accolades followed by awards
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Touring Foothill Wineries by Richard Kornweibel, Profesor Emeritus, California State University, Sacramento
We tend to stock up in the late summer and early fall, finding case or half case specials usually available at many California wineries. Some of these specials are only for winery club members, but most are available to anyone. By mid-summer, wineries are worried about space when they begin harvesting and pressing grapes. Since a case of wine represents a considerable investment, we only buy if we can taste.
Whereas a great number of wineries today produce wines with alcohol over 15.5 percent plus left-over sugar, many
well established wineries have stayed away from high alcohol wines. I prefer dry reds (no residual sugar) and an alcohol 'level around 14 percent. Among my favorite wineries is Sierra Vista in the Pleasant Valley District of El Dorado County. We visit Sierra Vista at least three times between December and March, primarily to picnic. Imagine a typical winter day in Sacramento-foggy, damp, cold-perhaps the fifth such day in a row. Meanwhile, on the Sierra Vista lawn it might be a sunny 67 degrees with the best view of the Sierra Nevada to be found close to Sacramento! I can almost taste the cold fried chicken, pasta salad, and of course, a glass of wonderful wine. Cheers.
Wine drinkers are starting to discover California's Sierra Foothills
Take a long weekend to explore seven wineries within a day's drive from Boise.
- Idaho Statesman
Published: 03/25/09
One of the 7 is:
SIERRA VISTA WINERY: A visitor has wonderful views of snow-capped mountains from outside the tasting room. Inside, you'll encounter many delicious tastings, standard Rhone varietals, as well as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. I found a 50/50 blend of estate Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah very enjoyable.
By any other name
Called meritages or proprietary blends, wines created from a mix of varietals are the industry’s fastest-growing niche
By Mike Dunne
mdunne@sacbee.com
Published: Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2008 | Page 1D
• Sierra Vista Vineyards & Winery 2006 El Dorado County Fleur de Montagne (13.7 percent alcohol, $21): For 10 years, John MacCready has been making Fleur de Montagne, inspired by his affection for the wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape in France’s Rhone Valley. “I don’t claim to be making a Châteauneuf-du-Pape, but I use the same four main grapes,” says MacCready. That would be grenache, syrah, mourvèdre and cinsault. The resulting wine may not be as dark, heavy or complex as Châteauneuf-du-Pape – it isn’t as costly, either – but it’s one sprightly and refreshing release, lithe in build, cherrylike in flavor, spicy in accent and crisp in the finish.
From the Sacramento Magazine, Oct. 2008, page 201 we have the following from Elaine Smith:
2006 Sierra Vista Winery El Dorado Grenache ($20), www.sierravistawinery.com
With a silky mouthfeel, plenty of cherry/berry fruit flavor and 20 percent Syrah to
give it stuffing, this is a beautifully balanced Grenache at only 13.5 percent alcohol.
Drink now or lay away for a few years.
Sierra Vista Wines continue to be some of the most decorated and beloved wines in the world. Below you will find several dozens awards earned by our wines and winemaker at various shows.
7-7-08
Our FumeBlanc/Sauvignon Blanc has done it again. The 2007 vintage is the third in a row that has won at least one Best White Wine at a wine competition. This year it won a GOLD medal and Best White Wine at the Amador commercial competition. .
It has also won a GOLD medal at one of the most respected competitions of them all, the Orange County Commercial competition
Our 2006 Fleur de Montagne has garnered 3 GOLD medals so far this year.
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SignOnSanDiego.com
by the San Diego Union
Monday, Sept. 24, 2007
Weekly Tasting
Rhône Whites
Tired of the same-old, same-old? Try a Viognier, Marsanne or Roussanne! These are all aromatic white wines from the Rhône Valley in France. There are a handful of California wineries that make these wonderful varietals and they are definitely worth trying.
Try pairing these spicy whites with grilled or smoked salmon, proscuitto with melon, sushi or Thai dishes, or try your own food pairings. The results may surprise you. Remember, wine is supposed to be fun!
My panel and I recently had the pleasure of tasting 13 Rhône Whites from all over
California. The following was among our favorites:
Sierra Vista Vineyards & Winery
2005 Viognier/Roussanne 60/40 Blend, El Dorado $28
Seductive scents of peach, green apple, cut hay, menthol tobacco and green herbs delight the nose. Richly textured in the mouth, with lingering flavors of apple, peach and herbs.
