Murphys, CA…15 Calaveras County Wineries entered the “40th Annual Sierra Foothills Wine Show” that took place on Friday, June 25th at the Calaveras County Fairgrounds. This year, 18 esteemed judges thoughtfully evaluated 211 wines in the day-long event. Many of our family-run wineries also participated in the Orange County Fair Competition earlier this month. See the complete list of winners HERE and enjoy these award-winning wines this summer!

Kirsten Locke, Director of Operations, Locke Vineyards, remarks, “Locke Rosé has become a popular wine in our line up at The Barn and we are thrilled to hear the results from the Sierra Foothills Wine Show. The 2020 release showcases a field blend of two different varietals from both of our Calaveras vineyards. Thank you for the recognition and loving Locke Rosé!”

Ron Pieretti, Founder and Managing Partner, Prospect 772 Wines shares, “Once again we are very fortunate to receive this recognition. As our vineyard matures, it is becoming more and more expressive and that expression is showing up in the wines. The Sierra Foothills AVA in my opinion is still underrated. There are many remarkable vineyard sites in our wine region and we are just some of the lucky ones who get to Live, Work and Play here.”

Winners have been announced for both the Sierra Foothills Wine Competition and the Orange County Fair Competition! 15 Calaveras County Wineries entered the “40th Annual Sierra Foothills Wine Show” that took place on Friday, June 25th at the Calaveras County Fairgrounds. This year, 18 esteemed judges thoughtfully evaluated 211 wines in the day-long event. Professional wine reviewers, judges, and writers from across California included: Tom Bender, Dan Berger, Mark Chandler, Tana Cole, Patrick Dodd, Mike Dunne, Jim Gordon, Michael Kelly, Mike Kerrigan, Ellen Landis, Curtis Mann, Martin Maxwell, Dale Pollard, Susan Reiner-Lyon, Jackson Starr, Jim Twiford, Paul Wagner, and Evan Williams.

Tom Bender, competition manager, oversaw the teams of judges and a group of esteemed volunteers as each wine was thoughtfully evaluated. The annual wine show is hosted by Laurie Giannini, CEO and Fair Manager at the 39th District Agricultural Association, Calaveras County Fair. Laurie and Gay Callan, Calaveras Winegrape Alliance Board Member, Calaveras County Fair Board Member, and Grower, worked together to provide keepsake wine glasses for this year’s show.

Of the 211 wines entered, 194 vintners took home medals. Find the complete list of 2021 Sierra Foothills Wine Show winners by wine type below. Enjoy these award-winning wines at tasting rooms throughout Calaveras Wine Country this summer and view our Winery Member Page HERE for visitor information.

Number of medals awarded by type:

Double Golds: 22

Golds: 28

Silver: 88

Bronze: 56

Some of our winery families and vintners shared their thoughts about the recognition received….

Kirsten Locke, Director of Operations, Locke Vineyards, remarks, “Locke Rosé has become a quick popular wine in our line up at The Barn and we are thrilled to hear the results from the Sierra Foothills Wine Show. The 2020 release showcases a field blend of two different varietals from both of our Calaveras vineyards. Thank you for the recognition and loving Locke Rosé!”

Ron Pieretti, Founder and Managing Partner, Prospect 772 Wines shares, “Once again we are very fortunate to receive this recognition. As our vineyard matures, it is becoming more and more expressive and that expression is showing up in the wines. The Sierra Foothills AVA in my opinion is still underrated. There are many remarkable vineyard sites in our wine region and we are just some of the lucky ones who get to Live, Work and Play here.”

Rob and Sheri Hendriks, Proprietors and Vineyard Owners, Aloria Vineyards are ecstatic. “Our family is honored to be recognized with seven medals for our Aloria Estate grown wines. Our vineyard, established in 1996, has given our life meaning and purpose since we began to take it into our hands and hearts. Our 2018 red wines entered this year, were the first harvested as Aloria Vineyards. We set out to express our unique high elevation viticulture and sustainable growing and winemaking practices in our wines. It’s our intention to establish harmony and excellence in our growing region and proudly display Calaveras County on our labels. We also feel especially honored to be awarded a Double Gold for our 2018 Syrah, produced with devotion to the exquisite French and Australian clones for ourselves and clients in the Sierra Foothills, Napa, and beyond. In addition, what we felt was always the star of the vineyard, our Malbec, also received a double gold for our 2018 vintage, and was a confirmation that we weren’t simply biased by loving this wine and sharing it with our guests. We want to especially thank our Calaveras Winegrape Alliance for supporting us over the years, especially through the past year, and we look forward to many more extraordinary vintages to come.”

