LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On Saturday, wine enthusiasts, community members and fairgoers blind tasted Lake County's highly acclaimed wines and cast their ballot to determine the “People's Choice” at the event's new venue this year, the Lake County Fair.
Building on the competitive and prestigious Lake County Wine Awards event that took place in July, People’s Choice participants tasted the top medal winners in each category, as determined by an elite panel of professional wine judges, and selected the following wines to receive the coveted People’s Choice Award.
People's Choice overall winners were the 2012 Langtry Sauvignon Blanc, Lillie Vineyard, for the best white wine, with best red wine going to the 2012 Steele Shooting Star Barbera.
The list of category winners follows.
PEOPLE’S CHOICE BEST OF CATEGORY WINNERS:
BEST Sauvignon Blanc (<$17): 2012 Chacewater Organic Sauvignon Blanc;
BEST Sauvignon Blanc (>$17): 2012 Langtry Sauvignon Blanc, Lillie Vineyard;
BEST Chardonnay: 2011 Wildhurst Vineyards Chardonnay;
BEST Viognier: 2012 Steele Viognier;
BEST Riesling: 2009 Gregory Graham Riesling, Roumiguiere Vineyard;
BEST Dry White: 2012 Chacewater Orange Muscat;
BEST Rosé: 2012 Steele Cabernet Franc Rosé;
BEST Zinfandel: 2010 Wildhurst Vineyards Zinfandel;
BEST Italian Red: 2011 Rosa d'Oro Vineyards Aglianico;
BEST Syrah: 2008 Gregory Graham Syrah, Crimson Hill Vineyard;
BEST Pinot Noir: 2010 Steele Shooting Star Pinot Noir;
BEST Petite Sirah: 2010 Chacewater Petite Sirah;
BEST Merlot: 2010 Wildhurst Vineyards Merlot, Plunkett Creek Series;
BEST Rhône Red: 2009 Sol Rouge Gypsy Rouge;
BEST Cabernet Sauvignon: 2010 Langtry Cabernet Sauvignon, Tephra Ridge Vineyard;
BEST Cabernet Franc: 2009 Sol Rouge Cabernet Franc;
BEST Malbec: 2011 Steele Writer’s Block Malbec;
BEST Barbera: 2012 Steele Shooting Star Barbera;
BEST Bordeaux Blend: 2010 Gregory Graham Magma Red, Snows Lake Vineyard;
BEST Tempranillo: 2010 Robledo Family Winery Tempranillo, The Seven Brothers;
BEST Proprietary Red Blend: 2012 Dalliance Red Blend;
BEST Dessert: 2009 Robledo Family Winery White Riesling, Limited Edition.