The World’s Largest Annual International Cabernet Franc Wine Competition & Celebration
(Not all bottles shown) (Photo ©Michael Kelly)
This is the first of three events for the Cabernet Franc Wine Competition & Celebration, the Wine Competition. The format for the blind competition utilizes the Danish system, where the wines are “bagged and tagged with code numbers”, separated by 6 Categories, four tables (2 tables Professional Judges and 2 tables People’s Choice Judges) vote 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 by each group of judges. Then each Category is awarded Best of Class and/or Best of Show. In one Category (California) there are five price points, with each being awarded Best of Class and evidently a Best of Show for that Category. One new Category was the Specialty Category this year which is a potpourri of Cabernet Franc (Blanc, Rose, Sparkling, etc.). No Best of Show was awarded as only two entrees participated. Then a Grand Sweep Stakes of the Overall Best Wine of the entire competition is awarded, on by the Professional Judges and one by the People’s Choice Judges.
(Top left Professional Wine Judges, Top Right People’s Choice Judges, Bottom Right, The Wine Runners (minus one who had to leave) and a judge’s station. Photo ©Michael Kelly)
The event was held yesterday, March 29th at 9:30 am in the Grandview Room at The Golf Club at Copper Valley in Copperopolis, California. 82 wineries registered representing 4 countries and 7 states. After a little over five non-stop hours of evaluating the wines, here are the results. Overall Winner, Best of Class, Best of Show and Gold & Silver Medal awarded wines are shown.
(The judges hard at work filling out paperwork) (Photo ©Michael Kelly)
A lot more details will follow in the next few weeks, including analytics on demographics, comparisons on medal awards, percentage of medal winners from different geography, etc. An interesting note is four wines were voted on by both sets of judges as being Best of Class or Best of Show: Granite Heights Winery (Virginia), Ironstone (Murphys, Calif), Selin Cellars (Fountain Grove, Calif) and Corti Brothers Wines (Veneto, Italy).
The Grand Sweep Stake winners from both set of Judges came f from Paso Robles and Sonoma County. Overall from both sets of judges winners came from Virginia, Washington, Texas, Oregon, all over California (Paso Robles, Sierra Foothills, Arroyo Seco, Mendocino, Fountain Grove, Santa Barbara, Livermore, Diamond Mountain) and Colli Euganei in Veneto, Italy. The judges did a remarkable job ferreting out the best of the best Cabernet Franc wines from around the world.
Two other events will be held shortly, the first being the Cabernet Franc Wine Stroll. It will be held on April 15th, at The Golf Club of Copper Valley featuring the previous year’s winners pouring their Cabernet Franc and many others wines. Call 209-783-9518 for reservations. The third event is a Gourmet Dinner prepared by Verona18 show casing Cabernet Franc wines from around the world (Livermore, Chinon France, Paso Robles and Chile). Call 209-783-9518 also for reservations.
Grand Sweep Stakes Winner from the Professional Judges:
(Photo ©Michael Kelly)
2020 LXV Wine Cabernet Franc from Paso Robles with grapes grown in the Santa Barbara AVA and also a Gold Medal Winner. They also won Best of Class and Best of Show in their Category. This was their first time entering the competition.
Grand Sweep Stakes Winner from the People’s Choice Judges:
(Photo ©Michael Kelly)
2019 Ledson Winery & Vineyards from Kenwood, California with grapes grown on Moon Mountain AVA and also a Double Gold Medal winner. This was the first time for Ledson Winery entering the competition.
PROFESSIONAL JUDGES RESULTS:
Eastern USA Category:
Best of Show and Best of Class: 2017 Granite Heights Winery Cabernet Franc from Warrenton, Virginia. This was their first time entering the competition and they also received a Gold Medal.
Medal Awards:
Boundary Oaks – Silver
Pearmund Cellars – Silver
Cody Kresta – Silver
Narmada Winery – Silver
Northwest Category:
Best of Show and Best of Class: 2019 Camaraderie Cellars Cabernet Franc from Port Angeles, Washington. The grapes coming from Yakima Valley. This was their first time entering the competition and they also received a Double Gold Medal.
Medal Awards:
Hamilton Cellars – Gold
Cabernet Franc Blends (being a minimum of 50% Cabernet Franc grapes)
Best of Show and Best of Class: 2017 J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines Cabernet Franc from Paso Robles. This was their first time entering the competition and they also received a Gold Medal.
Medal Awards:
2021 Hope Family, Quest – Gold
Non-vintage Rosa Fierro Cellars – Silver
2019 Cuda Ridge Wines, Melange d’ Amis – Gold
2019 Villa Vallecito, El Rey – Silver
2019 Thirty-Seven Wines, The Hermit – Gold
2019 pureCru CFM – Gold
2020 3Steve’s Winery, Zig’s Blend – Silver
California Category
*Overall Best of Show & Class: 2020 LXV Wine Cabernet Franc from Paso Robles with grapes from the Santa Barbara AVA.
Best of Class (below $30) – 2020 Ironstone from Sierra Foothills with a Gold Medal.
