3rd Annual Cabernet Franc Wine Competition & Celebration Results
The format for the blind competition utilizes the Danish system, where the wines are “bagged”, separated by price categories (5) and a table of judges each votes on medal designation. If not all agree on the medal, which seldom happens, then a lively discussion going over the key characteristics of the specific wine is debated to reach a consensus award. Sixty-six wines went through this process starting at 9 am and concluding at 2:15 pm on April 6th in the Grandview Room at The Golf Club at Copper Valley in Copperopolis, California.
The Professional judges consisted of veteran judge Tom Bender, Sierra Foothills Wine Show organizer for 40 years. He also is a judge at other prestigious wine competitions, writer, college professor and has won extensive awards for his home wine making. Two other judges are professional winemakers. Rudy Zuidema from Napa, head winemaker for award winning Shadybrook Estate, Rapp Ranch, Red Cap, Alyris, Zuidema Wines and many other wineries. Tana Cole has winemaking experience from Michigan, Napa Valley, Lodi AVA and now at Vintage Wine Estates in Sonoma County. The other two judges are Debbie Miller WSET I and II with distinction and Sandra Hess WSET I.
The Results of the Professional Judges
Best of Overall Show – 2019 Villa Vallecito, Murphys, $45
Results by Price Category
(Silver and up medals are noted with Bronze and No Awards not being shown)
Blend Division (having a minimum of 50% Cabernet Franc No Best of Class Awarded
2019 Villa Vallecito Vineyards, Murphys, $45 Silver Medal
2018 Crocker & Starr, A.V.A., St Helena, $58 Silver Medal
2017 pureCru CFM, Napa, Valley, $65 Silver Medal
Category 1 ($30 and less) Best of Class – 2020 Jeff Runquist Wines
2019 Ironstone Vineyards, Reserve, Murphys, $28 Silver Medal
2018 Kautz & Kramer, Lodi, $28 Silver Medal
2020 Jeff Runquist Wines, Amador, $26 Gold Medal
2016 Shale Canyon, Monterey County, $30 Silver Medal
Category 2 ($31 to $50) Best of Class – 2019 Villa Vallecito
2018 Lagana Cellars, Washington, $38 Silver Medal
2019 Dracaena Wines, Paso Robles, $34 Silver Medal
2019 Andis Wines, Amador, $40 Silver Medal
2017 Eliana Wines, Oregon, $42 Silver Medal
2018 Kenefick Ranch Vineyards, Calistoga Double Gold
2017 Narmada Winery, Virginia, $48 Silver Medal
2017 Lava Cap Winery, Placerville, $40 Double Gold
2014 Narmada Winery, Virginia, $48 Gold Medal
2019 Wood Family Vineyards, Livermore, $36 Silver Medal
2018 Mineral Wines, Murphys, $34 Silver Medal
2019 Villa Vallecito Vineyards, Murphys, $45 Double Gold
2017 Russian Ridge Winery, Woodside, $42 Silver Medal
2018 Russian Ridge Winery, Woodside, $42 Silver Medal
2019 Cuda Ridge Wines, Livermore, $42 Silver Medal
Category 3 ($51 to $75) Best of Class – 2019 Titus Vineyards
2018 Vezer Family Vineyards, Blue Victorian, $69 Silver Medal
2018 Blue Rock Vineyard, Cloverdale, $65 Silver Medal
2019 Titus Vineyards, St Helena, $60 Gold Medal
2018 Lightpost Winery, Morgan Hill, $65 Silver Medal
2013 Deerfield Ranch Winery, Reserve, Glen Ellen, $75 Silver Medal
2019 Rosa Fierro Cellars, Livermore, $55 Silver Medal
Category 4 ($76 to $100) Best of Class – 2018 L’Autre Côte
2018 Oakville East, Oakville, $100 Silver Medal
2018 L’Autre Côte, Livermore, $98 Gold Medal
2019 Vinoce, Napa Valley, $85 Silver Medal
2018 Bianchi Winery, Laguna Beach, $80 Silver Medal
2019 Chateau Margene, Creston, $78 Silver Medal
Category 5 ($101 and up) No Best of Class Awarded
2018 Middle Oak Wines, Texas, $125 Silver Medal
2017 Cornerstone Cellars, Napa $110 Silver Medal
2018 Palazzo Wine, St Helena, $115 Silver Medal
2018 Diamond Mountain Vineyards, Calistoga, $175 Silver Medal
International Division No Best of Class Awarded
2015 Maquis Franco, Colchagua, Chile, $85 Silver Medal
People’s Choice Judges Results
Secondly an additional set of People’s Choice Judges are assembled at a distance so not to overhear any Professional Judge’s conversations. The People’s Choice Judges are serious wine drinkers, each generally have 20+ years of experience visiting wine regions around the USA and the world, each enjoy cellaring wines and attending an occasional class to learn more about wine. They included Steve Besst (San Ramon/Copper Valley), Candy Strubbe (Milpitas/Valley Springs), Gary Miller (San Jose/Copper Valley), Shelby French (Napa/Angels Camp) and John Krause (Sunnyvale/Fresno).
