Medals for the Mountains: Santa Cruz Mountains Strikes Gold at 2016 San Francisco Chronicle Competition

Longtime Santa Cruz Vintner, Tony Craig, wins Best Red of Show

January 21, 2016, Santa Cruz, CA — The entire Santa Cruz Mountains wine growing region is celebrating another great showing at the world’s largest wine competition. The San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, now in its 16^th year, amassed over 7k entries.

The Best Red of Show was jointly awarded to the 2013 Sonnet Cellars Tondre Grapefields Pinot Noir, made by longtime Santa Cruz Mountains winemaker, Tony Craig, and the 2013 Runquist “R” Zinfandel, made by Jeff Runquist of Amador. Craig, who made wine at David Bruce until the early 2000s, has been Savannah-Chanelle’s winemaker since, also crafting wines for Silver Mountain, Tondre, Muns Vineyard and his own brand, Sonnet.

Medals garnered by participating Santa Cruz Mountains wineries are listed here in ABC order. Congratulations to all the wineries who represented the region by submitting their wines to the Chronicle Competition!

• Armitage 2013 Santa Cruz Mountains Mt. Roberta Vineyard Pinot Noir $35.00, Silver
• Armitage 2013 Chalone Dry Hole Vineyard Pinot Noir $35.00, Silver
• Armitage 2013 Carmel Valley Albatross Ridge Vineyard             Pinot Noir $45.00, Silver
• Armitage 2013 Santa Cruz Mountains Mt. Roberta Vineyard Pinot Noir $55.00, Silver

• Bargetto 2013 Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir $60.00, Double Gold
• Bargetto 2013 Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay $24.00, Silver
• Bargetto 2013 Santa Cruz Mountains Regan Vineyards Merlot $40.00, Bronze
• Bargetto 2014 Monterey County Pinot Grigio $16.00, Silver
• Bargetto 2013 Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir $35.00, Silver
• Bargetto 2013 Santa Cruz Mountains Regan Estate Vineyards Pinot Noir $45.00, Silver
• Bargetto 2013 Santa Cruz Mountains Nelson Vineyards Syrah $25.00, Silver
• Bargetto Family Estate 2011Santa Cruz County Regan Estate Vineyards “LA VITA” $60.00, Bronze

• Beauregard 2014 Ben Lomond Mountain Bald Mountain Chardonnay $45.00, Double Gold
• Beauregard 2013 Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir $40.00, Silver
• Beauregard 2013 Ben Lomond Mountain Coast Grade Pinot Noir $50.00, Silver
• Beauregard 2012 Santa Cruz Mountains Zayante            Syrah $35.00, Silver
• Beauregard 2012 Ben Lomond Mountain Beauregard Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon $65.00, Bronze
• Beauregard 2012 Santa Cruz Mountains Zayante Merlot            $35.00, Bronze

• Bottle Jack Cellars 2013 Santa Cruz Mountains Zinfandel $28.00, Gold
• Bottle Jack Cellars 2012 Central Coast, Santa Clara Valley Firenze $26.00, Gold
• Bottle Jack Cellars 2013 Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet Sauvignon $35.00, Silver
• Bottle Jack Cellars 2013 Santa Cruz Mountains Syrah $30.00, Silver

• Byington 2013 Santa Cruz Mountains Estate Pinot Noir $45.00, Gold
• Byington 2013 Shenandoah Valley Barbera $39.00, Silver
• Byington 2014 Alexander Valley Blanc $16.00, Bronze

• Cinnabar 2014 Monterey County Chardonnay $20.00, Silver
• Cinnabar 2012 Lake County Amber Knolls Malbec $52.00, Silver
• Cinnabar 2013 Paso Robles Syrah $42.00, Silver