Medal Awards:
2020 Michael David/Inkblot – Silver
2021 Jeff Runquist – Silver
2016 Indian Rock – Silver
2018 Indian Rock – Silver
Best of Class ($31 to $50): 2017 Shale Canyon Cabernet Franc from Arroyo Seco and with a Gold Medal
Medal Awards:
2018 3 Steve’s – Silver
2020 Cuda Ridge – Silver
2017 San Pasqual – Silver
2019 Dracaena Wines – Silver
2020 Urban Legend – Silver
2020 Wood Family Vineyards – Silver
2018 Rivino Estate – Silver
2019 Mineral Wines – Double Gold
2019 Kenefick Ranch – Silver
2018 McKenzie-Mueller Winery – Double Gold
2019 Thirty-Seven Wines – Gold
2018 J. McClelland Cellars, Lost Chapter – Silver
Best of Class ($51 to $75): 2020 Selin Cellars from Fountain Grove and they also received a Gold Medal
Medal Awards:
2019 Cellar 13 – Silver
2020 Trefethen Family Vineyards – Silver
Best of Class ($76 to $100): 2020 LXV Wine Cabernet Franc and also received a Gold Medal.
Medal Awards:
2020 Brecon Estate – Silver
2019 Steven Kent Winery (Livermore) – Silver
2021 Hope Family, Cellar Select – Silver
2019 Ledson Winery – Silver
2020 L’Autre Cote (Santa Cruz) – Double Gold
2019 Brick Barn Wine Estate, Reserve – Gold
2019 Bravante Vineyards – Silver
2018 Oakville East – Silver
Best of Class ($101 and up): 2019 Diamond Mountain Vineyard and also received a Gold Medal.
Medal Awards:
2019 Middle Oak Wines – Silver
International Category: Best of Show, 2017 Corti Brothers from Italy and also received a Gold Medal. This was their first time entering the competition.
Medal Awards:
2019 Calc, Chile – Silver
2019 Csanyi Winery, Hungary – Silver
2018 Jammertal, Hungary – Silver
2017 Jammertal, Hungary – Silver
2018 Gere Attila Winery, Hungary – Silver
2017 Rejiji Wines, Hungary – Gold
Specialty Awards:
2022 L’Autre Cote Blanc – Gold
2022 San Pasqual Winery – Silver
PEOPLE’S CHOICE JUDEGES RESULTS:
Eastern USA Category:
Best of Show – 2017 Granite Heights Winery Cabernet Franc from Warrenton, Virginia and they also received a Gold Medal
Medal Awards:
Boundary Oaks – Silver
Narmada Winery – Silver
Northwest USA Category:
Best of Show – 2020 Terra Vina Wines from Columbia Valley, Oregon and also received a Gold Medal
Medal Awards:
Hamilton Cellars – Silver
Blend Category: Cabernet Franc Blends (being a minimum of 50% Cabernet Franc grapes)
Best of Show -2019 Cuda Ridge Wines, Melange d’ Amis and also received a Double Gold
Medal Awards:
2021 Hope Family, Quest – Silver
2017 J. Lohr – Silver
2019 Villa Vallecito – Silver
2019 Thirty-Seven Wines, The Hermit – Silver
2019 pureCru CFM – Gold
2020 3 Steve’s, Zig’s Blend – Gold
California Category:
Best of Show: 2019 Ledson Winery and Vineyards. They also won Double Gold Medal.
Best of Class (below $30) – 2020 Ironstone from Sierra Foothills and with a SilverMedal.
Medal Awards:
2020 Lapis Luna Wines – Silver
Best of Class ($31 to $50) – 2018 Rivino Estate from Mendocino and with a Gold Medal.
Medal Awards:
Non-vintage Dracaena Wines – Silver
2020 Urban Legend –Silver
2019 Kautz & Kramer – Silver
2019 Michael David – Silver
2019 Kenefick Ranch – Silver
2020 Villa Vallecito – Sliver
2019 Thirty-Seven Wines – Silver
Best of Class ($51 to $75): 2020 Selin Cellars from Fountain Grove and they also received a Double Gold Medal
Medal Awards:
2019 pureCru, Reserve – Silver
Best of Class ($76 to $100): 2019 Ledson Winery & Vineyards and also a Double Gold Medal
Medal Awards:
2021 Hope Family, Cellar Select – Silver
2020 LXV Wines – Silver
2019 Brick Barn Wine Estate, Reserve – Silver
2019 Bravante Vineyards – Silver
2018 Oakville East – Silver
Best of Class ($101 and up): 2019 Middle Oak Wines in Friendswood, Texas and they also a received a Gold Medal.
Medal Awards:
2019 Diamond Mountain Vineyard – Silver
International Category:
Best of Show: Best of Show, 2017 Corti Brothers from Italy and also received a Double Gold Medal.
Medal Awards:
2019 Calc, Chile – Silver
2019 Marquis, Chile – Silver
2018 Marquis Lien, Chile – Silver
2018 Jammertal, Hungary – Silver
Specialty Awards:
2022 L’Autre Cote Blanc – Silver
2022 San Pasqual Winery – Silver
California Wines & Wineries 