KELSEYVILLE – The 2005 Syrah Reserve from Wildhurst Vineyards has been named the Best of California, receiving a Double Gold medal in the 2007 California State Fair commercial wine competition.
Results of the annual competition were announced last week at the Grape & Gourmet charity benefit at Cal Expo in Sacramento.
The wine, made from grapes grown on eight acres of the Holdenried Ranch in Kelseyville, was crafted by Mark Burch, winemaker for Wildhurst.
Burch cites the typical Syrah characteristics of the grapes from this vineyard as “having exceptional flavors of wild berry and pepper. There is great fruit vibrancy and no over-extracted or heavy tannins. The wine balance is incredible and it finishes very elegantly.”
Burch said the vineyard producing this award-winning Syrah is 10 years old and benefits from great soil conditions, notably rich, well-drained and gravelly, showcasing a good marriage between site and varietal selections.
Myron Holdenried, wine grape grower and owner of Wildhurst Vineyards, expressed his pride in the winemaking skills of Burch, noting this was the first year a Syrah was entered into a wine competition.
Wildhurst Vineyards, celebrating its 15th year as a producing winery, specializes in Lake County wines and sources most of their grapes from the Holdenried Ranch, as well as from other Lake County growers.
Other significant awards received by Wildhurst Vineyards from this year’s California State Fair include a Gold medal for the 2006 Sauvignon Blanc Reserve, Silver medals for the 2005 Sauvignon Blanc and the 2004 Zinfandel Reserve and Best in the North Coast for the 2005 Merlot Reserve.
The 2005 Syrah will be released first to members of the Wildhurst Wine Club as part of the third quarter wine selection in September. Information is available from the Wildhurst Tasting Room on Main Street in Kelseyville.
Wildhurst wines also received prestigious awards at the Los Angeles International Wine and Spirits competition this summer, where the 2005 Sauvignon Blanc Reserve was honored with a Platinum, Best of Class and Best of Show. Other awards were a Gold and Best of Class for the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, and a Silver for the 2005 Chardonnay Reserve.
Other recent awards include three Gold medals from the Jerry D. Mead New World International Wine Competition. Receiving accolades from the professional wine judges were the 2005 Sauvignon Blanc Reserve, the 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, and the 2004 Merlot Reserve.
The 2006 Sauvignon Blanc was awarded a Gold at the Orange County Fair Wine Competition last month.
Burch describes the 2005 Sauvignon Blanc Reserve as “distinctive Wildhurst style, vibrant and crisp, with incredible balance.” He notes that he used grapes from 26 different blocks of grapes from throughout Lake County, exhibiting the depth and complexity that it is possible to obtain from this varietal.
Holdenried said, “2007 is the sixth year winning a major wine competition with our Sauvignon Blanc. We usually enter eight competitions annually and each year we’ve won at least one Best of Show.
“These awards demonstrate the ability of Mark Burch to craft excellent wines, and show that Lake County grows world class wine grapes,” he added.
More information about Wildhurst Vineyards and the Wine Club is available at (707) 279-4302.
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