SAGA OF THE GOLDEN BEAR  To be eligible for a Best of Show in the California State Fair Home Wine Competition, a homemade wine must first get a Double Gold (all three judges rate it gold).  Prior to 2005, there was only one Golden Bear Award for Best of Show.  Due to extenuating circumstances, no competition was held in 2005.  When it resumed in 2006, the rules changed and three Golden Bears were awarded:  one for Best of Show Red, one for Best of Show White, and one for Best of Show Other.   In 2006, we won BOS White with our 2004 Yakima Valley Viognier and BOS Other with our Muscat Canelli Ice Wine   In 2007, we won BOS White with our 2006 Old Duffers* Viognier and BOS Other with our 2005 Peach   In 2008, the rules abruptly changed at the time of judging and the head of the competition decided he would no longer award a Golden Bear for BOS Other.  We protested because the rules as listed on the state fair website said that one would be awarded.  Relunctantly, the head guy gave in and he awarded the third Golden Bear.   We won BOS White with our 2006 Old Duffers* Sauvignon Blanc and BOS Other with our 2006 Old Duffers* Sparkling.    In 2009, the head of the competition made sure the rules stated that there would be no Golden Bear for Best of Show Other.  His reason?  He said it cost too much and there weren't enough entries in the Other Category to justify it.  With his decision he basically eliminated a winemaker's change of winning a Golden Bear if all he/she had to enter was a dessert or sparkling wine.    We went on to win BOS Other with our 2008 Red Raspberry and we got a plaque!   In 2010, the rules of the competition stayed the same -- no Golden Bear for BOS Other.   We were very fortunate to once again win BOS White with our Bentley Cellars 2009 Gewurztraminer (Golden Bear) and BOS Other with our 2005 Golden Raspberry (Plaque).  We also got a Best of Class for our 2004 Petite Verdot and we were in the running for BOS red, but we didn't win it.   It's going to be interesting to see what excuse the head guy gives next year for not awarding a BOS Other Golden Bear.  This year 22% of the entries (about 240) were in the Other category.  In 2011, the head guy did it again.  The Best of Show Other is now called Best of Show Sweet, but there still is no golden bear.  We'll have to once more settle for a plaque for our 2006 Black Passion (blackberry and passion fruit).  *Old Duffers is the label used when Rex made white wine with his partner George Rammell.

2011 Wine Awards 2010 Wine Awards 2009 Wine Awards 2008 Wine Awards 2007 Wine Awards 2006 Wine Awards 2005 Wine Awards 2004 Wine Awards 2003 Wine Awards

CONTRA COSTA WINE GROUP ANNUAL COMPETITION We belong to the Contra Costa Wine Group and the annual competition and dinner is held in January.  It's a fun affair that starts off with ten judges spending most of the day judging the wine, followed by a pot luck dinner and lots of wine to drink.   Members volunteer throughout the day to make the affair a success.   In the past, all first place winners were asked to bring their award-winning wine and production notes to the February meeting.  But the club ended up with so many categories and lots of entries that there was too much wine to taste in one evening.  Now the red wine winners bring their wine and production notes to the February meeting and the white and dessert wine winners bring their wine and production notes to the March meeting.  Rex entered wine for ten years but decided to pass on the 2011 competition.  Here are his notes (the ones he saved) for his past winners.  2010 Wine Notes 2009 Wine Notes 2008 Wine Notes 2007 Wine Notes 2006 Wine Notes

WINEMAKER MAGAZINE Winemaker Magazine targets the home winemaker and is full of helpful hints and advertising suppliers.  They host an annual conference in famous wine appellations, a wine label competition, and the largest international wine competition in the world.    JACK KELLER Jack Keller maintains a website that offers a phenominal amount if information for the home winemaker.   SACRAMENTO HOME WINEMAKERS The Sacramento Home Winemakers are dedicated to preserving the art of home winemaking and their site provides a lot of information.