August 30, 2024 [HOPLAND, CA] – On Saturday, August 17, nearly 100 people gathered for the first-ever People’s Choice Mendocino County Wine Competition. The afternoon started with a welcome rain shower as members of the wine-loving public arrived to assume the role of wine judge.
In all, 31 wineries submitted 100 wines to the event, with 5 Best in Show winners, 11 Double Gold medals, 27 Gold medals, and 30 Silver medals awarded.
This year’s biggest winner was Husch Vineyards, which took home both Best in Show – White for their 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, and Best in Show – Dessert for their 2023 Late Harvest Gewurztraminer. Husch also took home three other Gold medals. “Husch has always believed in the quality of fruit from our county and it shows in the wines. We were excited to see both our Mendocino County and Anderson Valley wines taking top honors,” says Krista Robinson, family owner of Husch Vineyards, who was also in attendance at the event. “This event was a great showcase of Mendocino County wines and a modern take on wine judging. Blind tasting is educational and a fun challenge for anyone!”
Best in Show – Sparkling went to Anderson Valley mainstay Roederer Estate for their Brut Multi- Vintage. Pleiades held onto the title for Best of Show – Rose with their 2023 Rose of Sangiovese, made with Hopland grapes (their 2022 won the category last year). And Best in Show – Red went to Redwood Valley winery BARRA of Mendocino for their 2021 Reserve Petite Sirah.
Mendocino Winegrowers, Inc. (MWI) is responsible for the wine competition, now in its 45th year, and decided to evolve the event to a People’s Choice blind tasting this year to increase public interest in and awareness of Mendocino County wines. Participant feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and the event planners are already thinking about how to make it even better next year.
“It’s so interesting to see the results of this competition compared to past years,” says MWI Marketing Chair Elizabeth Archer. “A lot of the winners are longtime Mendocino favorites that everyone would agree are well-made, worthy wines. But wines that have never been entered before had a chance to shine in this format, and many of them took home medals.”
MWI Executive Director Bonnie Butcher emphasized that while not every wine received a medal, every single one earned gold votes, reflecting the diverse tastes of our audience. “This just proves that there’s a perfect wine for everyone and an appreciative audience for every wine.”
All Best in Show, Double Gold, and Gold medal wines are invited to be poured for fairgoers at the Mendocino County Apple Fair in Boonville from September 13-15.
