Central Coast Wine Competition

CCWC Judges Included in Top 100 Most Influential People in the US Wine Industry

Robin Nagele — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 04:56:34 +0000

Compiled by CCWC judge Michael Cervin, this list of the Top 100 Most Influential People in the US Wine Industry honors winemakers, writers, politicians, entrepreneurs and wine lovers who have a profound effect on the US wine industry. Four of the individuals named (Doug Frost, Mike Dunne, Daryl Groom, and Madeline Triffon) will be part of the 20 member panel judging the 2012 Central Coast Wine Competition. The list also salutes several Central Coast winemakers that enter the competition each year.

Enjoy this article and learning a little bit about the influential individuals in the wine industry!

Top 100 Most Influential People in the US Wine Industry

2012 Competition Judges Announced!

Robin Nagele — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 01:10:53 +0000

JANUARY 27, 2012, PASO ROBLES, CALIFORNIA  The Central Coast Wine Competition has confirmed its complete panel of judges for the 2012 competition. The twenty member judging panel will be led by three Master Sommeliers, one Master of Wine, four major California wine writers and several other members of the wine industry, trade and media. The competition will be held June 13 and 14, 2012.

Chief Judge Bob Foster, Assistant Editor of the California Grapevine wine newsletter, has over 25 years of wine judging experience and has served as the competition’s chief judge since 2010. “We have assembled a very experienced panel of judges. Collectively they have well over 100 years of wine judging experience,” Mr. Foster notes. “I am confident that this panel will not only bring to the table a high caliber skill set to evaluate the entries, but will add a marketing element to showcase the winning wines. Our goal is to offer value to each and every winery that enters the competition.”

The 2012 competition will feature a few changes including the addition of a Malbec class and the spiliting the Cabernet Sauvignon class to distinguish entries with a vintage date of 2009 or earlier from those with a vintage date of 2010 or 2011. The intent of these modifications is to recognize the wide variety of winemaking styles and varietals present on California’s Central Coast.

Online entry forms will be available March 1, 2012. Check back for more information!

CCWC Announces Hearst Ranch Winery as Winery of the Year

Robin Nagele — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 17:17:57 +0000

JULY 29, 2011, PASO ROBLES, CALIFORNIA – The Central Coast Wine Competition announced Hearst Ranch Winery as the 2011 Winery of the Year at the California Mid-State Fair’s annual Cattlemen and Farmer’s Day. The Winery of the Year award is a new award which seeks to recognize the winery which presented the most exceptional selection of wines at the Central Coast Wine Competition.

Criteria for selection of the Winery of the Year award required a minimum number of five entries and a ratio based on number of medals earned and overall number of gold medals. Hearst Ranch Winery entered a total of six wines in the 2011 competition, earning three gold medals and two silver medals. This ratio of award winning wines to total wines entered attests to the superior quality of wines produced by Hearst Ranch Winery.

Hearst Ranch Winery’s award winning vintages include the 2010 Glacier Ridge Chardonnay and 2009 Three Sisters Cuvee, which wine writer and competition judge Dan Berger praised as exceptional, well crafted wines in his weekly wine commentary “Dan Berger’s Vintage Experiences”. The 2009 Sauvignon Blanc also won a gold medal at the competition and the 2009 vintages of Tempranillo and Malbec received silver medals.

The 2011 Central Coast Wine Competition featured a record number of entries with over 600 wines entered. Any wines produced from grapes grown in the Central Coast appellation of the American Viticulture Area (AVA), which stretches from San Francisco County to Santa Barbara County, and Ventura County were eligible to be entered. The Central Coast AVA produces 15% of the state’s total wine grape production and encompasses over 360 wineries.

The Central Coast Wine Competition is proud to feature the outstanding wines of Hearst Ranch Winery. A display of Hearst Ranch Winery’s award winning vintages can be seen at the 2011 California Mid-State Fair “Mountains of Fun” which runs July 20-31, 2011.

Listen to Live Interviews with CCWC Judges and KRUSH Radio

Robin Nagele — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 16:11:35 +0000

KRUSH Radio Interview with Traci Dutton Part #2

KRUSH Radio Interview with Traci Dutton Part #1

KRUSH Radio Interview with Daryl Groom

KRUSH Radio Interview with Doug Frost

KRUSH Radio Interview with Michael Cervin

KRUSH Radio Interview with Valery Uhl

KRUSH Radio Interview with Mike Stepanovich

The KRUSH is radio for the Central Coast’s wine country and can be found at FM 92.5.

