- Advertisement -

4th Annual Foothill Wine Festival Competition Crowns Findleton Estate and Vineyards 2023 Viognier Best White and Best of Show

2020 Gwinllan Estate Blanc de Blancs, Best Sparkling
Cooper Vineyards 2021 Sangiovese, Best Red
2023 Bella Grace, Best Rosé
2021 Windwalker Late Harvest Chardonnay, Best Dessert

Folsom, CA – September 26, 2024Findleton Estate and Vineyards, known for their eye-catching labels, took Best White and Best of Show at the 2024 Folsom Wine Competition for their 2023 El Dorado Sauber Vineyard Viognier, besting 383 entries. The peachy and persistent Viognier beat out four other whites in the sweepstakes round, including Casino Mine’s Flicka, the 2022 version of which was Best White in 2023.

Gwinllan Estate is on a roll. For the fourth straight year, they’ve captured Best Sparkling honors, this time for their 2020 Blanc de Blancs. Talk about a sparkling tradition!

Cooper Vineyards is also on a roll, winning Best Red for two major wine competitions this year. They took Best Red for their 2021 Barbera at the 2024 San Francisco Chronicle Competition earlier this year. This is the first time a Sangiovese has captured Best Red honors at the Foothill Wine Competition.

Out of 384 entries by 69 wineries, the judges, which included media, sommeliers and wine buyers, awarded 26 Double Golds, 156 Gold and 146 Silver medals. To win a Double Gold, all judges on a panel must concur that the wine is of superior quality. Scores of 95 points and higher are awarded to Double Gold wines, which go on to compete for Best of Show honors in the Sweepstakes round.

Competition Coordinator, Coleen Schwietert, noted, “We had a record number of wineries participate in the competition this year at 69, demonstrating once again that the Foothills are truly growing as a wine region.”

Best of Show, Foothill Wine Competition

Findleton Estate2023ViognierBest of Show- Overall Foothill Sweepstakes Winner
Gwinllan Estate2020Blanc de BlancBest of Show Sparkling
BellaGrace Vineyards2023Dry Rosé BlushBest of Show Rosé
Findleton Estate2023ViognierBest of Show – White
Cooper Vineyards2021SangioveseBest of Show – Red
Windwalker Vineyard2023Late Harvest ChardonnayBest of Show Dessert Wine

Best of Class Winners, Foothill Wine Competition

Ursa Vineyards2020BarberaBest Barbera
Docmanov Vineyards & Winery2022Red Blend: BordeauxBest Blended Red Bordeaux
Le Casque2022Cabernet FrancBest Cabernet Franc
PleinAir Vineyards2020Cabernet SauvignonBest Cabernet Sauvignon
Lava Cap2023ChardonnayBest Chardonnay
Starfield Vineyards2022GrenacheBest Grenache
Lava Cap2023Grenache BlancBest Grenache Blanc
Nello Olivo Wines2021MalbecBest Malbec
Secret Ravine2021MerlotBest Merlot
Crystal Basin Cellars2020MourvedreBest Mourvedre
Findleton Estate2022CharbonoBest of Other Red Varietals
Casino Mine Ranch2023FlickaBest of Other White Varietal
Holly’s Hill VineyardsNVRockboundBest of Red Blend Proprietary
Windwalker Vineyard2023Late Harvest ChardonnayBest of Show Dessert Wine
Bella Grace Vineyards2023Dry Rosé BlushBest of Show Rosé
Gwinllan Estate2020Estate Blanc de BlancBest of Show Sparkling
Findleton Estate2023ViognierBest of Show White
Helwig Winery2020PrimitivoBest Primitivo (TIE)
Trevor Grace2021PrimitivoBest Primitivo (TIE)
Avio Vineyards2022DolcettoBest Red Italian Varietals
Amador Cellars2019Cuvée des SierrasBest Red Rhone Blend
Casino Mine Ranch2019SimoneBest Red Rhone Blend
Myka Estates2023Estate RieslingBest Riesling
Bella Grace Vineyards2023Dry Rosé BlushBest Rosé
Cooper Vineyards2021SangioveseBest Sangiovese
Bella Grace Vineyards2023Sauvignon BlancBest Sauvignon Blanc
Crystal Basin Cellars2020SyrahBest Syrah
Amador Cellars2021TempranilloBest Tempranillo
Teneral Cellars2023VermentinoBest Vermentino
Findleton Estate2023ViognierBest Viognier
Le Casque2023Calotte BlancBest White Blend
Windwalker Vineyard2022ZinfandelBest Zinfandel

Judges this year were impressed with Syrahs, Rhones and Italian varietals, including Charbono, Dolcetto, Fiano, Falanghina, Montepulciano, Nebbiolo, Negroamaro, Sagrantino, Teroldego and Vermentino. Barberas are showing increased balance and Zinfandels continue to show more elegance and restraint.

The 2024 Foothill Wine Fest, a showcase of the award-winning wines from the competition, will be held on November 9 from 2 to 6pm, at the Palladio Shopping Mall. Tickets are available on the Festival Website: www.foothillwinefest.com.

A complete list of winners can be found at the same website.  Congratulations to all!

The Foothills Wine Competition is open to wines bearing labels from any District 10 county, including Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Mariposa, Nevada, Placer and Tuolumne. Held in Folsom at Folsom College on Saturday and Sunday, September 14 & 15, the competition was once again sponsored by Choose Folsom, which hosts the Foothill Wine Fest on November 9, 2024. Choose Folsom sponsors the event to help small winery businesses and to drive visitors to wineries in the Foothills. 

- Advertisement -

About Choose Folsom
Choose Folsom is a collaboration of the Folsom Chamber of Commerce, the Folsom Tourism Bureau and the Folsom Economic Development Corporation. Representing approximately 1,000 members, these organizations are the principal advocates for business and a vibrant economy to support the quality of life in Folsom. www.foothillwinefest.com.

Share:

- Advertisement -