2 Arizona wineries named Best In Class at San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition (The Republic | azcentral.com)
Richard Ruelas, The Republic | azcentral.com Published 7:02 a.m. MT Jan. 18, 2018 | Updated 1:11 p.m. MT Jan. 18, 2018
ARTICLE LINK
Two Arizona wineries, Chateau Tumbleweed and Lightning Ridge Cellars, and have won Best In Class awards at the 2018 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.
The two wins are a first for Arizona wines in the largest U.S. wine competition.
Chateau Tumbleweed won for the best Viogner priced above $25 for its 2016 Viogner, made from grapes grown at the Deep Sky Vineyard in Willcox.
Lightning Ridge Cellars won for the best Montepulciano for its 2013 vintage, made with grapes grown on its vineyard in Sonoita.
Both bottles retail for $28.
Chateau Tumbleweed's wine can be found at some AJ's Fine Foods and Whole Foods Market locations. It can also be found at wine shops, including Central Wine, Hidden Track Bottle Shop and ODV Wines.
Lightning Ridge's wine (http://lightningridgecellars.com/) is available through its Sonoita tasting room. Orders can be taken online or by phone.
The best in class award means that judges declared it the best wine of its category. Only one of those awards is given for each category. The competition attracted 6,960 entries, according to its website. Judging was in January and the results were announced this week.
In all, 14 Arizona wineries won medals at the competition, including three wineries awarded Double Gold medals. That designation reflects the unanimous ruling of gold by each judge that tasted the wine.
The Double Gold winners are:
Callaghan Vineyards for its 2016 Ann’s, a Malvasia Bianca.
Pillsbury Wine Co. for its 2015 Guns and Kisses Shiraz.
Chateau Tumbleweed for its 2016 Miss Sandy Jones white blend.
Gold medals were won by Alcantara Vineyards, Aridus Wine Company, Arizona Angel, Callaghan Vineyards, Javelina Leap Vineyard and Winery, Passion Cellars and Pillsbury Wine Company.
Next week, look for the results of the azcentral Arizona Wine Competition, which is restricted to wines made in Arizona with grapes grown in the state.
Double Gold, Gold medal winners
The Arizona Wine Growers Association compiled a list of the Double Gold and Gold medal-winning wines in the Chronicle's wine competition.
Double Gold
Callaghan Vineyards 2016 Ann's.
Chateau Tumbleweed 2016 Miss Sandy Jones.
Pillsbury Wine Company 2015 Guns and Kisses Shiraz.
Gold
Alcantara Vineyards 2015 Confluence IX.
Aridus Wine Company 2015 Tempranillo.
Aridus Wine Company 2016 Malvasia Bianca.
Arizona Angel Aritage White.
Callaghan Vineyards 2016 Dry Rose.
Javelina Leap Vineyard & Winery 2016 Syrah.
Passion Cellars 2016 Malvasia Bianca.
Pillsbury Wine Company 2016 Chardonnay.
Pillsbury Wine Company 2014 Guns and Kisses Shiraz.
Pillsbury Wine Company 2016 Viognier.