A few winners, but no surprises in California State Fair wine competition

By TOM BENDER

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A number of new names popped up as double gold medal winners at the recent California State Fair commercial wine judging.

Last year Two Buck Chuck bucked the wine industry as the top white wine of the competition. That wasn't the case with the $1.99 wine -- formally known as Charles Shaw and made by Bronco Wine Co. of Ceres -- although the low-cost wine picked up a silver medal.

While more than 2,900 wines were entered, and more than 1,700 received medals at last month's competition, the judges appeared to be happy with the wines but were a little tougher on awarding double gold and gold medals compared to last year, especially with the whites.

Latest entry in the $2 wine category is "Two Buck Chuck". Photographed Monday, April 7, 2003 for TASTE. Sacramento Bee / Owen Brewer

Tastings

Tastings are available at the following places:

Bacchus Food & Spirits

TODAY: Schug Carneros Estate
JULY 16: Sonoma AVA region
JULY 23: Provenance Vineyards
JULY 30: Neyers Vineyards

Flights are poured from 5 to 8 p.m., with a meet and greet with a winery representative from 6 to 7 p.m. Cheese and fruit are served during the meet and greet. Cost for each is $10.

Bacchus Food & Spirits is at 1200 I St., Suite 1, Modesto. For more information, call 576-8994 or visit www.bacchusmodesto.

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The Barnwood Restaurant & Catering

JULY 29, 30: Wines by Stevenot Winery of Calaveras County will be poured during a five-course dinner featuring chicken sausage, braised beef short ribs, figs and vanilla cake. Dinner begins at 7 p.m. on July 29 and 30. Cost is $60 per person.

For reservations, call 599-4324 or visit www.barnwoodrestaurant.com.

"Nothing really knocked our socks off," said one judge.

The two wineries that scored big in the bubbles department were Korbel and Mumms of Napa. Both won a number of gold medals, with each picking up double gold for non-vintage blanc noirs.

In chardonnays, Martin & Weyrich Winery of Paso Robles picked up a double gold and best of California for its 2005 vintage. Locally, McManis Winery of Ripon picked up a gold for its viognier while Ironstone Vineyard and Chatom Vineyards, both of Murphys, were awarded gold for their foothill 2006 chardonnays. McManis also won silver for its pinot grigio, syrah and merlot, while four of Ironstone's reds won silver and two of Chatom's reds won silver.

Markham Winery was the top Napa winner, getting gold for its 2006 chardonnay. Longtime producer Jekel Vineyards of Monterey County picked up a double gold for its 2007 riesling.

In the dessert department, Quady Winery near Madera scored a double gold for its 2007 black muscat.

The top wine for white, red, dessert and sparkling wines will be announced Thursday at the annual Grape and Gourmet Tasting, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Cal Expo Building A and B, Sacramento.

The event features more than 700 wines and 80 of greater Sacramento's finest restaurants.

Best of show winners also will be announced.

Tickets are $50 in advance and $70 at the door. For more information, www.bigfun.org or call 916-263-3049.

Bender is wine instructor at Columbia College and wine steward for O'Brien's Market, 4120 Dale Road, Modesto, 545-8100.