Judgment of Sonoma: What are YOU doing for Bastille day?

"Marcia.  Marcia.  Marcia." complained Jan Brady.

Napa. Napa Napa. May be a refrain your friends and neighbors similarly whine.  If you know the delights of Sonoma, Mendocino, etc, here is a way to schedule your own throwdown without lifting a finger to plan.  The Press Democrat has done all the work for you:

Click here to review a database of the winning wines or just scroll down ...

See? Of the nearly 1000 entries, a mere 13% earned the best of the best from the esteemed judging panel.  So you can see for yourself and bring along your skeptical posse to convince them or maybe be convinced in your turn.  Discovery is always fun!

And what better day than Bastille Day?  July 14th will be here sooner than you think, so set up a fun activity

now by getting your tickets here

And to determine the Designated Driver ('cause you'll need one and their tix are only $35!) Might I suggest "Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock"

Okay, you might have to be a Big Bang Theory style-genius to figure all that out, but celebrating Bastille Day at The North Coast Wine Challenge is a no brainer. 

All of these wines achieved both Gold Medal status, and 90 points or higher from a distinguished panel of judges led by eight-time Winemaker of the Year, Daryl Groom.

Your ticket to this first-ever event includes access to the 100+ winning wines and delicious bites from North Coast artisan food purveyors. Meet the winemakers and judges, taste The Best of The Best, all in a setting of bucolic splendor at Shone Farm in Forestville (the agricultural campus of Santa Rosa J.C., 20 minutes west of town).

BONUS: If you convince 9 of your friends to go (you know those slackers need your party planning expertise) you can all qualify for discount tix!


Forget Paris! We've got Sonoma!

Where: SRJC Shone Farm, 7450 Steve Olson Lane , Forestville, CA 95436

When: Sunday, July 14, 2013 from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM (PDT)

Many thanks to our friends at BevMo for presenting!

See you there


Here's your chance to taste these award-winning wines:
I have highlighted some of our favorites:


CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Archimedes, 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, 96 points
Midsummer Cellars, 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Cannon Creek Vineyard, 96 points
Sbragia Family Vineyards, 2009 Wall Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Single Vineyard, 96 points
J. Keverson, 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, 95 points
St. Anne's Crossing Winery, 2006 Schuhart Cabernet Sauvignon, 95 points
Silenus, 2010 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, 95 points
Beaulieu Vineyard, 2009 Georges de Latour, Private Reserve, 93 points
Cole Bailey Vineyards, 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, Cole Bailey Vineyards, Redwood Valley, 92 points
de Lorimier Winery, 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, Warm Springs, 91 points
Louis M. Martini, 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, 91 points
Shooting Star, 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon, 91 points
CHARDONNAY
Dutton-Goldfield, 2011 Chardonnay, Dutton Ranch-Rued Vineyard, Single Vineyard, 96 points
Krutz Family Cellars, 2011 Chardonnay, Martenelli Road, 96 points
Francis Ford Coppola Director's Cut, 2011 Chardonnay, 95 points
Roche, 2011 Chardonnay French Oak Reserve - Barrel Reserve, 94 points
Rodney Strong Vineyards, 2011 Sonoma County Chardonnay, 94 points
Roche, 2011 Chardonnay American Oak Reserve, Barrel Reserve, 93 points
Thirty-Seven, 2010 Chardonnay, 92 points
Wattle Creek, 2011 Chardonnay, 92 points
Balletto, 2012 Teresa's Chardonnay, Estate, 91 points
Cache Creek Vineyards, 2011 Reserve Chardonnay, Estate Grown, Family Owned, 90 points
Gallo Signature Series, 2011 Chardonnay, 90 points
Gary Farrell Vineyards & Winery, 2011 Chardonnay, Russian River Selection, 90 points

