LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Saturday, dozens of amateur and professional wine and beer makers and vendors of many persuasions crowded Lakeport’s waterfront Library Park for the 13th annual Home Wine and Beer Makers Festival.
Attendees wandered from booth to booth, tasting beverages that had been judged earlier in the day by a panel of judges. In deference to its title, however, only the amateurs were eligible for awards.
Lakeport Mayor Martin Scheel loaned not only his considerable talent as master of ceremonies, but also his professional sound system which helped even those on the edge of the park keep up with the goings-on, including announcements of the judge’s awards.
Doug Moore, a resident of Kelseyville’s Riviera West district, won two gold ribbons for his Syrah and a dessert wine, while Jamie Celozzi also collected two for a Merlot and a Paradiso blend.
For the first time the association’s wine club entered several categories and won two golds, with Kelseyville’s Ed Bublitz picking up the prizes – for the dry white, a Sauvignon Blanc, and a Barbera.
Other first place awards went to David Pretari of Foster City for his Zinfandel, David Hicks for a Sangiovese, and Connel and Marcia Murray of Clear Lake Riviera for their Cabernet Sauvignon.
The Murrays also won two silver awards for their 2012 Zinfandel and 2013 Merlot, and Celozzi won silver for her Uraggle blend.
Other winners were Bruce Lightfoot for Syrah, Tom Harty of Kelseyville for a Petite Sirah and Scott Knickmeyer for a dry white. Michelle Shultz won for her port and took a bronze for her Vin de Noix dessert wine.
Other bronze winners were Celozzi for a Syrah, Hicks for a Petite Sirah and the LCSA Wine Club for Zinfandel. Knickmeyer, Celozzi and Shultz are all members of Finley’s Remembrance Group, which specializes in Syrah winegrape products.
The People's Choice Awards are voted on by the wine and beer tasting attendees and have become a popular aspect of the Winefest.
This year the best red wine award went to David Pretari for his Zinfandel, while the best white wine was awarded to Cornelia Sieber-Davis of Scotts Valley for her Sauvignon Blanc. Pretari also took the prize for best decorated booth.
The eight home brewers registered in the Winefest were largely represented by their club the Malt Konocti Mashers and as might be expected they swept the category with best ale or IPA, best light beer and best label and beer booth.
The event is the major fundraiser for the Lake County Symphony Association, the nonprofit group that sponsors both the Lake County Symphony and its junior component, the Lake County Youth Orchestra, along with other youth music activities.
John Parkinson, the symphony’s longtime music director and conductor, and his wife Diane manned the association booth, passing out brochures and selling memberships to the organization.
Music was provided by the popular David Neft Duo, consisting of keyboardist David Neft and drummer Steve Dubois, along with the soaring acoustic guitar solos of local artist Travis Rinker.
Symphony Concertmaster Andi Skelton also led her bluegrass-oriented Konocti Fiddle Club through a toe-tapping half hour set.