AlaWine.com: Super Award Winning Wines

Winners of the 2012 American Fine Wine Competition

The American Fine Wine Competition, now in it’s 5th year, has announced the super-awarding wines of the 2012 competition. More than 600 wines from across the United States were blind tasted and judged before naming the winners — Best of Show and Best of Class.

Best of Show Medals were awarded to 2009 Il Passito, a late harvest dessert wine from Castello di Amorosa from the North Coast and a 2009 Manchester Ridge Pinot Noir from La Follette Wines in Mendocino County. Best of Class Medals were awarded to the following:

* 2009 Daou Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
* 2008 Rocca Family Vineyard Merlot
* Prager Companion & Port Works Noble Companion 10 Year Old Tawny Port
* 2007 Merriam Vineyards
* 2009 Jada Vineyard & Winery Hell's Kitchen
* 2010 Ledson Winery & Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc
* 2005 Mumm Napa 2005 DVX Rosé
* 2010 Ferrante Winery Golden Bunches Riesling
* 2009 Michael David Winery Gluttony Zinfandel
* 2008 Sol Rouge Syrah
* 2007 Peju Province Winery Cabernet Franc
* 2009 Mumm Napa Chardonnay
For more information, click here.

Best of Class Pinot Noirs, 2012 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

Eight Pinot Noirs won Best of Class awards at the 2012 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. All are from California, with five coming from Russian River Valley. The Best of Class Pinots, across various price categories, are:

* Lucky Star 2010 Pinot Noir California $8.99
* Mark West 2010 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley $24
* Francis Coppola Winery 2009 FCR Pinot Noir Russian River Valley Dutton Ranch $26
* Fritz Winery 2009 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley $30
* MacPhail Family Wines 2009 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast MacPhail $39
* Fog Crest Vineyard 2009 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley Fog Crest Vineyard Estate $49
* Davis Family Vineyards 2009 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley Horseshoe Bend Vineyard $42
* Wild Horse Winery & Vineyards 2008 Cheval Sauvage Santa Maria Valley $60
For more information click here.

Best of Class Merlots, 2012 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

* Turning Leaf Vineyards 2010 Merlot California $8
* McManis Family Vineyards 2010 Merlot California $10
* J. Lohr 2009 Merlot Paso Robles Los Osos $15
* Cuda Ridge Wines 2009 Merlot Livermore Valley $23
* Soda Rock Winery 2006 Merlot Sonoma County Meeks $28
* Christopher Cameron Vineyards 2009 Merlot Dry Creek Valley Van Alyea Ranch $32
* Bravante Vineyards 2008 Merlot Howell Mountain Napa Valley $60
For more information click here.

2012 Winemaker Challenge International Wine Competition Winners

The results are in from the third annual 2012 Winemaker Challenge International Wine Competition which included more than 800 entries from 12 countries. Nineteen wines earned Best of Class honors in 17 wine categories. Here are all of the super-award-winning wines this year, including Best of Show, and Wine and Winery of the Year:

2012 Wine of the Year
Gloria Ferrer 2000 Carneros Cuvee, Carneros $50

2012 Winery of the Year
V. Sattui, Napa Valley

Best of Show White
Milbrandt Vineyards 2010 Riesling, Traditions, Columbia Valley $12.99

Best of Show Red
Falkner Winery 2008 Syrah, Rock Creek Vineyard, Temecula Valley $26.95

Best of Show Dessert
Inniskillin 2008 Riesling Ice Wine VQA, Niagara Peninsula, Canada $79.99

Best of Show Sparkling
Gloria Ferrer 2000 Carneros Cuvee, Carneros $50

Best Barbera
Pianetta Winery 2009 Barbera, Paso Robles $28

Best Bordeaux Rhone Blend
Peter Lehmann 2009 Clancy's Shiraz-Cabernet-Merlot, Australia $17

Best Cabernet Franc
Barboursville Vineyards 2009 Cabernet Franc Reserve, Virginia $23

Best Cabernet Sauvignon
J. Lohr 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, Hilltop Vineyard, Paso Robles $35

Best Chardonnay
Cakebread Cellars 2008 Chardonnay Reserve, Carneros $54

Best Malbec
Puro Uno 2008 Malbec Gran Reserva, Mendoza, Argentina $100

Best Merlot
Trefethen Vineyards 2008 Merlot, Oak Knoll District $35

Best Pinot Grigio
Estancia 2010 Pinot Grigio, California $11.99

Best Pinot Gris
Milbrandt Vineyards 2010 Pinot Gris, Traditions, Columbia Valley $12.99

Best Pinot Noir
Rapaura Springs 2009 Pinot Noir, Vineyard Reserve, Central Otago, NZ $26.99

Best Riesling
Milbrandt Vineyards 2010 Riesling, Traditions, Columbia Valley $12.99

Best Rhone Blend
South Coast Winery 2008 GSM, Temecula Valley $14

Best Rioja
Beronia 2004 Rioja DOC Gran Reserva, Spain $27.99

Best Sauvignon Blanc(s)
First Fleet 2011 Sauvignon Blanc, Adelaide Hills, Australia $6.99
J. Lohr 2010 Sauvignon Blanc, Carol's Vineyard, Napa Valley $25

Best Syrah
Falkner Winery 2008 Syrah, Rock Creek Vineyard, Temecula Valley $26.95

Best Viognier
Barboursville Vineyards 2010 Viognier Reserve, Virginia $23

Best Zinfandel(s)
Rock Wall Wine Co. 2009 Zinfandel, Stagecoach Vineyard, Napa Valley $40
V. Sattui Winery 2009 Zinfandel, Gilsson Vineyard, Russian River Valley $37

For more information, and a complete list of all medal-winning wines, click here.

Best of Class Chardonnays, 2012 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

Twelve Chardonnays took home Best of Class awards from the recently completed 2012 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. All are from California, three are from Napa Valley and two from Carneros. The 2012 Best of Class Chardonnays, sorted by price, are:

* Turning Leaf Vineyards 2010 Chardonnay California $8
* Cupcake Vineyards 2010 Chardonnay Central Coast $13.99
* HandCraft 2010 Chardonnay California $14.99
* Francis Coppola Winery 2010 Diamond Chardonnay Monterey County $16
* Chamisal Vineyards 2010 Stainless Chardonnay Central Coast $18
* Jax Vineyards 2010 Chardonnay Napa Valley Y3 $22
* Roche Winery 2010 Chardonnay Carneros $23.95
* Rock Wall Wine Company 2010 Chardonnay Santa Lucia Highlands $25
* Kokomo Winery 2009 Chardonnay Russian River Valley Peter's Vineyard $28
* Frank Family Vineyards 2010 Chardonnay Napa Valley Frank Family $32.50
* Antica Napa Valley 2010 Chardonnay Atlas Peak - Napa Valley $35
* Flora Springs Winery & Vineyards 2010 Chardonnay Carneros Toad Hall Lavender Hill $40
For more information click here.