More Press in Dan Berger’s Publication Vintage Wine Experiences

Robin Nagele — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 15:41:59 +0000

Vintage Wine Experiences by Dan Berger

For more information regarding Vintage Wine Experiences, please see www.vintageexperiences.com.

Wine writer Dan Berger comments on Central Coast wines

Robin Nagele — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 20:17:30 +0000

CCWC judge and wine writer Dan Berger writes about Central Coast wines and the Central Coast Wine Competition in his publication Vintage Wine Experiences. For more information about Dan’s commentary, please visit his website at www.vintageexperiences.com.

June 16, 2011 Vintage Wine Experiences by Dan Berger

CENTRAL COAST WINE COMPETITION EXTENDS ENTRY DEADLINE TO JUNE 1, 2011

Robin Nagele — Tue, 31 May 2011 00:41:12 +0000

The Central Coast Wine Competition has extended the deadline for competition entries to June 1, 2011. There are currently over 220 wineries entered in the competition, which is nearly double the number of wineries entered in the 201o competition. The competition staff and judges are very excited for the 2011 competition, which will take place June 15-16, and all of the new wineries and vintages entered.

The complete panel of 2011 judges include: Doug Frost – Master Sommelier and Master of Wine, Dan Berger – writer for Gourmet and Decanter magazines, Robert Whitley – syndicated columnist and wine radio personality, William Bloxsom-Carter – Executive Chef and Director of Food and Beverage at the Playboy Mansion, Laurie Daniel – journalist, Mike Dunne – food and wine columnist for The Sacramento Bee, Traci Dutton – Sommelier for Wine Spectator Greystone Restaurant, Daryl Groom – Professional Winemaker, Joe Hart- winemaker, Hart Winery, Chris Hoel – Sommelier, The French Laundry, Ellen Landis – Wine Director and Sommelier at Landis Shores Oceanfront Inn, Ann Littlefield – international wine industry consultant, Mike Stepanovich – writer, Bakersfield Magazine, Dr. Valery Uhl – Chief Judge and Director of the “North of the Gate” Wine Competition, David Stevens- international winemaking consultant, Deborah Parker Wong- journalist, and Michael Cervin- writer for Santa Barbara News-Press. See the Judges page for complete biographis for each judge.

The ninth annual competition will feature several enhancements to the competition, including division of the blended wines classes and the creation of two Chardonnay classes to separate traditional oak and non oak Chardonnays. The competition has also expanded to include a display of wines at San Benito County Fair, allowing an increased quantity of Central Coast wines to be viewed by the public.

Entries Available for 2011 Central Coast Wine and Olive Oil Competitions

Robin Nagele — Tue, 10 May 2011 19:41:13 +0000

The 2011 entry book can be downloaded here. The entry book includes rules and guidelines as well as the official entry forms. Entries will be accepted online and by mail for both competitions through May 27, 2011.

Ten Reasons to Enter the 2011 Central Coast Wine Competition

Robin Nagele — Tue, 03 May 2011 21:41:36 +0000

The Central Coast Wine Competition staff is fun and provides excellent customer service.
The 2011 competition features a prestigious panel of internationally renowned judges, including Doug Frost, Dan Berger, and Robert Whitley.
Gold medal winners are showcased at not just one venue but five- the California Mid-State Fair, Monterey County Fair, San Benito County Fair, Santa Barbara County Fair, and the Ventura County Fair.
Medal winning wines are featured in promotions at participating Albertson’s stores, offering valued publicity and exposure.
Innovative changes, such as the division of the blended varietal and Chardonnay categories, create opportunities for more wines to receive acknowledgment.
Competition publicity, including results, are released to print and news publications throughout California and the United States.
Entries are accepted online and by mail for winery convenience.
The California Mid-State Fair hosts a tasting following the competition for industry professionals to sample all entries, including medal winners and best of class wines.
The Central Coast Wine Competition is the largest evaluation event for Central Coast wines, featuring over 600 wines.
Blind tasting allows for unknown or unrecognized wineries to receive recognition and publicity.

CENTRAL COAST WINE COMPETITION 2011 ENTRY BOOK

Robin Nagele — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 20:19:27 +0000

The 2011 Entry Book can be downloaded here. Hard copies will be mailed to wineries that have entered in 2010.

The CCWC has grown into a major competition for Central Coast wines. The different divisions and classes range from sparkling wine categories to a blended red wine category. All official rules and guidelines will be explained thoroughly in the entries booklet.

The Entry Book also has all the information for entering the Central Coast Olive Oil Competition.