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21st Annual Virginia Wine Competition Winners July 21, 2002 Leesburg, Virginia -- Surrounded by the elegance of Lansdowne Resort, host of this year's event, 17 distinguished wine judges gathered to conduct the Vinifera Wine Growers Association's 21st Annual Virginia Wine Competition. A rigorous and professionally managed competition, the oldest in the Commonwealth, the VWGA annual wine competition is one of the most prestigious and respected wine events on the east coast among non profit wine organizations. Thirty-six Virginia wineries participated in this year's competition, entering 243 wines in 30 different categories. This was the largest number of entries and varietals in the 21-year history of the competition and the number of high scores testified to the overall growth in quality and diversity of Virginia wine varietals available in the market. Examples of varietals and types of wines entered include the following: Sparkling Wine, Chardonnay, Riesling, White Blends, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Pinot Grigio, Seyval Blanc, Vidal Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Fruit wines, Blush wines, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Meritage, Red Blends, Portuguese, Chambourcin, Sangiovese, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Native American, Dessert Wines and Port. Awards include the Jefferson Loving Cup for the Best of Show, 21 gold, 43 silver and 59 bronze medals. Jefferson's dream, that wines of quality, comparable to those of Europe could be produced in Virginia, has come true. The VWGA competition employs an adaptation of the University of California Davis Campus 20-point scoring system, with 2 points for appearance, 5 points for aroma, 5 points for taste, 3 points for balance, 3 points for aftertaste and 2 points for overall impression. As judging is a skilled, but subjective experience, all judges are requested to be consistent in their assigning of numerical ratings to all wine categories in order to achieve overall fair and just scores. With the extensive use of filtering at bottling, excluding purposely-bottled unfiltered wines, most wines are rendered perfectly clear. Appearance can change, however, as a result of poor storage, bacterial infection, bad corks, refermentation in the bottle, or overheating. Color is affected the same For taste, there are two factors that need to be considered: tongue response (sweet, sour, bitter, and salt) and flavor (the aromatic sensors in the back of the mouth and the nasal cavity). For taste, there are two factors that need to be considered: tongue response (sweet, sour, bitter, and salt) and flavor (the aromatic sensors in the back of the mouth and the nasal cavity). Balance is also an important consideration in judging wine. If the aroma is outstanding and the taste is weak, not up to the promise of the nose, the wine is out of balance. Likewise, if there is little or no aroma but really good flavors, the wine is again out of balance. If the wine is too acidic or too sweet, or if the oaks and tannins overwhelm the fruits of a wine, it is out of balance. Aftertaste measures the length of time that the wine affects the mouth, good or bad, but it must be a balance of texture, flavor, sweetness, sour (acid), and tannin, and have a clean, pleasant finish. Overall impression gives the judges an opportunity to balance judgment of the total effect of the wine, particularly as it relates to the quality and marketability of the wine. By having a panel of judges that represents a cross section of the wine industry, including retailer, wholesaler, importer, restaurateur, food and beverage, chef and sommelier, trade association, wine regulator, wine society, wine writer and educator, and scientific researcher, it has been the objective of the VWGA to award recognition to quality wines that will sell well in the marketplace and encourage the growth of a consumer public. The VWGA competition places judges at four separate tables, each with a table monitor to ensure accuracy of wine pourings and scoring, a competition tabulator to register and certify score averages for all wine entries, an overall competition manager, a cellar master and other appropriate support staff. All award-winning wines from the 2002 VWGA wine competition will be available to taste at this year's 27th VWGA Annual Virginia Wine Festival scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, August 17th and 18th, at Great Meadow, The Plains, Virginia. The presentations of the Perpetual Monteith Trophy, the most prestigious sterling silver Tiffany wine trophy on the east coast, to be awarded Doniella Winchell, Executive Director of the Ohio Wine Producers Association. The Wine Grape Productivity Tray will be awarded to New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Geneva, New York, and the Jefferson Loving Cup will be awarded to Barboursville Vineyards for its Best of Show/Gold Medal 2001 Sauvignon Blanc. The medals for the top winning wines will be made at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 17th at the festival seminar tent. A drawing for selected award-winning wines will be held at the presentation and other seminars for the attending public. Festival hours are 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. both days. The cost of tickets is $16 (in advance including a service fee) for individuals 21 or over, or $20 at the gate; $5 for individuals under 21, and children aged 2 and under are free. Ample parking. For advance tickets and additional information on the festival, call (800) 520-9670, or www.showsinc.com. Come join us at the 27th
VWGA Annual Virginia Wine Festival! Best of Show Gold Medal Winners Silver Medal Winners Bronze Medal Winners |
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