Classic Cabernet Sauvignons for Less Than $22
There are many highly rated and highly priced Cabs on the market, but not too many of us working stiffs can afford to enjoy them with any regularity. I don’t know about you, but anything over $100 for one bottle of wine is a bit steep for me. I am all about finding the best deals, and am happy to share my findings with you. The following wines that my panel and I reviewed are real gems, and very much worth their reasonable prices.
Cabernet Sauvignon tends to be rich, velvety and full bodied, and pairs well with roasted meats and vegetables, savory pasta dishes and hearty cheeses. It is also great with big, juicy hamburgers! Try your own food pairings with your Cabernet Sauvignon - you may be delighted with your results!
My panel and I enjoyed tasting 15 Cabernet Sauvignons from all over California. The following was one of our favorites.
Sierra Vista Winery
2004 Cabernet Sauvignon, El Dorado $21
Seductive scents of dark chocolate, black cherry, anise and cigar box lure the taster into a sumptuous mouthful of mocha, cherry and spice flavors. Yum
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Sierra Vista’s strong showing: Mike Dunn, Sacramento Bee, June 6, 2007
Sierra Vista Vineyards and Winery didn’t win the sweepstakes at the El Dorado County Fair wine competition in Placerville, but it turned in the most impressive performance. Of the 21 wines vying for sweepstakes, three were by Sierra Vista, an unusually consistent and perhaps unprecedented showing. Each of the 21 was a double-gold wine. Double gold is given only those wines that panels unanimously agree deserve a gold medal during the competition’s early round. Sierra Vista’s sweepstakes nominees were the zippy 2006 Sierra Foothills Fume Blanc ($14), the delicate 2006 Unoaked El Dorado Chardonnay ($14), and the spicy complex 2005 El Dorado Fleur de Montagne, a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, and Cinsault grape varieties associated with France’s Rhone Valley.
2006 Fume Blanc, Sweepstakes contender at three fairs
Best white wine, double gold El Dorado County Fair
Best white wine, double gold Calavares County fair
Best white wine, gold Amador County fair
2006 Unoaked Chardonnay, Sweepstakes contender
Double Gold, El Dorado County Fair,
2005 Fleur de Montagne, Sweepstakes contender
Double gold, El Dorado County Fair, Sweepstakes contender
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Awards
2009
2007 Roussanne
Double Gold: San Diego Wine Competition
Silver: San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
Silver: California State Fair
Silver: Best of Class: Amador Fair Wine Competition
2008 Viognier
Double Gold: Best of Class, Best White Wine: Amador Wine Competition
Silver: Orange County Fair
Silver: Calaveras County Fair
Silver: San Francisco International Wine Competition
2006 Fleur de Montagne
Gold: Finger Lakes International Wine Comp
Gold: Critics Challenge
Gold: El Dorado County Wine Competition
Silver: National Woman’s Wine Competition
Silver: Amador Wine Competition
Silver: Orange County Fair
Silver: Indy International Wine Competition
2007 Fleur de Montagne
Gold: Calaveras County Fair
Silver: Orange County Fair
Silver: California State Fair
2006 Mourvedre
Silver: San Diego Wine Competition
Silver: Amador wine competition
2006 Zinfandel Reeves Vineyard
Silver: San Francisco Wine Competition
2006 Grenache
Silver: San Diego Wine Competition
2007 Grenache
Silver: California State Fair
Silver: Amador wine competition
Silver: Calaveras County Fair
2006 Syrah, Red Rock Ridge
Silver: El Dorado Wine Competition
Silver: California State Fair
2006 Syrah, Sierra Foothills
Silver: El Dorado County Fair
Silver: International Eastern Wine Comp
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2008
2007 Unoaked Chardonnay
Silver – Calaveras County Fair
Silver – Amador County Fair
Silver – International Eastern Wine Competition
Silver – Taster’s Guild International Wine Judging
2007 Fume Blanc/Sauvignon Blanc
Gold and Best of Show White Wine – Amador County Fair
Gold – Orange County Fair
Silver – El Dorado County Fair
Silver – Finger Lakes International Wine Competition
2006 Roussanne
