Temecula Winery First to Win Statewide Award
TEMECULA,
Calif., July 16, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- For the first
time in more than 150 years, a Temecula winery was judged the
best in the state at the California State Fair.
South
Coast Winery, which opened its doors just five years ago, won
the fair's Golden Bear Winery trophy, which goes to the winery
that wins the most medals and awards at the prestigious wine
competition.
South
Coast beat out more than 640 other wineries to capture the trophy,
which in the past has gone to such well-known wineries as Kendall-Jackson
and Geyser Peak.
The
Temecula winery won seven gold medals, 13 silver medals, four
bronze medals, 12 Best of Class honors and one Best of Region
award. Twenty-three of the 36 wines South Coast entered won
a medal.
"We
have been working very hard to make the best wines we can make,"
said Jim Carter, South Coast owner. "This is probably the
greatest recognition that can come to growers and winemakers
in the Temecula Valley area and Riverside County."
Over
the past decade, Temecula wineries and growers have taken dramatic
steps to improve the quality of their grapes and wine.
"This
is not an isolated event," said Ray Falkner, president
of the Temecula Valley Winegrowers Associations, which represents
more than 65 growers and vintners. "This year Temecula
Valley wineries have won a disproportionate number of awards
and medals even though we are considered a small winemaking
region."
Wines
from Temecula so far this year received 35 Double Gold and Best
of Class awards in about 10 competitions. Double Gold requires
unanimous approval from a panel of four judges and Best of Class
reflects superiority, typically in a price category.
More
importantly, Temecula wines in 2008 are receiving recognition
in double-blind wine competitions with participants from all
over the United States and the world. Neither the judges nor
the presenters know the identity of the wine they taste.
Temecula's
medal count is even more impressive given the quality of the
wines entered and the caliber of judges, many who come from
all over the country.
The
Temecula Valley is the premiere winemaking region in Southern
California. Over the last decade, the number of wineries in
Temecula's Wine Country has doubled and more new wineries are
in the planning stages. More importantly, the area's reputation
for making fine wine is on the rise as local wines continue
to win major awards at wine competitions that include well-known
domestic and international brands.
For
more information, call the Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association
at 801-800-WINE or visit www.temeculawines.org.