Scott Klann, Newsome Harlow Winemaker, and Proprietor received several medals
and commented, “I am very pleased about this wine and the accolades it has garnered. This was a labor of love project between Steve Collum and myself. It was a goal to begin to bring Chenin Blanc back to Calaveras. It had been gone since the mid 80’s when the last block in the county was grafted over to Chardonnay. Steve and I discussed this for many years before deciding to plant this with Joe Grant and his family’s vineyard. Originally we were co-fermenting it with Viognier from the same vineyard but in 2018 we grafted the Vio over to Chenin as well. In 2019 we released it as 100% Chenin Blanc”.

In addition to the medals awarded at our regional wine show, many Calaveras Wineries also took home medals at the 48th Annual Orange County Fair Wine Competition that took place on June 5th-6th. Our local winners include Aloria Vineyards, Ironstone Vineyards, Jazz Cellars, Milliaire Winery, and Mineral Wines. Find the complete list of Orange County Fair Wine Competition winners and results HERE.

AND THE 2021 SIERRA FOOTHILLS WINE SHOW WINNERS ARE…

Wine Style/Winery Vintage Medal Wine Type Special Awards

>WHITE WINES

Chardonnay:

Inner Sanctum Cellars N/V Double Gold

Black Sheep Winery 2019 Gold

Ironstone Winery 2019 Silver Reserve

Stevenot Winery 2020 Silver

Milliaire Cellars 2019 Bronze

Inner Sanctum Cellars 2019 Bronze

Vermentino:

Tanner Vineyards 2020 Silver

Riesling:

Gossamer Cellars 2018 Silver

Drytown Cellars 2020 Silver

Viognier:

Hovey Winery 2019 Double Gold

Mineral Wines 2019 Double Gold

Jazz Cellars 2020 Double Gold “Best of Calaveras – White”

Sobon Estate 2020 Gold

Ironstone Vineyards 2019 Silver Reserve

Newsome Harlow Winery 2019 Bronze

Aloria Vineyards 2020 Bronze

Drytown Cellars 2020 Bronze

Roussannez:

Broll Mountain 2018 Double Gold

Sobon Estate 2020 Bronze

Semillon:

Andis Winery 2020 Bronze Reserve

Black Sheep Winery 2020 Bronze

Sauvignon Blanc:

Andis Winery 2020 Double Gold

Aloria Vineyards 2020 Silver

Le Mulet Rouge Winery 2018 Bronze

White Rhone Varietal:

Bella Grace Winery 2020 Double Gold Grenache Blanc “Best of Show – White”

Spanish White Varietals:

Inner Sanctum Cellars 2019 Silver Verdejo

Gossamer Cellars 2017 Bronze Torrontes

Rhone White Blend:

Mineral Wines N/V Silver

Other White Varietals:

Newsome Harlow Winery 2019 Gold Chenin Blanc

Stevenot Winery 2020 Silver Chenin Blanc

Stevenot Winery 2020 Silver Malvasia Bianca

Amador Cellars 2020 Silver Fiano

Other White Blend:

Black Sheep Winery N/V Gold Lily Pad White

Andis Winery 2020 Silver Cuvee Blanc

Locke Winery 2019 Silver Aspen

Drytown Cellars N/V Bronze

Aloria Vineyards 2020 Bronze Illumination

Inner Sanctum Cellars N/V Bronze Basecamp

Varietal Rose:

Inner Sanctum Cellars 2020 Gold Tempranillo

Vino Noceto Winery 2020 Silver Sangiovese

Aloria Vineyards 2020 Silver Barbera

Gossamer Cellars 2018 Bronze Tempranillo

Gossamer Cellars 2018 Bronze Tannat

Arthur Michael Vineyards 2020 Bronze Sangiovese

Rose Blend:

