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2011 Sunset Western Wine Awards Dinner and Gala
Join Sunset Wine Editor Sara Schneider and Sunset Editor-in-Chief Katie Tamony for one of the weekend’s most anticipated events. The Sunset Western Wine Awards are recognized as the highest honor for Western winemakers and focus solely on wines produced in the West. Sunset’s panel of professional judges includes Western wine writers, sommeliers, and winemakers. At this festive dinner and awards ceremony, you’ll get to sip the award-winning wines and meet their award-winning winemakers. Hosted by the City of Pismo Beach on the historic Pismo Beach Pier, the event features tantalizing, locally grown fare paired with wines that have been nominated for a Sunset Western Wine Award. Category winners will be announced throughout the evening.
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Panel of Judges for Final Tasting
Jason Alexander, General Manager, Meteor Vineyard
Gillian Ballance, Sommelier and Wine Educator
Bob Bath, MS, Owner, Robert Bath Imports, and Wine Instructor, CIA Greystone
Ali Carscaden, Owner, 15 Degrees C Wine Shop & Bar
Cole Danehower, Publisher and Editor, Oregon Wine Report
Laurie Daniel, Wine Writer, San Jose Mercury News and San Luis Obispo Tribune
Traci Dutton, Sommelier, Wine Spectator Greystone Restaurant, Culinary Institute of America, St. Helena
W. Blake Gray, Wine Writer and Blogger
Paul Gregutt, Wine Writer, Seattle Times, and Author, Washington Wines and Wineries: The Essential Guide
John Haeger, Author, North American Pinot Noir
Eugenio Jardim, Wine Director, Jardinìere
Shelley Lindgren, Wine Director, A16 and SPQR
Elaine Marshall, Certified Wine Professional; Wine Buyer, Sunset Wine Club
Linda Murphy, West Coast Correspondent, Decanter Magazine
Burke Owens, Director of Marketing and Communications, Continuum Estate
Christopher Sawyer, Sommelier and Wine Educator, Carneros Bistro & Wine Bar at The Lodge at Sonoma
Sara Schneider, Sunset Wine Editor
Ron Siragusa, Wine Director, Kuleto's and Bar Norcini
Timothy J. Teichgraeber, Attorney and Wine Writer
Terry Threlfall, Wine Director, Hawksworth Restaurant, Vancouver
Paul Wagner, Owner, Balzac Communications
Emily Wines, MS, Wine Director, Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants, including Fifth Floor Restaurant
Wilfred Wong, Cellar Master, Beverages & More!
Debbie Zachareas, Partner, Ferry Plaza and Oxbow Wine Merchant
$15 and under
WHITE
Clayhouse 2010 "Adobe Pink" (Central Coast)
Gruet Blanc de Noirs (New Mexico (Lower Rio Grande, New Mexico)
Liberty School 2009 Chardonnay (Central Coast)
RED
Hahn 2009 Syrah (Central Coast)
Project Paso 2009 Red Wine Blend (Paso Robles)
Waterbrook 2008 Merlot (Columbia Valley)
$16 to $25
WHITE
Chateau Ste. Michelle 2009 "Eroica" Riesling (Columbia Valley)
King Estate 2009 Domaine Pinot Gris (Oregon)
Navarro 2010 Estate Dry Gewürztraminer (Anderson Valley)
RED
Beckmen 2009 "Cuvée le Bec" (Santa Ynez Valley)
Porter Creek 2009 Old Vine Carignane (Mendocino County)
Qupé 2009 Syrah (Central Coast)
$26 to $40
WHITE
Ponzi 2008 Reserve Chardonnay (Willamette Valley)
Robert Sinskey 2010 Scintilla Sonoma Vineyard "Abraxas" Vin de Terroir (Los Carneros)
Tablas Creek 2009 "Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc" (Paso Robles)
RED
Andrew Murray Vineyards 2008 "Espérance" (Central Coast)
Saddleback Cellars 2007 Old Vine Zinfandel (Napa Valley)
St. Innocent 2009 Zenith Vineyard Pinot Noir (Eola-Amity Hills, Willamette Valley)
Stone Edge Farm 2007 "Surround" Cabernet Sauvignon (Sonoma Valley)
$41 to $60
WHITE
Shafer 2009 Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay (Carneros, Napa Valley)
Suacci Carciere 2008 Heintz Vineyard Chardonnay (Russian River Valley)
Woodward Canyon 2010 Chardonnay (Washington State)
RED
Chehalem 2008 Reserve Pinot Noir (Ribbon Ridge)
Peay 2008 "Les Titans" Syrah (Sonoma Coast)
Villa Creek 2009 "Willow Creek Cuvée" Grenache Blend (Paso Robles)
$61 and over
WHITES
Bergström 2009 "Sigrid" Chardonnay (Willamette Valley)
Robert Mondavi Winery 2009 To Kalon Vineyard "I Block" Fumé Blanc (Oakville)
Schramsberg 2004 "J. Schram" Brut (North Coast)
REDS
Anomaly 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon (St. Helena, Napa Valley)
Domaine Drouhin 2007 "Laurène" Pinot Noir (Dundee Hills)
Gramercy 2009 "John Lewis" Syrah (Walla Walla Valley)
Rubicon 2007 Cabernet Blend (Rutherford, Napa Valley)
Sommelier of the Year
Dawn Smith, Cafe Juanita, Seattle
Bobby Stuckey, Frasca Food and Wine, Boulder
Terry Threlfall, Hawksworth Restaurant, Vancouver, BC
Winery Tasting Room of the Year
Most Beautiful:
Colene Clemens, Willamette Valley
Denner, Paso Robles
Copain, Sonoma County
Best for Spending a Whole Day:
Conn Creek, Napa Valley
Medlock Ames, Sonoma County
Raymond, Napa Valley
Most Entertaining:
Francis Ford Coppola Winery, Sonoma County
Kaz Vineyard & Winery, Sonoma County
Sarloos & Sons, Los Olivos
Winemaker of the Year
Caleb Foster, Buty, Walla Walla
Isabelle Meunier, Evening Land, Oregon
Vanessa Wong, Peay, Sonoma Coast
Lifetime Achievement Award
Allen Shoup, Long Shadows, Washington
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