Gold – Amador County Fair
Silver – El Dorado County Fair
2006 Grenache
Silver – San Diego Wine Competition
2006 Syrah
Silver – El Dorado County Fair
Silver – International Eastern Wine Competition
2005 Mourvedre
Silver – Grand Harvest Awards
Silver – Dallas Morning News Wine Competition
Silver – El Dorado County Fair
Silver – National Women’s Wine Competition
Silver – Orange County Fair
2006 Fleur de Montagne
Gold – Finger Lakes International Wine Competition
Gold – Critics Challenge
Gold – El Dorado County Fair
Silver – National Women’s Wine Competition
Silver – Amador County Fair
2006 Zinfandel
Silver – Taster’s Guild International Wine Judging
2005 Fume Blanc
Gold, Best of Sierra Foothill Appellations - California State Fair
Double Gold, Best of Show White - El Dorado County Fair
Gold, Best Sauvignon Blanc, Best of Show White - El Dorado County Fair
Gold - Calaveras County Fair
Gold - Fingerlakes International Wine Competition
Silver - Orange County Fair Wine Competition
2004 Fleur de Montagne
Double Gold - San Francisco Chronicle Competition
Gold - Calaveras County Fair
Gold - Critics Challenge International Wine Competition
Silver - San Francisco International Wine Competition
Silver - Long Beach Grand Cru Wine Competition
Silver - Amador County Fair
Silver - Orange County Fair
Silver - San Diego Wine Competition
Silver - Los Angeles County Fair
Bronze - El Dorado County Fair
2004 Syrah ~ Cabernet Sauvignon
Gold - Tasters Guild International Wine Judging
Silver - San Diego Wine Competition
Silver - Finger Lakes International Wine Competition
Silver - Amador County Fair
Silver - California State Fair
Bronze - San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
Bronze - Long Beach Grand Cru Wine Competition
Bronze - El Dorado County Fair
2004 Reeves Vineyard Zinfandel
Gold - California State Fair
Bronze - Orange County Fair Wine Competition
2004 Zinfandel, Sierra Foothills
86 Points with Wine Enthusiast
Bronze - Tasters Guild International Wine Judging
Bronze - Amador County Fair
2004 Syrah, Sierra Foothills
Silver - San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
Silver - Los Angeles County Fair
Silver - West Coast Wine Competition
Bronze - El Dorado County Fair
2004 Grenache
Silver - Tasters Guild International Wine Judging
Silver - Orange County Fair Wine Competition
Bronze - San Francisco International Wine Competition
Bronze - San Diego Wine Competition
Bronze - Finger Lakes International Wine Competition
2004 Viognier Doux
"Rich pineapply nose; nut, butter, quince, mineral and clover honey flavors..." San Francisco Chronicle's Wine Selections, November 23, 2004.
Double Gold - Amador County Fair
2004 Roussanne
Silver, Best of Sierra Foothills Appellations -California State Fair
Bronze - Amador County Fair
Bronze - Calaveras County Fair
2003 Cabernet Sauvignon
Silver - El Dorado County Fair
2004 Viognier
Bronze - Los Angeles County Fair
2007 Unoaked Chardonnay
Silver – Calaveras County Fair
Silver – Amador County Fair
Silver – International Eastern Wine Competition
Silver – Taster’s Guild International Wine Judging
2007 Fume Blanc/Sauvignon Blanc
Gold and Best of Show White Wine – Amador County Fair
Gold – Orange County Fair
Silver – El Dorado County Fair
Silver – Finger Lakes International Wine Competition
2006 Roussanne
Gold – Amador County Fair
Silver – El Dorado County Fair
Silver and best of region, California State Fair
2006 Grenache
Silver – San Diego Wine Competition
2006 Syrah
Silver – El Dorado County Fair
Silver – International Eastern Wine Competition
2005 Mourvedre
Silver – Grand Harvest Awards
Silver – Dallas Morning News Wine Competition
Silver – El Dorado County Fair
Silver – National Women’s Wine Competition
Silver – Orange County Fair
2006 Fleur de Montagne
Gold – Finger Lakes International Wine Competition
Gold – Critics Challenge
Gold – El Dorado County Fair
Silver – National Women’s Wine Competition
Silver – Amador County Fair
Silver – Orange County Fair
2006 Zinfandel
Silver – Taster’s Guild International Wine Judging
2008 Fume Blanc/Sauvignon Blanc
Best White Wine & Gold: Calaveras County Fair
Silver: Orange County Fair
Silver: El Dorado County Fair
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