North Carolina Wines win medals in California Competition

Jones von Drehle won 4 medals in the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

By Dathan Kazsuk & Jennifer Primrose 
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The largest competition of American wines in the world, the San Francisco Chronicle’s Wine Competition, just released its winners for 2018.

North Carolina officially had five wineries win medals, which included a total of 8 gold medals and 1 double gold medal. The state did pretty well, bringing in more hardware this year than it did in 2017 – hopefully proving that N.C. wine is starting to put its name on the wine map.

The competition received 6,960 entries from 35 states across the U.S. The total of 57 judges ranged from a variety of fields including trade, education, media, retail and hospitality. The judging took place at the Cloverdale Citrus Fairgrounds in Sonoma County.

Varietals were divided into categories and subcategories, and the panel rated wines into Bronze, Silver, Gold or Double Gold (equivalent to a unanimous rating by all panel members).

Here’s a list of North Carolina “wineries” that won awards. We excluded North Carolina wines from Jeff Gordon Estates and Vanderbilt Estates since the wine appellations were actually listed in California. 

Related Story: N.C. wineries win awards in largest American-made wine competition

BILTMORE ESTATE:

• All Other Red Blends - $15.00 - $29.99 2015, American Red Blend, $16.00, Bronze
• Merlot - $15.00 - $18.99, 2016, American Merlot, $15.00, Silver
• Pinot Noir - $15.00 - $19.99, 2016, American Pinot Noir, $17.00, Bronze
• Blanc de Blancs - 2015, Blanc de Blancs, Sparkling Brut, $50.00, Gold
• Merlot - $19.00 - $22.99, 2016, American Merlot, $20.00, Gold
• Zinfandel - $20.00 - $23.99, 2015, American Zinfandel, $20.00, Silver

JONES VON DREHLE:

• Petit Verdot, 2014, Yadkin Valley, Petit Verdot, $24.00, Silver
• Cab Franc - $0.00 - $29.99, 2014, Yadkin Valley, Cabernet Franc, $22.00, Gold
• Other White Varietals, 2016, Yadkin Valley, Petit Manseng, $26.00, Gold
• Viognier - $0.00 - $24.99, 2016, Yadkin Valley, Viognier, $20.00, Silver

JUNIUS LINDSAY VINEYARD:

• Viognier - $0.00 - $24.99, 2016, Yadkin Valley, Viognier, $16.99, Bronze

MCRITCHIE WINERY:

• Merlot Dominant Blends - Up to $29.99, 2011, Yadkin Valley, Ring of Fire, $22.00, Gold
• Bordeaux - up to $29.99 (All Bordeaux Varietals), 2013, Yadkin Valley, Ring of Fire, $24.00, Gold
• Other White Varietals, 2016, Yadkin Valley, Petit Manseng, $26.00, Silver
• Muscat, 2016, Yadkin Valley, Muscat Blanc, $17.00, Gold

SANCTUARY VINEYARDS:

• Chardonnay - $24.00 - $25.99, 2016, Chardonnay, $25.00, Bronze
• White Dessert/Late Harvest - RS >3.50 2016, ICE, $40.00, Silver
• All Other Red Blends - $30.00 and above, 2015, Double Barrel, $50.00, Bronze
• Cabernet Dominant Blends - Up to $29.99, Morton, $14.00, Double Gold
• Red Bordeaux - $30.00 - $39.99 (All Bordeaux Varietals), 2015, Coastal Collage, $30.00, Bronze
• Aglianico, 2015, Aglianico, $40.00, Silver
• Dry Rose/Blush - RS >.25-.99, Wildflowers, $20.00, Bronze
• White Blends - $20.00 to $29.99, 2016, The Triangle, $20.00, Bronze
• White Blends - Up to $19.99, Wild Pony White, $15.00, Bronze
• Albarino, 2016, Pearl Albarino, $25.00, Gold
  
  Related Story: Sanctuary Vineyards crafts award-winning wines on the coast.