HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. – February 5, 2014 – The Hilton Head Island Wine & Food Festival is proud to announce 189 wines received medals at this year’s International Wine Competition, which took place January 24-26 at The Hilton Head Island Beach and Tennis Resort. The competition, now in its 29th year, received a record number of entries.
Best of Show was awarded to the 2010 Alexander School Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from Alexander Valley Vineyards, which had three of the 17 entries in the final round of consideration. Bogle Vineyards’ 2012 Chardonnay received Best of Show White. The 2010 Trapiche Pinot Noir and 2011 Licia Albarino earned Best Value Wine honors.
In addition to the top four awards, judges awarded 140 Silver, 32 Gold, and 13 Double Gold medals. The full list of award winners is available at www.hiltonheadwineandfood.com.
“Since we are one of the few East Coast judging competitions and one of the oldest, our medals are very prestigious. It shows the general public that these are wines worth trying,” said Tami Bream, Chair and President of the Hilton Head Island Wine & Food Festival.
The high level of competition was evident in the average price per entry, which was $21.55 a bottle compared to $17.18 last year. The medal-winning wines averaged $24 a bottle, $4 more than last year.
“The quality of the wine entered this year was higher than ever. That speaks to the excellent qualifications of our judges,” said Bream.
The festival’s elite panel of 23 judges, including two master sommeliers and twenty sommeliers, hold certifications from the Court of Master Sommeliers, Society of Wine Educators, International Sommelier Guild, or Wine and Spirits Education Trust. Many of the judges choose to return year after year because of the incomparable experience, interaction with other industry professionals, and dedication of the festival’s staff and volunteers.
“There is nothing else quite like it,” said James Corbin, a certified sommelier and one of this year’s judges. “With everyday work and responsibilities, I sometimes lose focus of why I got into wine in the first place, but after this I feel inspired and motivated to learn more and continue to develop the same passion we all share.”
The award-winning wines will be featured at wine dinners, wine knowledge sessions and other events for the 29th Annual Hilton Head Island Wine & Food Festival, set to take place March 10-15.
For information about tickets and schedules, visit www.hiltonheadwineandfood.com.
See the full winners list (pdf).
