Los Gatos’ Pelio, San Jose’s J. Lohr among wine competition winners

The 30th annual Monterey Wine Competition, held March 11 in King City, saw a 2018 Pelio Vineyard Chardonnay, from a vineyard and brand owned by Los Gatos residents Les and Nini Pelio, crowned Best White of Show and Best Chardonnay. Garnering 95 points, it was a real head-turner.

The vineyard is in sandy and limestone studded soils off Highway 68, at the very western edge of Carmel Valley. Winemakers Greg and Chris Vita, who also make Caraccioli Cellars, Dawn’s Dream and Galante wines, are to be commended for the balance and nuance of this wine, which exhibits that perfect touch of French poise and elegance in a California chardonnay. Scoring a medal for every wine entered, including golds for the 2017 chardonnay and 2018 Lindsey Cuvee Pinot Noir, Pelio was also awarded Best Monterey County Winery for 2023.

Pelio wines can be found at Enoteca Direct in Los Gatos, Artisan Wine & Spirits in Mountain View and Robert’s Market in Woodside. Pelio will open its first tasting room in Carmel Valley in May.

San Jose favorite J. Lohr scored a Best of Class for their malbec and their merlot, and a platinum and Best Value for their juicy and compelling 2022 Wildflower Valdiguie, which should be on tables for Easter as it is not only a beautiful silkscreened bottle, but the wine is so vibrant and pretty.

Best Red, Best Pinot Noir and Best Wine of Show went to Furthermore Wines in Healdsburg for their elegant and sweepingly complex 2019 Rosella’s Vineyard Pinot Noir, farmed by the Franscioni family in the Santa Lucia Highlands. Scoring 97 points, it delivered something magical in each sip, and was also awarded Best of Monterey County and Wine of the Year. That’s equivalent to the Oscar for Best Picture at this competition.

Also to be commended are the winners, all from Livermore, of the 43rd Annual Alameda Wine Competition, held March 13. Both the 2022 Las Positas Verdelho, made by Brent Amos, and the 2022 Del Valle Grenache Rosé, made by Aaron Luna, were crowned “Best of Alameda,” besting 23 other gold medal winners. Best White went to the 2022 Las Positas Verdelho; Best Rosé went to the 2022 Del Valle Grenache Rosé; Best Red was the 2020 Las Positas Monastrell; and Best Dessert, was the Rodrigue Molyneaux “Envie” Malbec, made by winemaker Meredith Sarboraria.

Three winemakers dominated the competition: Brent Amos (Las Positas) scored seven golds, Meredith Sarboraria (Rodrigue Molyneaux), took home six golds, and Aaron Luna, (Fenestra, Garré and Del Valle) scored three golds.

All three winemakers once worked at Fenestra, a wine brand started by Lanny Repogle, who taught organic chemistry at San Jose State for 31 years. Saboraria and Amos worked at Fenestra for several years before moving on to other wineries. Luna took over winemaking at Fenestra upon their departure.