions for growing high quality wine grapes, said Dan Martin, co-owner of Martin Ranch Winery on Redwood Retreat Road.
“The Santa Clara Valley is very underrated,” Martin said. “The quality of the fruit produced here is outstanding but it doesn’t get the recognition it deserves.”
With the medals won comes a powerful marketing tool that creates buzz around an award winning wine, vintners said. But even in tough economic times when people are cutting back on luxuries, there are some things that people won’t give up and that’s wine, Oetinger said.
“Surprisingly, business is good,” he said. “People are feeling put upon by the economy. They’re not taking that vacation to Hawaii but they’re saying ‘Hey, I’m still going to have my wine tonight.’ It makes people feel like they’re still living a little. We’re an affordable luxury.”
Other wine makers agreed that the economy hasn’t had the effect on their sales they expected. Though Tom and Sandy Moller only opened last September and don’t have years of sales records to which they can compare their current volume, Tom Moller said sales have been continually inching up.
“I’m delighted,” he said. “We’re hoping to continue with more as we get into the summer months.”
As for the larger wineries that tend to overshadow the wines produced in the Santa Clara Valley: “They don’t have nothing on us,” Moller said.
Santa Clara Valley Wineries Passport Weekend
March 28 and 29
Time: 11 – 5 p.m.
Location: All Participating Wineries
Contact: 842-6436
The Awards
(Organized alphabetically by vineyard, then listing the medal, vintage, designation and varietal.)
Cinnabar Winery
Gold 2007 Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot noir
Silver 2006 Mercury Rising Blend
Bronze 2006 Paso Robles Trebbiano
Clos LaChance
Bronze 2006 Buff-Bellied Zinfandel
Silver 2006 Black-Chinned Syrah
Gold 2005 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Gold 2007 Glittering-Throated Chardonnay
Creekview Vineyards
Double Gold 2006 Syrah
Gold 2007 Chardonnay
Fernwood Cellars
Silver 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon
Bronze 2007 Merlot
Bronze 2006 Petit Sirah
Fortino Winery
Bronze 2005 Carignon
Bronze 2005 Sangiovese
Silver 2006 Petit Sirah
Jason-Stephens Winery
Bronze 2006 Dorcich Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
Bronze 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon
Silver 2006 Dorcich Vineyards Syrah
J Lohr Vineyards & Wines
Gold 2006 Hilltop Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Gold 2007 Fog’s Reach Vineyard Pinot noir
Silver 2007 Carol’s Vineyard Sauvignon blanc
Silver 2006 Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon
Silver 2007 Riverstone Chardonnay
Silver 2006 Los Osos Merlot
Martin Ranch Winery
Gold 2005 Therese Vineyards Syrah
Gold 2005 Therese Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
Silver 2005 J.D. Hurley Merlot
Silver 2006 J.D. Hurley Zinfandel
Bronze 2004 J.D. Hurley Cabernet Sauvignon
Bronze 2005 J.D. Hurley Cabernet Sauvignon
Monte Verde
Silver 2006 Murabito Syrah
Bronze 2006 Villa Palma Merlot
Pietra Santa Winery
Best of Class 2005 Sangiovese
Gold 2007 Gewurztraminer
Gold 2006 Zinfandel
Silver 2007 Amore Pinot grigio
Silver 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon
Silver Sacred Stone Cask
Sarah’s Vineyard
Best of Class 2005 Besson Vineyard Syrah
Best of Class 2007 Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot noir
Gold 2007 Estate Pinot noir
Silver 2007 Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay
Silver 2007 Estate Chardonnay
Satori Vineyards
Gold 2006 Hallelujah Cabernet Sauvignon
Bronze 2006 Estate Petit Sirah
Bronze 2006 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Bronze 2006 TaDa Syrah
Solis Winery
Best of Class 2007 Estate Fiano
Silver 2005 Reserve Cara Mia
Silver 2007 Estate Chardonnay
Bronze 2004 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Sycamore Creek Vineyards
Double Gold 2007 Zinfandel
Gold 2006 Chardonnay
Bronze 2005 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
