SAN FRANCISCO – Forty-five wine industry professionals from throughout the United States worked together June 13, 14 and 15 to taste, score and rank over 4,240 wines from 1,205 wineries during the San Francisco International Wine Competition held at San Francisco's Hotel Nikko.

Many California wines earned top honors, including Shannon Ridge Winery of Clearlake Oaks.

In its 28th year, the San Francisco International Wine Competition examined wines from 23 states and 23 countries. The medal count included 125 Double Gold (a wine is elevated to Double Gold status when all judges on a particular panel agree that a wine deserves a Gold medal), 180 Gold, 941 Silver and 1,593 Bronze.

"Best of Show" awards went to: Epiphany Cellars 2007 Grenache Blanc, Camp Four Vineyard, Santa Ynez Valley, $23, for Best White Wine; York Mountain Winery 2005 Pinot Noir, Jack Ranch Vineyard, Edna Valley, $25, for Best Red Wine; Perrier-Jouet Champagne 2002 Fleur de Champagne Rose, Champagne, France, $300, importer Pernod Ricard USA, for Best Sparkling Wine; and Forrest Estate Winery 2006 Botrytised Riesling, Marlborough, New Zealand 21.5% r.s., $30, importer The Australian Wine Connection, for Best Dessert Wine.

Gallo Family Vineyards, Modesto, California, was recognized with the "Portfolio Award" for excellence across a wide spectrum of brands. Winemaker Blair Fox, Epiphany Cellars, Los Olivos, California, won the coveted Andre Tchelistcheff "Winemaker of the Year" award. The Tasting Panel Magazine Winery of the Year went to Kendall-Jackson Vineyards & Winery, Santa Rosa, California, for the second year in a row.

The competition, under the direction of prominent wine and food authority Anthony Dias Blue, is one of the most important and comprehensive wine competitions in the world, both for the number of wines entered from around the world and for the high level of expertise among its judges. Blue noted that "many new and exciting wines and wine types were tasted this year and once again the up-and-coming category of 'aromatic whites' snagged a Best of Show award. Pinot Noir submissions also continue to grow in numbers and in quality."

Reporting on the growing success of the competition, Blue commented that "2008 was a breakthrough year for the San Francisco International Wine Competition. While most other judgings lost entries this year, the SFIWC grew significantly. We can thank the growing prestige of the competition enhanced by our close relationship with The Tasting Panel Magazine."

"Best of Varietal" winners were awarded in 14 different categories in 2008 and include: Clautiere Vineyards & Winery 2005 Mourvedre, Estate, Paso Robles, $19; Epiphany Cellars 2005 Petite Sirah, Santa Barbara County, $30; Epiphany Cellars 2005 Revelation, Santa Barbara County, $35, for Best Rhone Blend; Flying Fish 2007 Riesling, Columbia Valley 2% r.s., $13; Lucas Vineyards 2007 Vignoles, Finger Lakes 3% r.s., $12; Masia de Bielsa 2007 Grenache, Campo de Borja, Spain, $12, importer: Vinos and Gourmet ; Milbrandt Vineyards 2005 Merlot, Legacy, Wahluke Slope, $25; Portalupi Wine Company 2006 Barbera, Nevada County, $30 ; Rancho Zabaco Winery 2005 Zinfandel, Monte Rosso - Toreador, Sonoma Valley, $60; Rocca Family Vineyards 2006 Bad Boy Red, Yountville, for Best Red Blend; Roche Carneros Estate Winery 2006 Chardonnay, Los Carneros, $22; Rutherford Grove Winery & Vineyards 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate Reserve, Howell Mountain, $65; V. Sattui Winery 2007 Gamay Rouge, California, $18, for Best Rose; Serego Alighieri 2001 Amarone Classico, DOC, Valpolicella, Italy, $83, for Best Italian Wine, importer Remy Cointreau USA; Shannon Ridge 2007 Roussanne, Lake County, $30; Starborough 2007 Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand, $13, importer Gallo Family Vineyards; Windsor Vineyards 2007 Pinot Grigio, Monterey County, $16, and Yangarra Estate Vineyard 2006 Shiraz, Single Vineyard McLaren Vale, Australia, $25, importer Acadia Imports.

Other Best Varietals went to: Abiqua Wind Vineyard 2007 Muller-Thurgau Chloes Breeze, Willamette Valley, $12; Aziendla Agricola Ferragu Ornello 2005 Valpolicella Superiore, Valpolicella, Italy, $49, importer Tesori Wines; Barone Ricasoli 2001 Castello di Brolio Chianti Classico DOCG, Chianti, Italy, $54, importer Remy Cointreau USA; Filus 2006 Malbec Reserve, Mendoza, Argentina, $15, importer Classic Wines of California; Mazuran's Vineyards 1949 Port, One Vineyard, New Zealand; Quady Winery, NV VYA Vermouth Sweet, California 16.1% r.s., $21; Rappahannock Cellars 2006 Cabernet Franc, Virginia, $22, and Kenneth Volk Vineyards 2005 Tempranillo, Starr Ranch, Paso Robles, $28.

Fourteen "Best of Nation" awards highlight the international scope of entries: Graffigna, Argentina, importer Pernod Ricard USA; Yangarra Estate Vineyard, Australia, importer Acadia Imports; Panizzon, Brazil; Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estates, Canada; Viu Manent, Chile, importer Grape Expectations; Petr Skoupil Winery, Czech Republic; Domaine Laroche, France, importer Remy Cointreau USA; Anselmann, Germany, importer Schwarz Quality Imports; Barone Ricasoli, Italy, importer Remy Cointreau USA; Casa Madero, Mexico, importer Glazers Wholesale Distributors; Brancott Vineyards, New Zealand, importer Pernod Ricard USA; Cortes de Cima, Portugal, importer Vinum Wine Import; Herding Cats, South Africa, importer The Wine Group and Gonzalez Byass, Spain, importer SF Wine Exchange. For Panizzon from Brazil, Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estates from Canada and Casa Madero from Mexico, this is the second year in a row these wineries have been honored with Best of Nation awards.

The 2007 San Francisco International Wine Competition sponsors were The Tasting Panel Magazine, Semifreddi's Breads, Pace Design and Elements Design Group. Blue also thanked Hotel Nikko in San Francisco for hosting the event.

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