Record Number Wows Judges
By Wine Press Staff
A record 158 wines from 50 wineries were entered in the eighth annual World of Wine Festival (WOW) competition. Thirteen gold medals and 62 silver medals were awarded this year, both all-time highs. Best of Show honors for red wines went to Quady North’s 2008 Cabernet Franc, while Daisy Creek’s 2009 Triple Play — a blend of Roussanne, Marsanne and Viognier — topped the whites. For the first time, a Best of Show was also awarded to the top dessert wine, Cliff Creek’s 2008 Tribute.
Several wineries received multiple awards — with four medals each going to Crater Lake Cellars, Misty Oaks Vineyard, Plaisance Ranch, RoxyAnn Winery and Schmidt Family Vineyards. This year’s competition featured 12 new wineries, seven of which medaled.
“This is by far the largest field of wines ever entered in WOW and the most prestigious panel of judges,” said judging committee chair Les Martin of Red Lily Vineyards. “It’s particularly noteworthy that there are only 25 Masters of Wine in the United States, and three judged this competition. That’s a testament to Southern Oregon’s growing prominence as a wine region.”
Four nationally recognized wine professionals judged the WOW medal competition Aug. 12–13 in Jacksonville. They were Joel Butler, MW, president of the Institute of Masters of Wine, North America, Ltd.; Patrick Comiskey, senior editor for Wine & Spirits magazine; Patrick Farrell, MW, certified wine educator and vice president of the Institute of Masters of Wine North America, Ltd.; and Bob Paulinksi, MW, head wine buyer for the Winn-Dixie retail chain.
BEST OF SHOW:
Cliff Creek Cellars 2008 Tribute
Daisy Creek 2009 Triple Play
Quady North 2008 Cabernet Franc.
GOLD:
Abacela Winery 2008 Garnacha
Brandborg Vineyard 2007 Pinot Noir
Brandborg Vineyard 2008 Riesling
Cliff Creek Cellars 2008 Tribute
Crater Lake Cellars 2009 Viognier
Daisy Creek 2009 Triple Play
Del Rio Vineyards 2008 Reserve Petite Sirah
Misty Oaks Vineyard 2008 Viper Trail Malbec
Pebblestone Cellars 2009 Viognier
Quady North 2008 Cabernet Franc
RoxyAnn Winery 2007 Tempranillo
Troon Vineyard 2008 Zinfandel Reserve
Velocity Cellars 2006 Malbec.
For silver recipients, please go to www.worldofwinefestival.com.