The Results of the People’s Choice Judges
Best of Overall Show – 2019 Dracaena Wines $34
Results by Price Category
(Silver and up medals are noted with Bronze and No Awards not being shown)
Category 1 ($30 and less) Best of Class – 2018 Kautz & Kramer
2018 Kautz & Kramer, Lodi, $28 Silver Medal
3 Oaks Vineyard, Clovis, $30 Silver Medal
2019 Grizzly Peak, Oregon, $26 Silver Medal
2019 Brice Station Vineyards, Murphys, $27 Silver Medal
Category 2 ($31 to $50) Best of Class – 2019 Dracaena Wines
2017 Crystal Basin Cellars, Camino, $32 Silver Medal
2019 Trefethen, Napa, $50 Silver Medal
2018 Lagana Cellars, Washington, 38 Silver Medal
2019 Dracaena Wines, Paso Robles, $34 Double Gold
2018 Pearmund Cellars, Virginia, $39 Silver Medal
2018 Kenefick Ranch Vineyard, Calistoga, $50 Silver Medal
2019 Cuda Ridge Wines, Livermore, $42 Gold Medal
2017 Narmada Winery, Virginia, $48 Gold Medal
2014 Narmada Winery, Virginia, $48 Silver Medal
2019 Wood Family Vineyards, Livermore, $36 Silver Medal
2018 Mineral Wines, Murphys, $34 Silver Medal
2019 Villa Vallecito, Murphys, $45 Gold Medal
Category 3 ($51 to $75) Best of Class – 2017 De Tierra Vineyards
2017 De Tierra Vineyards, Carmel, $65 Silver Medal
2019 Titus Vineyards, St Helena, $60 Silver Medal
Category 4 ($76 to $100) Best of Class – 2018 Bianchi Winery
2019 Vinoce, Napa Valley, $85 Silver Medal
2018 Bianchi Winery, Laguna Beach, $80 Silver Medal
2019 Chateau Margene, Creston, $78 Silver Medal
2018 Brick Barn Wine Estate, Buellton, $85 Silver Medal
Category 5 ($101 and up) Best of Class – 2017 Cornerstone Cellars
2018 Middle Oak Wines, Texas, $125 Silver Medal
2017 Cornerstone Cellars, Napa, $110 Gold Medal
2018 Palazzo Wine, St Helena, $115 Silver Medal
2018 Diamond Mountain Vineyards, $175 Silver Medal
2017 Howell Mountain Vineyards, $120 Silver Medal
INTERNATIONAL DIVISION No Best of Class Awarded
2018 Maquis, Colchagua, Chile, $14 Silver Medal
2015 Maquis Franco, Colchagua, Chile, $85 Silver Medal
A FEW STATISTICS ON THE JUDGING
Medal Award Professional Judges People’s Choice Judges
No Award 4 4
Bronze 25 33
Silver 30 24
Gold 4 4
Double Gold 3 1
Wine with awards that were the same by both sets of judges:
No Award 1
Bronze 15
Silver 10
Gold/DG 1
Wines which scored within one medal rank by both sets of judges:
32
I wish to thank each winery, domestic and internationally who submitted wines to be judged for this competition. Additionally, I want to thank the Judges who took the time to judge this one varietal of grape from so many regions.
May the Franc be with you!
Sláinte,
Michael
California Wines & Wineries 
April 10, 2022 at 3:15 pm
You did an amazing job putting this all together! We had a great time at both the walk around and tasting and are so excited to have won best of show again!!!
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