March 22, 2017; Hosted by Wilson Artisan Wineries at Soda Rock Winery
San Francisco, CA – Monday, October 31, 2016 — Rosé Today Producer Craig Palmer and Wine Director Bob Ecker are calling Rosé producers domestically and internationally for entries in the fourth annual Competition, Rosé Today, The 2017 Competition to be held Wednesday, March 22, 2017 hosted by Wilson Artisan Wineries at the Soda Rock Winery, Healdsburg, CA. The competition results will be revealed at an invitation-only Trade/Media Event announcing all Medal Winners and showcasing Gold and Double Gold winners on Thursday, March 23, 6 pm to 7:30 pm at Soda Rock Winery.
Judges Named for Fourth Annual Competition
Judges, announced by Ecker, will include
- Sean Brosnihan, with Jordan Winery in the Alexander Valley for the last eight years operating the Guest Services Department
- Francoise Cordese, now Associate Winemaker at Coppola Winery, a graduate of University of Montpellier, France.
- Debra Del Fiorentino:International Wine Judge, Sommelier, Certified Wine Professional and Certified Specialist of Wine
- Rick Fraga:Wine Educator for Wilson Winery in Healdsburg; Wine Judge most recently judging the San Francisco Chronicle and Lake County Wine Competitions
- Denise Gill: Denise Gill has a broad wine industry background spanning over 22 years and currently at Alexander Valley Vineyards
- Teejay Lowe: A Russian River Winegrowers Association member and grower of premium Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Petite Sirah and Zinfandel
- Sara Preiser:The Preisers publish the world’s most comprehensive guide to Napa and southeast Sonoma County wineries and restaurants: The Preiser Key
- Christopher Sawyer:Internationally-renowned sommelier, wine journalist, wine judge, consultant, and public speaker
- Leslie Sbrocco: An award-winning author, speaker, consultant, and television host of the PBS restaurant review series Check Please! Bay Area
- Debra Parker Wong:Educator, journalist, author and consultant, Northern California editor for The Tasting Panel magazine and Senior Industry Editor for SOMM Journal.
“Rosé wines have been exploding in the collective wine zeitgeist,” said Ecker. “And Rosé sales are up an astounding 53.6% in the last year alone. Women and men from Beverly Hills to the Hamptons, Seattle to Palm Beach and points in between are excited about Rosés as never before. Consumers are discovering how tantalizingly supple, dry and satisfying Rosés can be, whether the wines were produced in the South of France, South America or Napa Valley. Rosé Today, The 2017 Competition, pits the very best against the very best.”
“Our concept, ‘Rosé Today,’ is what drives us,” says Producer Craig Palmer, “as Rosé becomes the preferred toast to the food, fashion and fun of a contemporary lifestyle every single day — not just in the Spring and Summer. We are as much in awe of this beautiful wine’s ability to excite the palates of the young to young-at-heart as its infinite capacity to bring alive cuisines from sweet to savory, sensual to spicy, all year long.”
Call for Entries
The scope of The 2017 Competition, Ecker explains, will welcome entries in three categories: Domestic, International and Sparkling wines. Each category will have a “Dry” or “Sweeter Side” component. “We anticipate receiving 200 plus wines from around the world.” To submit entries, producers must enter at: www.rosewinetoday.com. Entry fee for each submission is $65. All registration fees and forms must be complete online, and all entries received no later than March 10, 2017. No late drop-offs accepted. For information, call Colleen Ecker at (707) 771.0060, or email at colleen@rosewinetoday.com.
Invitational Media Event Announces Winners March 23 at a Trade/Media Event Showcasing Gold and Double Gold Winners
All winners in The 2017 Competition will be announced Thursday, March 23, at an invitational Media Event and Showcase for Trade, 6 pm to 7:30 pm. Trade and Media guests will be treated to a tasting of Gold and Double Gold winners; selected producers of these award-winning wines are invited to be on hand.
Judging in the blind competitions will be done by a select panel of judges, inspired by the example set by Bob Fraser for the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, for which Ecker is a judge. “This means that judges are encouraged to talk, cajole, argue, compare and discuss wines prior to voting,” Ecker smiles.
Bob Ecker, Wine Director: Based in Napa, California, Bob Ecker is a longtime wine writer and wine judge providing domestic as well as international magazines, newspapers and websites with compelling wine coverage, wine travel content, destination travel, culinary, and feature content. His work has been published in the San Francisco Chronicle, Chicago Tribune, South China Morning Post, Toronto Globe & Mail, Dallas Morning News, Decanter, Wine Business Monthly and Wine Enthusiast among other publications. Ecker has been judging wines for many years at The San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, Lake County Wine Competition and Amador County Wine Competition among others, and created the inaugural Rose Competition in 2013, the very first dedicated Rose Wine Competition in the United States.
The Competition: After judging in numerous wine competitions, in 2013 Bob Ecker created the very first ever Rosé Wine Competition in the United States. Held at Napa’s Meritage Resort & Spa, he invited rosé producers from California and received 89 entries. In 2015 he produced a larger Rosé Competition inviting rosé wine producers from across the United States. There were two categories, “Dry” and “A Little Sweet.” Although the majority of submitted wines were from California, entries came in from 20 different states. Besides California, rosé wines were sent from: Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. With the 2016 Competition, and its expansion to include international entries, wines came from France, Canada, and Chile.
Wilson Artisan Wineries:
Diane and Ken Wilson are devoted to the stewardship and sustainable farming of their 600 plus vineyard acres known as the Wilson Artisan Wineries, which consist of ten wine brands: Wilson Winery, Mazzocco Winery, deLorimier Winery, Soda Rock Winery, Matrix Winery, Jaxon Keys Winery & Distillery, Pezzi King Vineyards, Mosaic Winery, St. Anne’s Crossing Winery and Greenwood Ridge Vineyards. These vineyards provide premium quality fruit that has brought notable recognition to the brand.
Diane, a native Californian, cherishes her high-energy lifestyle including making wine at the Wilson Artisan Wineries, running marathons in her spare time, and taking an active role in the community. Born and raised in Ontario, Canada, Ken Wilson is a savvy business entrepreneur within the agricultural and hospitality industries. It was Ken’s wisdom and vision that created the diversity of vineyard sources over the years. Currently their three children have become integral to the family business with Sydney who is currently managing Healdsburg’s historic Grape Leaf Inn and Calderwood Inn, Victoria as Assistant Winemaker at Matrix Winery, and Sawyer successfully developing the VIP Tour program.
