
JACKSONVILLE, Ore. — An Albariño by Umpqua Valley icon Abacela and a Malbec made by Agate Ridge Vineyard in Eagle Point were the clear winners at this year’s Southern Oregon World of Wine competition, a judging panel that featured two Masters of Wine.
The field of 207 wines from 49 wineries was evaluated be Dilek Caner, MW, founder of Tasting World in Dallas, Texas; Amy Christine, MW, of Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant and proprietor of Black Sheep Finds in Lompoc, Calif.; and Mike Dunne, Sacramento Bee wine columnist. The competition has recruited 12 Masters of Wine to serve on its single, three-person panel during the past five years.
Abacela, which set the benchmark in the Pacific Northwest for the Spanish red variety Tempranillo, continues to do the same for Albarino — an Iberian white grape championed by founding winemaker Earl Jones — and his 2013 vintage named best white wine of the competition and was awarded one of the two double gold medals in the judging. The Roseburg winery was named 2013 Oregon Winery of the Year by Wine Press Northwest in large part for its work with grapes from Spain and Portugal, and winemaker Andrew Wenzl also received best of show/other wine in Jacksonville for its 2013 Grenache Rosé.
Agate Ridge’s 2011 Malbec was the only other unanimous selection for gold in the competition, and winemaker Brian Danner’s bottling was awarded the best red wine of the judging.
Just 11 gold medals were awarded during the judging — a rate of 5 percent — and four of those were given to Bryan Wilson, who makes wine for Cuckoo’s Nest Cellars, Foris Vineyards and Pebblestone Cellars.
Terry Brandborg of Brandborg Vineyard and Winery in Elkton showed his skill with two cool-climate grapes, grabbing gold medals for his 2012 Ferris Wheel Estate Pinot Noir and 2013 Gewürztraminer.
The awards and top wines were featured at dinner held at Bigham Knoll in Jacksonville. The multi-day World of Wines festival included sensory classes and was capped by a public tasting on Saturday, Aug. 23. Proceeds of the World of Wine are earmarked for Asante Foundation, which supports health care initiatives in Southern Oregon, including the Children’s Miracle Network.
Best red
Agate Ridge Vineyard 2011 Malbec
Best white
Abacela 2013 Albariño
Double gold
Abacela 2013 Albariño
Agate Ridge Vineyard 2011 Malbec
Gold medal
Brandborg Vineyard & Winery 2012 Ferris Wheel Estate Pinot Noir
Brandborg Vineyard & Winery 2013 Gewürztraminer
Cliff Creek Cellars 2008 Claret
Foris 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon
Foris 2012 Maple Ranch Pinot Noir
Pebblestone Cellars 2013 Pinot Gris
Pebblestone Cellars 2010 Cabernet Franc
Season Cellars 2013 Viognier
Weisinger Family Winery 2011 Tempranillo
Silver medal
Abacela 2013 Grenache Rosé
Black Beauty 2011 Syrah
Brandborg Vineyard & Winery 2012 Riesling
Cuckoo’s Nest Cellars 2013 Pinot Gris
DANCIN Vineyards 2013 Chaine Chardonnay
DANCIN Vineyards 2013 Chaustinelle Reserve Chardonnay
DANCIN Vineyards 2012 Danseur Syrah
Del Rio Vineyards 2013 Pinot Gris
EdenVale Winery 2007 Pearhouse Reserve Collection Merlot
Foris 2013 Pinot Blanc
God King Slave Wines 2012 The Initiative
Grizzly Peak Winery 2011 Malbec
J. Scott Cellars 2012 Siren’s Song
Jaxon Vineyards 2011 Mistral
Kriselle Cellars 2013 Sauvignon Blanc
Kriselle Cellars 2011 Di’tani
Ledger David Cellars 2011 Malbec
Misty Oaks Vineyard 2012 BN1 Baco Noir
Paschal Winery & Vineyard 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon
Pebblestone Cellars 2010 Merlot
Pebblestone Cellars 2013 Viognier
Pebblestone Cellars 2009 Mélange
Plaisance Ranch 2011 Tempranillo
Plaisance Ranch 2011 Rouge Prestige
Quady North 2011 Cabernet Franc
Quady North 2013 Pistoleta
Red Lily Vineyards 2011 Red Lily Tempranillo
Rocky Knoll Vineyard 2007 Claret
RoxyAnn Winery 2013 Sauvignon Blanc
RoxyAnn Winery 2011 Merlot
Schmidt Family Vineyards 2013 Pinot Gris
Schmidt Family Vineyards 2013 Reserve Chardonnay
Serra Vineyards 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon
Serra Vineyards 2011 Cabernet Franc
Simple Machine 2011 Grenache
TeSoAria 2012 Pinot Noir
TeSoAria 2012 Primitivo
TeSoAria 2013 Bull’s Blood
TeSoAria 2010 Vindetta
Trium 2010 Grower’s Cuvee
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