DESSERT WINES
Navarro Vineyards, 2012 Gewurztraminer, Late Harvest, 97 points
Stephen & Walker, 2012 Botrytis Chardonnay, 93 points
Ceja Vineyards, 2009 Dulce Beso, Late Harvest Dessert Wine, 92 points
Pedroncelli, 2008 Four Grapes Vintage Port, 90 points

PINOT NOIR
Mossback, 2011 Pinot Noir, 98 points
Trombetta Family Wines, 2011 Pinot Noir, Gap's Crown Vineyard, Vineyard Selection, 98 points
Davis Bynum Winery, 2011 Jane's Vineyard, Single Vineyard Pinot Noir, 97 points
Balletto, 2011 Pinot Noir, Estate Grown & Bottled, 95 points
Papapietro Perry, 2010 Pinot Noir, Nunes Vineyard, 95 points
Handley, 2010 Pinot Noir Mendocino, 95 points
James Family Cellars, 2011 Pinot Noir, Stony Point Vineyard, Estate Grown, 94 points
MacMurray Ranch, 2011 Pinot Noir, 94 points
Sivas-Sonoma, 2010 Pinot Noir, 94 points
Trecini, 2011 Pinot Noir, Vicini Vineyard, Estate Vineyard, 94 points
Davis Family Vineyards, 2011 Pinot Noir - Horseshoe Bend, 93 points
Sequana, 2010 Pinot Noir, Dutton Ranch, Single Vineyard, 93 points
Cult, 2009 Pinot noir, 92 points
Robin K, 2011 Pinot Noir, Barrel Aged, 92 points
Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards, 2010 Pinot Noir, Estate, 91 points
Ancient Oak Cellars, 2010 Pinot Noir, Siebert Ranch, Estate Bottled & Produced, 90 points
HKG Estates, 2011 Pinot Noir, Hop Kiln Vineyards, Estate Grown, 90 points
Masút, 2011 Pinot Noir, Block 7, 90 points
Masút, 2011 Pinot Noir, Block 1, 90 points
ROSÉ
Kokomo, 2012 Grenache Rosé , Pauline's Vineyard, Estate, 98 points
Lula, 2012 Rosato, Comptche, 95 points
Wattle Creek, 2012 Rosé of Pinot Noir, 95 points
Naughty Boy, 2012 Dry rosé, Naughty Boy Vineyard, 100% Organically Grown Grapes, 94 points
River Road Family Vineyards and Winery, 2012 Rosé of Pinot Noir, 93 points
Balletto, 2012 Rosé of Pinot Noir, Estate, 90 points
SAUVIGNON BLANC
Sivas-Sonoma, 2011 Sauvignon Blanc, 98 points
The Girls in the Vineyard, 2011 Sauvignon Blanc, Rooster Vineyard, 95 points
Vinoce, 2012 Sauvignon Blanc, 95 points
Windsor Oaks Vineyards & Winery, 2012 Sauvignon Blanc, Rooster Vineyard, Estate Grown, Produced and Bottled, 95 points
J. Rickards Winery, 2012 Sauvignon Blanc, Croft Vineyard, 94 points
Imagery Estate Winery, 2011 Wow Oui, 94 points
Hanna Winery & Vineyards, 2012 Sauvignon Blanc, 93 points
Crocker & Starr, 2012 Sauvignon Blanc, 92 points
Chacewater, 2012 Sauvignon Blanc, 90 points
Artesa, 2012 Sauvignon Blanc, 90 points
Longboard Vineyards, 2012 Sauvignon Blanc, 90 points
Solle Wines, 2012 Sauvignon Blanc, Sexy Rexy, 90 points

SPARKLING
Breathless Wines, NV Brut, 98 points
Gloria Ferrer, 2008 Brut Rose, 95 points
Gloria Ferrer, 2001 Carneros Cuvee, 95 points
Amista Vineyards, NV Blanc de Blanc, Morningsong Vineyard, 91 points

SYRAH
Red Car, 2010 Sonoma Coast Syrah, 94 points
White Oak Vineyards & Winery, 2009 Syrah, 93 points
Trek Wine, 2010 Syrah, 91 points

