Mike Dunne’s 2017 Sweepstake Tasting Notes
See Professional Wine Judge, Mike Dunne's insight on the 2017 SFCWC Sweepstake-Winning Wines.
San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
Welcome, wineries!
Over the past 18 years, the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition (SFCWC) has grown to become one of the world’s most respected and highly publicized wine competitions. The competition has established itself as a platform for large and boutique wineries alike to showcase their wines on a national scale and increase sales.
Last year, our incredible judging panel scrutinized over 7,000 entries from across America. Our judges, who hail from a variety of American Viticulture/ Regions, bring unique insight due to their variety of backgrounds in retail, trade, restaurant/hospitality, media, and education. Using a unique collaborative style of blind judging and their very educated palates, they are able to analyze and single out the very best wines in America.
Sonoma Discoveries Magazine Interviews Bob Fraser about the SFCWC
Sonoma Discoveries Magazine chats with Bob Fraser, director of the SFCWC, to find out more about his involvement in the wine industry and to determine what exactly makes this particular competition so special and successful.
The San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, the largest wine competition of American Wines in the world with over 7,100 entries in 2017, has traditionally been the first competition of the year. Judges are selected throughout the major American wine regions to offer diversity of backgrounds to each judging panel. There is a major outreach of award recognition throughout the 30 plus page award special section of the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper. This is one of the few competitions that offer plaque awards for silver, gold, and higher awards for tasting room and winery outreach purposes. The San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition Public Tasting at Fort Mason Center is February 17, 2018 is available for all wineries participating in the competition. It gives the wineries an opportunity to showcase their wines to over 5,000 consumers of the Bay Area. Any grape or fruit grown in the United States on a bonded premises is eligible for entry.
The 2017 Sweepstake Award Winners
Sparkling Sweepstake Winner
Korbel, 2013 Brut Natural’ Methode Champenoise, Russian River Valley, CA
White Sweepstake Winners
Hanna, 2016 Sauvignon Blanc, Russian River Valley, CA
Castello di Amorosa, 2015 Gewurztraminer, Anderson Valley, CA
Pink Sweepstake Winner
Trentadue, 2015 Rosato di Sangiovese Estate, Alexander Valley, CA
Red Sweepstake Winner
Tonti Family Wines, 2013 Old Vine Zinfandel Artisan Series, Russian River Valley, CA
Dessert/Specialty Sweepstake Winner
Coopers Hawk Winery & Restaurants, Icewine, Vidal Blanc, IL
Wine Label Sweepstake Winner
Tolosa, 2015 Primera, Edna Valley, CA