Home Winemakers Festival celebrates ingenuity, love of wine Lake County News Reports Posted On Saturday, 26 June 2010 17:30 26 June 2010 Print Email Winemaker Scott Simkover, owner of Smiling Dog Ranch, took home gold/first place for his Backyard Zin and dry-farmed Merlot, as well as Best in Show for best red wine of the day. He credits vineyard manager Larry Rogers for growing good winegrapes. tweet Prev Next