Judges name Honey Moon Viognier the best white wine
The Trader Moon Wine Company entered its 2018 Honey Moon Viognier in the 2020 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition along with 6,700 other wines from 1,000 wineries. Yea, it’s a biggie, one that requires 65 wine judges. The Chronicle Tasting is my favorite wine competition because wines are judged based on suggested retail prices. For example they would not judge a $15 Merlot in the same class as a $75 Merlot.
Honey Moon Viognier competed in the up to $26.99 price point and the other category was all those over $27. If all the judges agree that a wine is gold worthy, it is elevated to Double Gold status. The judges then have to decide which Double Gold is the best, to be given the Best of Class Award. Honey Moon won the Best of Class Viognier (up to $26.99) out of more than 80 entries. And then continued on to compete against all the other Best of Class Medal Winners, which includes all the white varieties and price classes.
Congratulations to Trader Moon Wine Company’s 2018 Honey Moon Viognier for being the White Wine Sweepstakes Winner of the 2020 Chronicle Wine Tasting. You can find it at Trader Joe’s and it is only $5.99.
Local Winners
Casto Oaks Winery of Mariposa won a Best of Class for its 2014 Gardner Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. Idle Hour Winery’s Sparkling Blanc de Blanc was a Best of Class Winner and a Double Gold went to its 2015 Tempranillo. A Best of Class went to Quady’s Port Starboard Batch 88 and a Gold for the Black Muscat “Elysium.” Papagni Winery picked up a Gold for its 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon. CRU Winery received a Double Gold for its Albarino and a Gold for the 2018 Arroyo Seco Chardonnay.
What’s on our Table
The steal: Even if you’re not a Viognier fan, lay out $5.99 and see if you agree with those Chronicle Wine Competition judges. While you’re in Trader Joe’s spend $6.99 for Moon X Cabernet Sauvignon (Gold) or $3.99 for a Purple Moon Merlot (Best of Class) or a Venetian Moon Pinot Grigio $5.99 (Gold).
The deal: SEAGLASS brand scored Golds for Paso Cabernet, Monterey Rose, Pinto Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc and Double Gold for Chardonnay. All are under $12.
The splurge: Jeff Runquist Winery won Best of Class for Charbono and Sangiovese. Double Golds went to Touriga, Barbera, Pinot Noir, Tannat and Zinfandel. Golds were awarded to Dolcetto, Petit Verdot, Tempranillo and Viognier. Definitely worth tracking down.
Cheers to the 2020 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Tasting Competition Winners.