Bella Grace Winery 2020 Double Gold “Best of Show – Rose”

Locke Winery 2020 Gold “Best of Calaveras – Rose

Sobon Estate 2020 Silver

Other Blush:

Shenandoah Vineyards 2020 Gold Volo Dolce

Sparkling – Brut:

Inner Sanctum 2019 Gold Verdejo

Sparkling – Rose:

Aloria Vineyards 2019 Silver Syrah Rose

Gossamer Cellars 2019 Bronze Etoilee

>RED WINES:

Barbera:

Amador Cellars 2017 Double Gold

Bella Grace Winery 2018 Gold Amador

Sobon Estate 2019 Gold

Vino Noceto Winery 2017 Silver Linsteadt

Andis Winery 2018 Silver

Bella Grace Winery 2018 Silver Reserva

Convergence Vineyards 2018 Silver Estate

Villa Vallecito Vineyards 2017 Silver

Stevenot Winery 2018 Silver

Shenandoah Vineyards 2018 Silver

Milliaire Winery 2019 Silver

Drytown Cellars 2019 Silver

Bumgarner Wines 2017 Bronze

Convergence Vineyards 2018 Bronze Reserve

Inner Sanctum Cellars 2018 Bronze

Mineral Wines 2018 Bronze

Cabernet Sauvignon:

Convergence Vineyards 2018 Double Gold

Stevenot Winery 2018 Double Gold

Broll Mountain Vineyards 2017 Gold

Mineral Wines 2017 Gold

Black Sheep Winery 2018 Silver Calaveras County

Miliaire Winery 2018 Silver Triumph

Le Mulet Rouge Winery 2016 Silver

Inner Sanctum Cellars 2018 Silver Basecamp

Shenandoah Vineyards 2018 Silver

Miliaire Winery 2018 Silver Calaveras County

Drytown Cellars 2019 Silver

Inronstone Vineyards 2019 Silver Reserve

Sobon Estate 2018 Silver

Locke Winery 2017 Silver

Hovey Winery 2016 Bronze

Inner Sanctum Cellars 2018 Bronze Beginning

Villa Vallecito Vineyards 2017 Bronze

Cabernt Franc:

Shenandoah Vineyards 2019 Gold

Bumgarner Wines 2018 Silver

Ironstone Vineyards 2019 Silver

Black Sheep Winery 2018 Bronze

Mineral Wines 2018 Bronze

Grenache:

Bella Grace Winery 2017 Silver

Gossamer Cellars 2018 Silver

Villa Vallecito Vineyards 2017 Silver

Malbec:

Millairie Winery 2018 Double Gold

Aloria Vineyards 2018 Double Gold

Drytown Cellars 2019 Silver

Le Mulet Rouge Cellars 2017 Silver

Mineral Wines 2018 Bronze

Merlot:

Drytown Cellars 2018 Gold

Milliaire Winery 2018 Silver

Black Sheep Winery 2018 Bronze

Pinot Noir:

Bumgarner Wines 2018 Silver

Drytown Cellars 2019 Silver

Petite Sirah

Sobon Estate 2018 Double Gold “Best of Show – Red”

Broll Mountain Vineyards 2016 Double Gold

Stevenot Winery 2017 Gold

Milliaire Winery 2018 Silver

Convergence Vineyards 2018 Silver

Hovey Winery 2017 Bronze

Mineral Wines 2018 Bronze

Syrah

Aloria Vineyards 2018 Double Gold

Black Sheep Winery 2018 Gold

Tanner Vineyards 2018 Gold

Broll Mountain VineyardS 2016 Silver

Villa Vallecito Vineyards 2017 Silver

Stevenot Winery 2018 Silver

Inner Sanctum Cellars 2017 Silver

Convergence Vineyards 2018 Silver

Mineral Wines 2018 Silver

Le Mulet Rouge Winery 2016 Silver

Le Mulet Rouge Winery 2017 Silver Reserve

Meritage:

Mineral Wines 2016 Double Gold

Tanner Vineyards 2016 Silver

Le Mulet Rouge Winery 2016 Bronze

Sangiovese:

Vino Noceto Winery 2017 Gold Riserva

Gossamer Cellars 2018 Gold

Drytown Cellars 2019 Silver

Vino Noceto Winery 2018 Silver Original

Vino Noceto Winery 2018 Silver Dos Oakies

Alicante Bouschet:

Bumgarner Wines 2018 Double Gold

Tempranillo:

Inner Sanctum Cellars 2018 Gold

Stevenot Winery 2018 Gold

Bumgarner Wines 2017 Silver

Shenandoah Vineyards 2018 Silver

Converngence Vineyards 2017 Silver

Mineral Wines 2017 Silver

Le Mulet Rouge Winery 2017 Silver

Hovey Winery 2018 Bronze

Other Rhone Varietals:

Black Sheep Winery 2018 Double Gold Cinsault

Jazz Cellars 2019 Silver Mourvedre

Rhone Blends:

Prospect 772 Vineyards 2018 Double Gold Truant “Best of Calaveras Red”

Jazz Cellars 2019 Silver Backbeat

Bella Grace Winery 2017 Bronze Combination

Convergence Vineyards 2018 Bronze Ranger

Zinfandel:

Bella Grace Winery 2017 Double Gold Old Vine

Milliaire Winery 2018 Double Gold Ghiradelli Zin Challenge Winner

Black Sheep Winery 2018 Gold Amador

Locke Winery 2017 Gold

Black Sheep Winery 2018 Gold Calaveras

Sobon Estate 2019 Gold Rocky Top

Sobon Estate 2019 Silver Cougar Hill

Sobon Estate 2019 Silver Old Vine

Newsome Harlow Winery 2019 Silver Big John V.

Inner Sanctum Cellars 2018 Silver Skully

Bella Grace Winery 2018 Silver Amador

Milliaire Winery 2018 Silver Clockspring

Andis Winery 2018 Silver Painted Fields

Amador Cellars 2017 Silver Family Reserve

Bella Grace Winery 2017 Bronze Estate

Vino Noceto Winery 2016 Bronze OGP

Bumgarner Wines 2018 Bronze

Amador Cellars 2018 Bronze Estate

Convergence Vineyards 2018 Bronze

Shenandoah Vineyards 2019 Bronze Spec Reserve

Primitivo:

Convergence Vineyard 2018 Double Gold

Gossamer Cellars 2016 Silver

Other Italian Red Varietal:

Gossamer Cellars 2018 Silver Negromaro

Other Red Varietals:

Black Sheep Winery 2018 Gold Touriga

Shenandoah Vineyards 2018 Gold Carignane

Tanner Vineyards 2018 Bronze Carignane

Gossamer Cellars 2018 Bronze Trincadiera

Other Red Blends:

Andis Winery 2018 Gold Painted Fields

Black Sheep Winery N/V Silver Lily Pad Red

Drytown Cellars N/V Silver Red on Red

Amador Cellars 2017 Silver Miscela

Amador Cellars 2018 Silver Farm House

Le Mulet Rouge Winery 2016 Silver Liberte

Arthur Michael Vineyard 2018 Silver Primativo/Barbera

Convergence Vineyards 2018 Silver Italian Job

Convergence Vineyards 2018 Silver El Diablo

Inner Sanctum Cellars 2018 Silver Red Head Ninja

Stevenot Winery 2018 Silver Duetto

Le Mulet Rouge Winery 2017 Silver Tres Amigos

Arthur Michael Vineyard 2015 Bronze Zin/Petite

Bella Grace Winery 2017 Bronze 1646 Red

Stevenot Winery 2017 Bronze Danza Roja

Vino Noceto Winery 2018 Bronze Mistura

Gossamer Cellars 2018 Bronze Rascal

Convergence Vineyards 2018 Bronze Prospector

Shenandoah Vineyards 2019 Bronze Zingiovese

Bella Grace Winery 2017 Bronze Montanagro

Dessert Wines:

Shenandoah Vineyards 2018 Bronze Vintage Port

Bumgarner Wines N/V Bronze Non Vintage Port – Ruby

Other Dessert:

Black Sheep Winery 2016 Silver Fortissmo “Best of Show – Dessert”

Bumgarner Wines N/V Bronze