The 4th Annual Lum Eisenman Ramona Valley Wine Competition awards banquet was held on Sunday, 11 July 2010, when 61 winemakers, judges, and guests learned how Ramona Valley vines were evaluated by a panel of nine area wine experts.
All wines entered in the competition must qualify for Ramona Valley AVA labeling, which means that at least 85% of the grapes used to produce the wine are sourced from identified vineyards located within the Ramona Valley AVA. The competition is open to home winemakers as well as commercially licensed producers. The event emphasizes the vineyards from which the wines were grown, and provides encouragement to RVVA members to work year-round to produce the highest quality harvest as possible.
Judges:
Lum Eisenman – Consultant; Winemaker, Belle Marie Winery; author: The Home Winemakers Manual
Jim Jenkins – J. Jenkins Winery, Julian, CA
Mike Menghini – Menghini Winery, Julian, CA
John Alonge’ – AKA 'The Wine Heretic'; Founder, San Diego Wine & Culinary Center
Pete Anderson - Winegrower and Assoc. Professor - Mira Costa College, Oceanside, CA
Gus Vizgirda - Winemaker, Maurice Car'rie Winery, Temecula, CA
Jim Swelgin - Assistant Winemaker, Maurice Car'rie Winery, Temecula, CA
Ron Nowak - Founder, Society of Wine Educators
Mark Stuart - Certified Wine Professional, speaker/educator
Entries:
23 winemakers (12 home winemakers and and 11 commercially licensed)
65 wines (46 reds, 12 whites, 7 desserts)
Awards:
2 gold medals to 2 wineries
Scaredy Cat Ranch; Joe Cullen, Winemaker - 2008 Aglianico grown at Paccielo Vineyard
Pyramid Vineyard; Don Kohorst, Winemaker - 2008 Syrah grown at Pyramid Vineyard
Silver Medals to 7 other wineries
Bronze Medals to 10 other wineries
Committee:
Don Kohorst - Director
Bob Weirich - Cellarmaster
Paul and Kris Griffin - Awards Managers
Bill Schweitzer - Judging Coordinator
Carolyn Harris - Business Manager
Joyce Kohorst - Judging and Awards Banquet Events Host
Micole Moore and Rich McClellan - Cellar Rats
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