Press Release: Villa del Monte Winery Wins Medals for Chardonnay and Merlot

Press Release: for immediate release
Los Gatos, CA – August 8, 2012:  Villa del Monte Winery is pleased to announce that two Villa del Monte wines were awarded medals in the Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association 2012 Commercial Wine Competition:

Silver: 2009 Merlot Reserve Carneros Moon Vineyard
Bronze: 2010 Chardonnay Santa Cruz Mountains 

The 2009 Merlot Reserve Carneros Moon Vineyard is 100% Merlot from the Moon Vineyard in Los Carneros in Napa.  This is a big and deliciously smooth Merlot with a deep burgundy color, a wonderful plum/blackberry flavor, and a smoky, earthy aroma. This wine is a perfect balance between fruit, oak, and tannins.  This wine has also been awarded a Gold medal at the 2011 Riverside International Wine Competition,  Silver medal at the 2011 NextGen Wine Competition, Silver medal at the 2012 San Francisco Wine Competition, Silver medal, Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association 2011 Commercial Wine Competition, and Silver medal at the 2011 West Coast Wine Competition. It is ready to drink now or it can be cellared for future enjoyment. We suggest pairing it with grilled meat or game or with a favorite dark chocolate treat.

The 2010 Chardonnay Santa Cruz Mountains is produced from 100% Chardonnay grapes grown at 500’ overlooking Monterey Bay in the southern part of the Santa Cruz Mountains.  The combination of morning fog, cool nights, and a southwest exposure moderate the warm daytime temperatures in this wine growing region. This Chardonnay is very lightly oaked with crisp tropical fruit flavors and a slight hint of butter.  It is wonderful on its own, with a favorite cheese, or with a fish or chicken entree.

About the Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association 2012 Commercial Wine Competition
The annual Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association 2012 Commercial Wine Competition took place earlier this month at Shadowbrook Restaurant in Capitola.  All entries were from wineries located in the Santa Cruz Mountains appellation.  For more information, visit http://www.scmwa.com/winecompetition/.

About Villa del Monte Winery
Villa del Monte Winery is an award-winning, family-owned, artisanal winery in the picturesque Santa Cruz Mountains above Los Gatos, California.  We produce extraordinary wines that reflect the terroir of their vineyards.  We produce Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet, Syrah, Syrah Rosé, and Zinfandel.

Winemakers John Overstreet and Neil Perrelli work with several well-known local growers to select the best grapes possible each year for our single-varietal, single-vineyard wines.  Our small lots allow us to meticulously control quality, nurturing our wines to perfection at every step in the process.  Grapes come from top Northern California appellations, primarily from American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) in the Santa Cruz Mountains (Santa Cruz County) and Los Carneros (Napa County).  Wine is aged in oak barrels in our forest-protected winery building, cooled by the Santa Cruz Mountains morning fog.  Wines are available at the winery, on the web site, and at selected retail locations.

We are open for tastings one weekend per month.
1-888-788-4583, extension 1
info@villadelmontewinery.com
www.villadelmontewinery.com