Indy International Wine Competition 2005
Once again, I had the pleasure to participate as a judge for the Indy International Wine Competition!
Believe it or not, this is the third largest wine competition in the country and has been going on since 1973. It hasn’t always been this large. In 1992 there were only 454 wines entered.
This year we had 3685 wines entered from 20 different countries. Of those entered, 2683 wines got a medal of some sort. There were only 95 of these wines that received a concordance gold award. This means that in a blind tasting, every judge in a panel of five deemed these wines gold medal winners.
Here’s how it works:
▪ Judges receive the wines in numbered glasses; they are not allowed to see the bottles.
▪ 15 panels, consisting of 5 judges each will taste, analyze and judge the wines (approximately 120 per day.)
▪ The judges consist of winemakers, wine journalists, wine educators, wine marketers and the like.
▪ Between wines, judges have access to water, bread, cheese, olives and roast beef (for red wine) to cleanse their palate.
▪ Concordance gold medal winners go to the “Sweepstakes” on the third day and are narrowed down to the “Best of the Best”
Below are the winners of each category:
▪Best of Show:
Sixth Sense Zinfandel from Lodi.
▪Best Red Wine:
St. Supery Cabernet Sauvignon from Rutherford, California.
▪Best Sparkling Wine:
1995 Pommery Grand Cru Champagne.
▪Best White:
2002 Wegeler Sundial Mosel Riesling Spätlese.
▪Best Dessert Wine:
Lameraux Landing Riesling Ice Wine from the Finger Lakes.
I have been judging for the past 5 years and feel quite honored to have been asked to participate. Every year I have come away from the experience enriched. Not only do I have the opportunity to taste some of the best wines our world has to offer, there is a comradery among the judges and the pit “cru” that I look forward to each year. People like Louisa and Ed Cooke who own Beachhaven Winery in Tennessee, Nancie Corum, Assistant Winemaker at St. Julian Winery in Michigan and Mike Stepanovich, Wine Educator and Journalist from California. I even get to catch up with some of my neighbors here in Indy like Jill Ditmire, Freelance Journalist and Thom England, Culinary instructor at Ivy Tech State College. There are so many more…far too many to mention here.
Thanks to Dr. Vine and Ellie Butz for getting me started and for all of your support. Thanks to Chef Oakley and Chris Hopkins for allowing me the time away from the restaurant to participate this year. And, finally, thanks to Jill, Janos, Mark and Mike for making it so much fun.
Bottom Line:
See everyone next year!
By the way, 2006 will be the 150th anniversary of the Indiana State Fair.
The third Women's Wine Workshop was held at OAKLEYS bistro on Monday the 15th and was highlighted by a visit from one of our favorite wine guys Rob Garber of IN VIE. The four wines that we learned about were Stoneleigh Sauvignon Blanc, Artesa Chardonnay, Alexander Valley Vineyards Pinot Noir and Renwood Old Vine Zinfandel.
Thanks Mr. Garber!
Ladies you are all FABULOUS!!!
The next workshop is scheduled for Monday, October 10th. Sessions feature women in the wine profession (well, sometimes we let the guys talk too) including importers, winemakers and distributors. The cost of each workshop is $18 per person which includes the wine tasting, hors d'oeuvres, information and, of course, fun. To get more information or to purchase tickets, call 824-1231 or email lisa@oakleysbistro.com.
L. Cunningham
A Woman on Wine