• Cooper-Garrod 2013 Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet Franc $45.00, Silver
• Cooper-Garrod 2010 Santa Cruz Mountains George’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon $41.00, Silver
• Cooper-Garrod 2012 Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay $29.00, Bronze
• Cooper-Garrod 2013 Santa Cruz Mountains Finley Vineyard Pinot Noir $33.00, Silver
• Cooper-Garrod 2012 Santa Cruz Mountains Syrah $33.00, Silver
• Cooper-Garrod 2014 Santa Cruz Mountains Viognier $33.00, Silver

• Cuvee Wine Cellars 2013 Sonoma Coast Flocchini Vyd Syrah $24.00, Silver
• Cuvee Wine Cellars 2011 Sonoma Carneros Merlot $26.00, Silver
• Cuvee Wine Cellars 2011 California Kristie’s Cuvee $36.00, Bronze
• Cuvee Wine Cellars 2012 Sonoma County Moon Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon $59.00, Bronze
• Cuvee Wine Cellars 2012 Russian River Valley Barrel Fermented Chardonnay $34.00, Bronze
• Cuvee Wine Cellars 2014 Napa Valley, Oak Knoll District Barrel Sauvignon Blanc, $18.00 Bronze

• Dancing Creek Winery 2013 Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay $27.00, Bronze
• Dancing Creek Winery 2013 Ventura County Syrah $28.00, Bronze

• Domenico Winery 2009 Russian River Valley K Sirah|Syrah $30.00, Gold
• Domenico Winery 2011 California “Mambo Italiano” $26.00, Silver
• Domenico Winery 2012 Amador County Aglianico $33.00, Silver
• Domenico Winery 2014 Amador County, Sierra Foothills Sauvignon Blanc $24.00, Bronze

• Fernwood Cellars 2013 Santa Clara County Rositano Vineyard Carignane $38.00, Gold
• Fernwood Cellars 2009 Santa Clara County Machado Creek Petite Sirah $30.00, Gold
• Fernwood Cellars 2012 Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet Sauvignon $46.00, Silver
• Fernwood Cellars 2012 Santa Cruz Mountains Bates Ranch Grenache $42.00, Silver
• Fernwood Cellars 2012 Santa Cruz Mountains “Mirepoix” $38.00, Bronze
• Fernwood Cellars 2011 Santa Cruz Mountains Syrah $38.00, Bronze

• Kings Mountain Vineyards 2012 California, Santa Cruz Kings Mountain Vineyard Pinot Noir $65.00, Gold
• Kings Mountain Vineyards 2011 California, Santa Cruz Kings Mountain Vineyard Pinot Noir $60.00, Silver

• La Honda Winery 2013 Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir $23.99, Silver
• La Honda Winery 2013 Central Coast  Zinfandel $23.99, Silver
• La Honda Winery 2013 Santa Cruz Mountains Red Blend $24.00, Bronze
• La Honda Winery 2013 Santa Cruz Mountains Salinian Block $25.99, Bronze

• La Rusticana d ‘Orsa 2013 Santa Cruz Mountains/Santa Clara Valley “Cinque” Bordeaux Blend $45.00, Silver

• Left Bend Santa Cruz Mountains “Mashup V1” (Red Blend) $55.00, Double Gold
• Left Bend 2013 Santa Cruz Mountains Muns Vineyard Pinot Noir $40.00, Silver
• Left Bend 2012 Santa Cruz Mountains Syrah $35.00, Silver
• Left Bend 2013 Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet Franc $38.00, Bronze

• Loma Prieta Winery 2013 Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir $50.00, Silver
• Loma Prieta Winery 2013 Lodi Pinotage Karma Vyd $45.00, Silver
• Loma Prieta Winery             2013 Lodi Petite Sirah $35.00, Silver
• Loma Prieta Winery             2013 Lodi Bodo’s Blend Pinotage $55.00, Bronze

• McHenry Vineyard 2013 Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir $34.00, Silver
• McHenry Vineyard 2013 Santa Cruz Mountains McHenry Swan            Pinot Noir $44.00, Bronze