ZINFANDEL
DeLoach Vineyards, 2010 Russian River Valley Zinfandel, 96 points
Kokomo, 2010 Zinfandel, Timber Crest Vineyard, Estate, 96 points
Starkey's Court, 2010 Zinfandel, Pedrazzini Family Vineyard, 96 points
B.R. Cohn, 2010 Zinfandel, Barrel Aged, 95 points
de Lorimier Winery, 2010 Zinfandel, Harris Kratka Vineyard, 95 points
Pech Merle Winery, 2010 Zinfandel, Cuccuio Vineyard, 95 points
Rancho Zabaco, 2011 Zinfandel, Reserve, 95 points
Navarro Vineyards, 2011 Zinfandel, 94 points
Rancho Zabaco, 2011 Zinfandel, Heritage Vines, Heritage Series, 94 points
Navarro Vineyards, 2011 Zinfandel, Old Vine, 94 points
Ottimino, 2010 Zinfandel, Biglieri, 94 points
Pezzi King, 2010 Zinfandel, Estate Row 26, 94 points
Wilson Winery, 2010 Zinfandel, Duetto, Estate Grown and Produced, 94 points
Frei Brothers Reserve, 2011 Zinfandel, 93 points
Kokomo, 2011 Zinfandel, Pauline's Vineyard, Estate, 93 points
St. Anne's Crossing Winery, 2010 Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel, 93 points
Hauck Cellars, 2010 Zinfandel, Treborce, 92 points
Hughes Family Vineyards, L.L.C, 2009 Zinfandel, Wild Turkey Vineyard, Signature Reserve, 92 points Millerick Road, 2011 Zinfandel, Millerick Road, 92 points
Napa Cellars, 2011 Zinfandel, 92 points
Russian River Vineyards, 2010 Zinfandel Sack Vineyard, 91 points

OTHER WHITE
Handley, 2012 Pinot Gris, 93 points
Husch, 2012 Chenin Blanc, 92 points
Navarro Vineyards, 2011 Gewurztraminer, Estate Bottled, 92 points
Steele Wines, 2012 Viognier, 92 points
Hagafen, 2012 White Riesling, Devoto Ranch, 91 points
Balletto, 2012 Pinot Gris, Estate Grown & Produced, 90 points

OTHER RED/BLENDS
Beaulieu Vineyard, 2009 Tapestry, Reserve, 98 points
Trecini, 2009 Merlot, 97 points
Pech Merle Winery, 2010 Cab Franc, 96 points
Shed Horn Cellars, Non Typical, 2010 Red Blend, 96 points
Deering Wines, 2009 Ideal "A Better Red", 95 points
Parducci, 2009 True Grit Petite Sirah, 95 points
Forchini Vineyards & Winery, 2010 BeauSierra Bordeaux Blend, Estate Grown & Bottled, 95 points
Bordigioni Family Winery, 2008 Estate Blend, Annadel Estate, Estate Wine, 95 points
Carol Shelton Wines, 2009 Rockpile Reserve Petite Sirah, Rockpile Vineyard, Reserve, 94 points
Estate 1856, 2010 Cabernet Bordeaux Blend, 94 points
Francis Ford Coppola Director's Cut, 2010 Cinema, 93 points
Silenus, 2010 Merlot, 93 points
Writer's Block, 2011 Malbec, 93 points
Leveroni Vineyards, 2010 Merlot, Moon Valley Vineyard, 93 points
Wattle Creek, 2010 Triple Play, 93 points
Dry Creek Vineyard, 2009 The Mariner ( Meritage Red Wine ), 93 points
Roth Estate, 2010 Heritage, 92 points
Mill Creek Vineyards, 2009 Merlot, 91 points
Girasole Vineyards, 2010 Hybrid Red, Estate Organically Grown Grapes, 90 points
Paradise View, 2009 Tolay, 90 points

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