A handful of South Bay wineries took top honors at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, which wrapped up on Jan. 14.
Jerold O’Brien, winemaker for Silver Mountain Vineyards in Los Gatos, scored a Best of Class award for his 2014 Santa Cruz Mountains Syrah ($34), made by Tony Craig, who also pulled in medals for his Sonnet Cellars entries. J. Lohr also scored a Best of Class for its 2019 Arroyo Seco Arroyo Vista Chardonnay ($25).
Saratoga’s Cooper-Garrod Estate Vineyards got the gold for its 2015 George’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon and silver medals for its 2016 Santa Cruz Mountains Two Vineyards Cabernet and 2019 Estate Pinot Noir.
Gali Vineyards brought home gold for its the 2018 Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir. Gali has a new tasting room in downtown Los Gatos.
San Jose’s J. Lohr made an impressive showing. Under the J. Lohr Vineyard Series, the 2019 Arroyo Seco Arroyo Vista Chardonnay ($25) by winemaker Kristen Barnhisel scored Best of Class, a top honor in this very crowded price point.
In the same series, the 2018 Tower Road Petite Sirah from Paso Robles scored double gold, while the 2019 Hilltop Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles earned a gold medal. The 2020 October Nights Arroyo Seco Chardonnay and the 2019 Fog’s Reach Arroyo Seco Pinot Noir both took silver.
Under the J. Lohr Signature label, the 2018 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon ($100) hauled in a double gold.
Under the J. Lohr Cuvee Series, the merlot-dominant 2017 Cuvee POM once again brought in gold, while the cab sauv-forward Cuvee PAU and Cabernet Franc leading Cuvee ST.E, both brought in silver.
Under the J. Lohr Estates label, the 2019 Los Osos Merlot from Paso Robles scored a gold, as did the 2020 Falcon’s Perech Pinot Noir from Monterey County and the 2019 Paso Robles South Ridge Syrah. The 2020 Arroyo Seco Riverstone Chardonnay scored silver.
Perrucci Family Vineyard wowed the judges with its statuesque 2018 Santa Cruz Mountains Malbec, 2019 Santa Cruz Mountains Regan Vineyard Merlot and 2018 Santa Cruz Mountains Sangiovese, all three of which scored Double Gold. Perruci also received a gold medal for its 2017 Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet Sauvignon and silver for its 2020 Santa Cruz Mountains Rosato of Sangiovese.
Picchetti Winery in Cupertino scored double golds for its 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon from Red Tail Vineyard in Paso Robles, 2018 Malbec from Paso Robles Estrella District, and the 2018 “Brothers Blend” featuring tempranillo.
Picchetti also earned gold for its 2019 Leslie’s Estate Chardonnay, plus silvers for its 2017 Leslie’s Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, 2019 Carneros Pinot Noir, 2018 Vino di Vicino Cabernet blend, 2019 Clements Hills Graciano, 2019 Paso Robles Tempranillo and 2020 White Pavone blend.
Sandar & Hem Wines was gold all the way, receiving a Best of Class in Packaging: Modern Illustrations for the label of the 2019 Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay from Bald Mountain Vineyard. They also scored gold for that wine, and for the 2019 Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay from Frances J. Vineyard and the 2019 Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir from Mindego Ridge.
In addition to its Best of Class award, Silver Mountain Vineyards scored a double gold for its 2014 Pinot Noir from Tondre Grapefield (Santa Lucia Highlands), showing that older well-made wines can still wow a judging panel. The Silver Mountain 2018 Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay and the 2013 Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir scored silvers.
Sonnet Wine Cellars, helmed by winemaker Tony Craig, took gold for its 2017 Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir from Gali Vineyard, and silvers for its 2017 Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir from Black Ridge Vineyard, the 2017 pinot noir from Tondre Grapefield and the 2017 Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir from Muns Vineyard.
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