• Muccigrosso 2009 Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir $34.99, Gold

• Nicholson Vineyards 2013 Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay $29.00, Silver
• Nicholson Vineyards 2012 Santa Cruz Mountains Brooks’ Block Pinot Noir $39.00, Gold
• Nicholson Vineyards 2011 Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir $49.00, Bronze

• Russian Ridge Winery 2013 Santa Cruz Mountains Concerto $28.00, Silver
• Russian Ridge Winery 2012 Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet Sauvignon $32.00, Silver
• Russian Ridge Winery 2013 Santa Clara Valley Merlot $25.00, Silver
• Russian Ridge Winery 2013 Paso Robles RoadRunner Farms Petite Sirah $32.00, Silver
• Russian Ridge Winery 2013 Santa Cruz Mountains K. Berry Pinot Noir $30.00, Silver

• Skyline 2014 California Chardonnay $12.00, Gold
• Skyline 2013 California Cabernet Sauvignon $12.00, Silver

• Sonnet Cellars 2013 Santa Lucia Highlands Tondre’s Grapefield Pinot Noir $40.00, Red Sweepstakes Winner and Best of Class
• Sonnet Cellars 2013 Santa Cruz Mountains Muns Vineyard Pinot Noir $40.00, Bronze

• Soquel Vineyards 2014 California, Santa Cruz Nelson Vineyard Chardonnay $28.00, Double Gold
• Soquel Vineyards 2013 California, Lodi Silvaspoon’s Vineyard Grenache $25.00, Best of Class
• Soquel Vineyards 2013 California, Santa Cruz Soquel Vineyards Pinot Noir $40.00, Gold
• Soquel Vineyards 2014 California, Santa Cruz Soquel Vineyards Pinot Noir $35.00, Gold
• Soquel Vineyards 2014 California, Santa Cruz Pinot Noir $75.00, Gold
• Soquel Vineyards 2014 California Trinity Rosso $16.00, Silver
• Soquel Vineyards 2014 California, Napa Valley Cabernet Franc $40.00, Silver
• Soquel Vineyards 2014 California, Santa Cruz Chardonnay $25.00, Silver
• Soquel Vineyards 2014 California, Santa Cruz La Vida Bella Vineyards Chardonnay $28.00, Silver
• Soquel Vineyards 2014 California, Santa Cruz Lester Family Vineyards Chardonnay, $30.00 Silver
• Soquel Vineyards 2013 California, Paso Robles Luna Matta Vineyards Nebbiolo $45.00, Silver
• Soquel Vineyards 2014 California, Santa Cruz Pinot Noir $30.00, Silver
• Soquel Vineyards 2014 California, Lodi Schmierer Vineyards Zinfandel $30.00, Silver
• Soquel Vineyards 2014 California, Santa Cruz Lester Family Vineyards Pinot Noir $39.00, Bronze
• Soquel Vineyards 2014 California, Napa Valley “Cepages Deux” (Bordeaux Blend) $45.00, Bronze
• Soquel Vineyards 2013 California, Napa Valley “Intreccio” (Bordeaux Blend) $75.00, Bronze

• Wargin Wines 2013 El Dorado Petite Sirah $34.00, Silver
• Wargin Wines 2012 California Big and Beautiful California Red $20.00, Bronze

• Wrights Station Vineyard & Winery 2012 Santa Cruz Mountains Wrights Station, #4 Chardonnay $35.00, Bronze
• Wrights Station Vineyard & Winery 2012             Santa Cruz Mountains Far Away Block, #2 Pinot Noir $44.00, Bronze

SF CHRONICLE PUBLIC TASTING, FEBRUARY 13

Many of the Santa Cruz Mountains wineries, including the Gold Medal winners, will be pouring their wines at the public tasting held by the SF Chronicle Competition organizers on February 13, 2016, at Fort Mason Center.

Full results of the 2016 SF Chronicle Competition can be found at winejudging.com.