LAKEPORT, Calif. – Amateur winemakers from near and far went home with a wide range of ribbons from the 10th annual Lake County Home Wine Makers Festival, which took place on Saturday, June 23, at Library Park in Lakeport.
An estimated 400 attendees strolled through the numerous vendor booths, sipping both amateur and professional wines along the way.
The event was sponsored by nonprofit Clear Lake Performing Arts (CLPA) with all proceeds going to support the group’s music activities, including the CLPA Youth Orchestra, scholarships and concerts, and the Lake County Symphony Orchestra.
Major sponsors were Cathy Fowler Chevrolet, WestAmerica Bank and Re-Coop Corp. of Ukiah, a company that restores used wine barrels.
Big winner for the day was Kelseyville’s Scott Simkover, whose “Smiling Dogs” ranch took three golds, a silver and a Best in Show.
The first-place winners were for a 2009 “Backyard Zin” Zinfandel, a 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon and a 2010 version of the same varietal
His silver award was for a dry-farmed Merlot, while the “Best in Show” was for the “Backyard Zin.”
Other multiple winners were David Pretari of Foster City who won gold with his 2010 Zinfandel and Silver, also for a Zinfandel, but this time a 2011, and Connel Murray, of Kelseyville, who was awarded two silvers for his Muritage labeled 2010 Italian Blend – a blend of three Italian varietals – and a 2009 Semillion white wine.
Jamie Celozzi, with a gold for his 2011 Zinfandel and a bronze for a 2011 Syrah.
Another gold award winner was Mike Howell, of Philo for his 2010 Harpe Trust Pinot Noir. John McKillip took home a silver for his 2005 Port.
Additional winners in the bronze category were Scott Knickmeyer for a 2007 Syrah and Michelle Shultz, for her Syrah-based 2010 Port. Both were members of the Remembrance Group of Finley Neil Peaty of Windsor, won for his “Whimsical Wines” CCG & Pomegranate Dry Red.
The always popular “Peoples Choice” ribbons – voted on by the visiting public – went to Murray for best white wine, David Pretari for best red wine, the Remembrance Vineyard Group of Finley for best wine label and Jamie Celozzi for best decorated booth.
Commercial wineries were able to introduce new products and services – along with tastes – but were ineligible for awards, because they were restricted to just the home winemakers, whose efforts were rated by a panel of professional judges made up of Stephen Dilley, Lavender Blue Wines; Pietro Buttitta, Rosa d’Oro; Stephanie Cruz-Green of Focused on Wine; Jack Vos, Thorn Hill Winery; Bonnie Sears, Snows Lake Winery and Vineyard; and Valerie Ramirez, representing Wildhurst Winery and Vineyard.
A major silent auction, featuring weeklong and weekend getaways in Hawaii, San Francisco and other destinations, was held by the CLPA Auxiliary, CLPA’s official fundraising arm. They also offered dozens of raffle prizes, including wine and gift baskets contributed by local businesses.
David Neft and Steve DuBois made up the “David Neft Duo” providing keyboard and percussion entertainment. They were joined by Lakeport guitarist Stephen Holland. Local classical guitarist Travis Rinker also took the stage, as well as the “Black Forest Trio” three Symphony musicians who presented a brief program of classical favorites. They were violinists Lynne Bruner and Marta Fuller, and cellist John Weeks.
Home brewers, who have played a major role in past winefests, were represented this year by only Bruce Lightfoot of Cobb, who poured tastes of both wine and beer. Other home brewers were reluctant to participate because of confusion over state laws covering such events.
The offices of state Sen. Noreen Evans and also the Senate Select Committee on California’s Wine Industry have both promised to seek clarification from the local office of the California ABC in order to permit future exhibitions, competitions and tastings of homemade beers and ales at county and state Fairs, as well as events like the Lake County Winefest.
Next year’s winefest is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, June 22, 2012, again at Library Park.