Santa Rosa, Calif., (December 19, 2018) – The seventh annual North Coast Wine Challenge is officially open for entries and will now include the opportunity for wineries to enter barrel samples that will compete for a new “Wine of the Future” award.
These will be judged separately to the commercial bottled wines.
This competition is proud to be the springboard for many judging firsts. According to chief judge Daryl Groom, “It was the first to implement the strict protocol of balancing judging panels to always include a professional experienced judge from one of each facet of the wine industry; a winemaker, a buyer, a sommelier or a media person. It was the first and still only one we know of to start a mentoring ‘Associate Judge’ program for young industry professionals. And now we are excited to be the first to create a futures ‘barrel sampling’ judging. This will provide consumers and wine buyers an insight for the next up-and-coming great wines and a look into the quality of next to be released vintages.”
Only wines produced and bottled by wineries with North Coast AVAs are eligible to compete. The top wines receive prestigious rankings of Gold, Best of Class by Category, Best of County, and ultimately one “Best of the Best” award. The criteria to only announce gold medal winners and above keeps the prestige level high in this wine judging. Only wines rating 90+ points are awarded gold medals and become eligible to move on to the ‘Best Of’ Category.
Produced by Wine Competitions Management & Productions and The Press Democrat, this competition focuses exclusively on wines produced in California’s prestigious North Coast, arguably the finest winegrowing region in the world. Judging will take place in April 9-10, 2019 in Sonoma County, California.
“This judging continues to evolve as the “must enter” and most anticipated wine competition in the U.S. Now, with the addition of the Wine of the Future award, we expect to see even more North Coast wineries compete for top honors” adds Groom.
Here are the criteria for the futures barrel sampling judging:
- Futures judging is open to all varieties and blends of red wine in barrel
- Current vintages acceptable for entry are 2016, 2017 and 2018
- Three 750ml bottles are required or submission
- Samples are preferred in screw cap but can be corked
- Submissions need to reflect the final label the wine will be bottled under
- Futures will be judged the same as standard entries
- Points of 90+ will be given to Gold and above
- Best of Class will be given to best Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Red Blends, Zinfandel and red Bordeaux blends. Other varietals entered with be given a Best of Class in “other red category”
- Only Gold medal winning wines and above will be exclusively announced and published in The Press Democrat
- The lucky winner will be highlighted and promoted in all facets of traditional and social media and The Press Democrat and Spirited Magazine
- A trophy presentation will be made in front of peers and consumers at the annual North Coast Wine and Food Event on June 8th, 2019, hosted by The Press Democrat
To enter, visit NorthCoastWineChallenge.com.
About Wine Competitions Management & Productions
Based in Santa Rosa, Calif., Wine Competitions Management & Productions is an independently owned and operated adult beverage competition company. Its wine competitions include The Press Democrat North Coast Wine Challenge, Harvest Challenge, East Meets West (formerly International Eastern Wine Competition and West Coast Wine Competition), and the International Women’s Wine Competition. See winecompetitions.com for more information.
