2010 Central Coast Wine Competition Winners at the Mid-State Fair

Paso Robles, California-- The Central Coast Wine Competition was held from June 17-18, 2010 at the Paso Robles Event Center. A total of 527 wines from the Central Coast American Viticulture Area (AVA) as well as Ventura County were entered. The Central Coast AVA encompasses Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara counties.


Best of Show, Best of White Wine, Best of San Luis Obispo County, and Best of Other White Dry

Vina Robles, Paso Robles 2009 White4 Huerhuero

Best of Red Wine and Best of Italian Red Varieties

Alapay Cellars, Santa Maria 2008 Lagrein, Paso Robles

Best of Dessert Wine and Best Dessert White

Pear Valley, Paso Robles 2009 Orange Muscat

Best of Cabernet Sauvignon

Aron Hill Vineyard, Templeton 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles

Best of Chardonnay

Harmony Cellars, Harmony 2008 Chardonnay, Paso Robles

Best of Fortified Red, Port Style

Paso Port, Templeton 2007 Ruby

Best of Meritage Rhone Blend

Rideau Vineyard, Solvang 2007 Chateau Duplantier, Santa Ynez Valley

Best of Meritage Style Bordeaux

Justin, Paso Robles 2007 Isosceles

Best of Merlot

Rancho Sisquoc, Santa Maria 2007 Merlot, Flood Family Vineyards

Best of Other Red Varietal and Best of Santa Barbara County

William James Cellars, Santa Maria 2007 Grenache, Santa Maria Valley

Best of Petite Sirah

Leprino Vineyards, Paso RObles 2007 Petite Sirah

Best of Pink

San Marcos Creek, Paso Robles 2009 White Estate Merlot

Best of Pinot Grigio

Quail Crossing, Santa Ynez 2008 Pinot Grigio, Santa Ynez Valley

Best of Pinot Noir

Claiborne & Churchill, San Luis Obispo 2008 Pinot NoiR

Best of Rhone Style

Venteux Vineyards, Templeton 2007 PMS

Best of Sauvignon Blanc

Ancient Peaks, Santa Margarita 2009 Estate Sauvignon Blanc, Paso Robles

Best of Spanish Red

Alapay Cellars, Santa Maria 2008 Tempranillo, Paso Robles

Best of Super Tuscan Red

Rancho Sisquoc, Santa Maria 2007Tre-Vini, Flood Family Vineyards

Best of Syrah

Venteux Vineyards, Templeton 2007 Syrah

Best of Viognier

Eberle, Paso Robles 2009 Mill Road Vineyard Viognier

Best of White Rhone

Per Cazo Cellars, Paso Robles 2009 Tres Blanc

Best of Zinfandel and Best of Monterey County

Kenneth Volk, Santa Maria 2007 Zinfandel, Monterey

For the past eight years the Central Coast Wine Competition has continued to grow, showcasing some of the finest wines produced on California’s Central Coast.

This year, major changes occurred, including expansion of growing areas eligible to compete.

The geographical boundaries will be expanded to include all of the Central Coast AVA and Ventura County.

The Central Coast AVA is a large American Viticultural Area that spans from Santa Barbara County in the south to the San Francisco Bay Area in the north. The boundaries of the Central Coast include portions of six counties. With around 100,000 acres planted in wine grapes, the AVA is home to several smaller appellations that share the same cooling influence from the Pacific Ocean.

The other new key component is a ground-breaking, networking solution in the California fair industry that will showcase the winning wineries. The California Mid-State Fair will be partnering with the Santa Barbara County Fair, Monterey County Fair and Ventura County Fair to host the Central Coast Wine Competition.

The Central Coast Wine Competition is the largest wine organized evaluation that recognizes wines produced exclusively from vineyards grown on the Central Coast regions of California.

This event promotes the excellent quality and diversity of commercial wineries and grape growers while recognizing the fastest growing wine regions in California.

The Judging Panels for the 2010 Central Coast Wine Competition will be comprised of wine professionals representing a variety of fields within the wine industry. The selection committee will see that the makeup of the judging includes a distribution of wine industry professionals such as winemakers, winery principals, retail and restaurant wine buyers and sellers, wine journalists, educators, trade professionals, and serious wine collectors.

To qualify for entry in the 2010 Central Coast Wine Competition, 100% of the grapes used to produce the wines must have been harvested within the Central Coast AVA Wine Region or Ventura County.

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