Theodora Lee of Theopolis Vineyards

It’s that time of the year again, when the largest and most influential wine competition in the US, the San Francisco International Wine Competition (SFIWC) is gearing up for their annual wine event.  Entering into its 38th year of blind-tasting and judging wines from all over the world, the SFIWC has set the bar high, starting with a panel of experienced and internationally renowned wine experts; in 2017, 58 judges tasted over 4,300 wines from more than 30 countries.  To be fair, the judges don’t know where the wines are from or their price, but they are informed of the varietal and vintage, with the most important goal being that the wines are a good representation of what they are.  The wines receive Medals, from Bronze to Double Gold, with the Double Gold standard bestowed on wines that all judges agree deserve a Gold Medal, generally considered among the finest in the world.  On the final day of the competition, Best in Show, Best of Nation, and Premium Awards are given based on those results.  

Anthony Dias Blue exploring the Double Gold Winners of Gin

After all is said and done, the San Francisco Competitions, wine and spirits, takes to the road, bringing the Double Gold winners to six cities across the US.  Anthony Dias Blue, award-winning author and media personality, conducted a wine and gin tasting in Los Angeles at Republique that demonstrated what merits the SF Double Gold.  Afterwards, there was an opportunity to meet and taste many of these outstanding 2017 medalists.  So while all these wines are winners, everyone has their favorites.  I had a chance to taste just a fraction of them and these are my favorites from the 2017 competition:

Sparkling:
Paul Cheneau Reserva Cava, Spain
Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards Blanc de Noirs, Carneros, Best in Show Sparkling
​Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards Royal Cuvée 2008, Carneros, Best in Show Sparkling

Whites:
District 7 Chardonnay 2015, Monterey
​Cakebread Cellars Reserve Chardonnay, Carneros

Reds:
Foxtrot Pinot Noir 2014, Foxtrot Vineyard, Okanagan Valley, Canada
GoodMills Family Winery Teroldego 2013, Lodi
Enoteca Five Merlot 2015, Moon Vineyards, Los Carneros, Napa Valley, Best Merlot
1849 Wine Company Declaration Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, Napa Valley
DeLille Cellars Four Flags Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, Red Mountain, Washington
J. Lohr Vineyards Signature Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, Paso Robles
Cellardoor Winery Premium Bordeaux Blend, Iron Gate, Maine, Best Bordeaux Blend
J. Lohr Vineyards Premium Bordeaux Blend Cuvée, Paso Robles
Poplar Grove Winery Premium Bordeaux Blend, The Legacy, Okanagan Valley, Canada
Cameron Hughes Red Blend 2014, Lot 575, Red Mountain, Washington, Best Non-Bordeaux Blend
Bruno Andreu Red Blend 2015, Pézenas, Languedoc, France, Best Rhône Blend
Theopolis Vineyards Petite Sirah 2013, Yorkville Highlands, USA

Spirits:  (Couldn’t resist tasting a few gins, and a Dias Blue highly recommended Aquavit!)
Tattersall Distilling Aquavit, Minnesota
Frey Ranch Gin, Nevada
Belle of Dayton Gin, Dayton, Ohio
Conniption Navy Strength Gin, North Carolina
Tattersall Distilling Barreled Gin, Minnesota
​Springfield Manor Lavender Gin, Maryland

Anthony Dias Blue checking out the Aquavit.

Look for the medal stickers on these wines and spirits, it’s a visual thumbs up that they are among the very best you can buy.  The 2018 San Francisco International Wine Competition will begin accepting entries in mid April, with the final judging taking place at the Hotel Nikko June 29th through July 1st.