State Fair Medal Winners
The California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition is the oldest and most prestigious wine competition in North America. Each year, thousands of California wines are entered into the competition for the chance to win one of many coveted awards from the State Fair’s panel of expert wine judges.
After the competition, you can go online and they will have posted all the gold, double gold, silver and bronze medal winners in each category. We like to check out the winners and try as many as possible. If you wait too long to try certain wines, you’ll find they are sold out. These awards are a big deal and are watched by wine lovers around the world – so you have to move quickly.
At the State Fair Wine Garden you have an opportunity to taste the award winning wines from the competition as well as the wine of the day. Cheeses, fruit and bread are available to complete your wine tasting.
Each year, in addition to the wine competition, the California State Fair Commercial Wine Program recognizes a California vineyard which has consistently – over several growing seasons – produced grapes that have contributed directly to wine of superior quality and marketability within commercial sales systems and among fine wine judging. This year’s “California Vineyard of the Year” award winner is Bien Nacido Vineyards® of Santa Maria. Bien Nacido grows some of the finest grapes in the state.
Although Bien Nacido doesn’t produce its own wine, it is the source of fruit for many top California wineries.
2008 Fess Parker Bien Nacido Chardonnay
Light straw color. Aromas of pear, baked pineapple, cinnamon and apple, with a touch of graham cracker and vanilla. Flavors are clean and bright with hints of citrus, lemon creme and apple combined with spice and subtle oak. Well balanced with good acidity and a nice creamy, mineral finish. Wine Enthusiast gave it 96 Points! $34
Tags: awards, California, chardonnay, fess parker, white
