Villa del Monte Winery is pleased to announce that the 2011 California State Fair Wine Competition has awarded medals to two Villa del Monte wines:

Silver: 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Santa Cruz Mountains Villa Festa Vineyard 
Bronze: 2009 Pinot Noir Reserve Santa Cruz Mountains Regan Vineyard

You can taste these wines on June 25 and June 26 at the winery as part of our Celebrate Summer weekend.

The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Santa Cruz Mountains Villa Festa Vineyard is 100% Cabernet grapes grown on a small vineyard that we manage on Loma Prieta Avenue in the Santa Cruz Mountains in Northern California.  Black currants, medium tannins, and a beautiful deep red color combine for a full bodied wine that develops and matures on the palate.   This wine has also won these awards this year:  Gold medal at the 2011 West Coast Wine Competition, Silver medal at the 2011 Monterey Wine Competition, Silver medal at the 2011 Los Angeles International Wine Competition, and Bronze medal at the 2011 Riverside International Wine Competition.

The 2009 Pinot Noir Reserve Santa Cruz Mountains Regan Vineyard is produced from 100% Pinot grapes grown at 500’ overlooking Monterey Bay in the southern part of the Santa Cruz Mountains.  The morning fog and cool nights at this southwest-facing vineyard moderate the warm daytime temperatures, resulting in perfect Pinot ripening weather.  Spicy black pepper and cloves layered over warm red fruit jam flavors combine and linger luxuriously on your palate.  This wine also won a Gold medal at the 2011 Dallas Morning News and TexSom Wine Competition and a Gold medal at the 2011 West Coast Wine Competition.

California State FairAbout the 2011 California State Fair Wine Competition
Established more than 150 years ago in 1855, the California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition is the oldest and most prestigious wine competition in North America. Open to all California bonded wineries, more than 600 wineries entered nearly 3,000 wines into the annual judging contest.  The winners are determined by judges with a wide range of backgrounds including wine educators, winemakers, wine journalists, and restaurateurs.  Judging took place over three days, from June 1-3, in Sacramento, CA.   For more information, visit http://www.thebestcaliforniawine.com/wine-competition/wine-competition.