RAMONA–San Diego winemakers were honored for Outstanding Wines at the Ramona Valley Vineyard Association Awards Dinner at the San Vicente Resort.
There were 33 bronze, 16 silver, 6 gold medal, and 2 Best-in-Show winners chosen from 70 entries of local red, white, and rosé wines at the event. The 2015 Ramona Valley Vineyard Association /Lum Eisenman Wine Competition was held July 15 at the resort.
The awards event, chaired by former Ramona Valley Vineyard Association president, Bill Schweitzer, were created to give individual winemakers constructive feedback on their techniques and results and to improve winemaking throughout the Ramona Valley.
Double-blind tasting by eight judges included a sommelier; owners and winemakers from Temecula, Escondido, Julian, and Ramona; and a wine buyer for a major retail purchaser. Ron Nowak, founder of the New York Society of Wine Educators and What’s in Your Glass, served as wine judge coordinator.
Gold medal winners:
* Castelli Family Vineyards, Ramona for 2013 Tempranillo
* Espinosa Vineyards, Escondido for 2013 Grenache
* The Julian Winery, Julian, CA 2013 Zinfandel (37%) blend (amateur)
* The Julian Winery, Julian for 2013 Syrah (amateur)
* Old Coach Vineyards, Poway for 2011 Estate Aglianico
* Risotti Vineyard, Ramona for 2013 Estate Petite Sirah (amateur)
Best of Show Amateur: the Julian Winery for their Syrah
Best of Show Commercial: Espinosa Vineyards, Escondido for their Estate Grenache
Ramona AVA wineries won 20 awards at the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition with more than 3,000 entries from all 50 US states; 14 other countries; and one of only 17 double gold medals won in the entire world.
Ramona wines also won awards at the San Diego County Fair; Riverside County Fair; and Orange County Fair.
