Mendocino Wine Competition: Where Professional Palates and Public Preferences Converge

The recent Mendocino Wine Competition, held on August 17 at the Brutocao Winery, showcased an innovative blend of consumer and professional judgements. As the 46th edition of this annual event unfolded, over 100 wines were blind-tasted and evaluated by both industry experts and the public, revealing a harmonious agreement in their favorites.

Among the six sparkling wines, the NV Roederer Brut Rosé was deemed the People’s Choice, while industry judges preferred the 2011 Terra Savia Blanc de Blanc as Best of Class. In the chardonnay category, the 2024 Kalpela Chardonnay was celebrated by consumers, yet industry judges awarded their top honor to the 2023 Barra Reserve Chardonnay.

The competition’s results continued to demonstrate synergy between public and expert tastes across various categories. Both groups recognized the 2023 Girasole Vineyards Pinot Noir as Best of Class, while in the rosé segment, Handley Cellars’ 2024 Pinot Noir Rosé took home the Best of Class title, validated by the consumers’ choice of Navarro Vineyards’ Rosé of Sangiovese.

In the more complex varieties like Syrah, the 2024 Omen Wines "Craft" Syrah earned accolades from the industry, while the public preferred the 2021 Handley Cellars Syrah, showcasing another area of overlap. Petite Sirah finalists also saw close rankings between industry and public votes.

As the competition aligned their results, it set a precedent for harmonious relations between professionals and everyday wine lovers, paving the way for future engagements in the wine community.

With the harvest season under way, local vineyards like Alamitos in San Jose and Madson in Santa Cruz are actively collecting grapes, preparing for what ensures to be an exciting year in winemaking. Meanwhile, Melanie Bauer anticipates a soft launch of her Winston Champagne Bar in downtown Los Gatos, adding to the vibrant wine scene.

For those eager to explore more about the regional offerings, Bill Brosseau’s newly launched Brosseau Wines Studio invites guests to sample his wines crafted from his family’s vineyard. Appointments can be made online for a private tasting experience.

For additional details on the Mendocino Wine Competition, you can visit East Bay Times.

About the Author: Chris Lehoux

Meet Chris Lehoux, an experienced wine connoisseur and dedicated blogger with a deep passion for all things wine-related. With years of expertise in the industry, Chris shares insightful wine reviews, valuable wine tasting tips, expert pairing advice, and captivating tales of vineyard visits. Join Chris on a journey through the world of wine, where every sip is an adventure waiting to be savored!