SAN FRANCISCO – Lake County Winery Association (LCWA) members are celebrating victories garnered at this year’s San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, with several Lake County wines taking top medals at the prestigious event.

The annual San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition is touted as the “largest competition of American wines in the world.”

The 2011 results were announced earlier this month following five days of tasting and evaluating more than 5,000 entries, a world record number, according to the event’s Web site.

“It is ultra-cool that Lake County wines and wineries stood out among the 5,000 entries,” said Monica Rosenthal, executive director of the Lake County Winery Association. “Our members’ wines are helping to distinguish Lake County as a premier winegrape producing region. It is especially nice to be recognized by the San Francisco competition’s professional judges who acknowledged our region’s excellent grapes and wine by awarding several top honors.”

Heading the list, Shannon Ridge Vineyards & Winery received a Best of Class on its single vineyard 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon and double gold on its 2008 Ranch Collection Cabernet Sauvignon. Double gold indicated unanimous gold choice by the judges.

“As we go head-to-head with top producers from other well-known wine regions in competitions such as this, Shannon Ridge’s Lake County wines are taking awards in the same varietal categories. Everyone involved in Shannon Ridge’s wine production is thrilled to have captured one of the highest awards in the competition,” said the winery's sales manager, Joey Luiz.

The victories are also a credit to the farming style at Shannon Ridge. “Our earth friendly, all-sustainable practices are producing some amazing award-winning wines.”

Shannon Ridge was awarded silver medals for its 2009 Sauvignon Blanc and its 2009 Viognier and a bronze for its 2009 Roussane.

Also garnering high honors, Gregory Graham Wines earned a double gold medal for Graham’s Red Hills 2007 Syrah.

“People are paying attention to Lake County,” said winemaker Greg Graham, who added that he is pleased with the competition results.

“Prior to purchasing vineyards in Lake County, I made a lot of wine from Napa and Carneros fruit,” said Graham. “Since setting out to produce Lake County wines about nine years ago, I've been highly impressed with the quality of the fruit and not surprised with the award-winning results. If I can borrow a comment made by James Laube, the wines of Lake County ‘are damn good.'”

A gold medal was awarded for Graham’s Red Hills 2008 Cinder Cone Reserve, and his Red Hills 2009 Rose received a silver medal. The Gregory Graham Carneros Chardonnay was also awarded a gold medal.

Association wineries taking gold medals at the competition include Brassfield Estate (2009 Pinot Grigio), Ceago Vinegarden (2009 Clear Lake Muscat Canelli), Langtry Estate and Vineyards (2008 Petite Sirah), Shed Horn Cellars (2009 Sauvignon Blanc and 2009 Chardonnay), Six Sigma Ranch and Winery (2009 Sauvignon Blancs – one with a general Lake County designation and the other from Michael's Vineyard), and Tulip Hill Winery (2008 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon).

In addition the LCWA wineries winning golds also earned additional medals (silver and bronze) for wines in various categories.

Other Association wineries receiving medals at the competition included Bell Hill, Dusinberre Wines, Red Lava Vineyards, Rosa d’Oro Vineyards, Robledo Family Winery, and Wildhurst Vineyards.

For more information about the Lake County Winery Association, visit the association’s Web site, www.lakecountywineries.org or contact Monica Rosenthal at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Lake County's own wine competition, now in its third year, is in the planning stages, said Rosenthal.

“Watch for the 2011 springtime ‘call to action’ to enter wines in this competition located in California's high elevation wine region. This competition is open to all producers of wines made from Lake County fruit.”

For more information, call Rosenthal at 707-355-2762.

Winning entries in each category of the San Francisco Chronicle competition can be found on the Web site, www.winejudging.com. In addition, tickets for the public tasting portion of the event may be purchased online.

The public’s opportunity to taste entries from the competition is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 19, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Fort Mason Center in San Francisco.

Tickets are $65 per person in advance and $80 per person at the door.

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