Trophies Trophy News

Experts from outside the region tasted 158 wines made from local grapes. Nearly half won medals — 10 gold and 62 silver — in addition to three “best-of-show” awards. That compares with just 31 medals last year.

Daisy Creek, Quady North and Cliff Creek took best-of-show honors. Brandborg was the only winery to win two gold medals. Five wineries earned four medals each: Crater Lake Cellars, Misty Oaks, Plaisance Ranch, RoxyAnn and Schmidt Family Vineyards. Winning three medals each were Abacela, Bridgeview, Carpenter Hill, Del Rio and Slagle Creek.

And something different this year was the participation of 12 new wineries, seven of which earned silver medals.

Judging, held in mid-August, was a prelude to the Aug. 28 main event at Del Rio Vineyards & Winery near Gold Hill. It was a festive evening of wine, food, silent auction and entertainment. With more than 50 wineries pouring multiple wines, one had to be selective. I focused on the top medalists.

* Daisy Creek 2009 Triple Play ($18), best-of-show white, is an elegant blend of roussanne, marsanne and viognier. I’d tasted it earlier in the summer and was not surprised that it won.
* Quady North 2008 Cabernet Franc ($35), best-of-show red, seemed distinctive, earthy and tangy.
* Cliff Creek 2008 Tribute ($34) earned best-of-show honors among dessert wines, a new category this year. It’s made of syrah plus a little brandy. I found it certainly different — not overpoweringly sweet.

Next were the other 10 gold medalists: Abacela 2008 Garnacha ($22), a delicious, different red; Brandborg 2008 Riesling ($16), pleasantly dry; Brandborg 2007 Pinot Noir ($30), another good one from the Elkton winery; Crater Lake 2009 Viognier ($15), fruity yet subtle; Del Rio 2008 Reserve Petite Sirah ($48), rich and delicious; Misty Oaks 2008 Viper Trail Malbec ($30), pleasingly lighter than many; Pebblestone 2009 Viognier ($19), full of flavor; RoxyAnn 2007 Tempranillo ($30), rich and flavorful; Troon 2008 Reserve Zinfandel ($60), expensive but special; and Velocity 2006 Malbec ($25), yet another notable red.

One of the newcomers was Hellgate Cellars of Grants Pass. Its 2008 Pinot Blanc ($15) and 2008 Gewurztraminer ($13) both won silver awards. These are two varietals not made by a lot of local wineries and both are of high quality. I preferred the gewurztraminer.

Another wine of interest was Vino Da Tavola (under $25), an earthy house red made by Rosella’s for Pomodori Ristorante of Medford. It blends cabernet sauvignon, merlot and malbec.