Women Dig Us

Our Volcano Vineyards 2005 Syrah, Lakeside Vineyard, Rogue Valley was named Best of Show at the second annual National Women’s Wine Competition, winning the prestigious American Airlines Judges’ Choice Award. The Syrah also won a Double Gold Medal, and was picked as the Sweepstakes Red winner as Best Red Varietal.

The National Women’s Wine Competition is only in its second year, but its slate of judges is unbelievable, a ‘who’s who’ of the top women in the wine industry. For our 2005 Syrah to be chosen as the best wine from over 1600 entries from both the US and abroad is an overwhelming honor. There are hundreds of wine competitions held each year, and the first thing I look at before we decide to enter is the judging panel. When I can look down the list and recognize almost every name on it, I know that is a competition we need to be a part of.

Judges included Laurie Daniel, wine columnist for the San Jose Mercury News whose writing I loved so much Scott and I subscribed to the Merc when we lived in San Francisco just to read her stuff. Natalie MacLean, who publishes the online wine newsletter “Nat Decants” was also a judge. And the judging panel included winemakers from some of my favorite wineries: Elizabeth Vianna of Chimney Rock, and Sally Johnson from St. Francis to name a few. Also Rebecca Murphy, founder of the Dallas Morning News Wine Competition, one of the most prestigious wine competitions in the country, and Dr. Ann C Noble, creator of the wine aroma wheel, which I have hanging on the wall in my office.

The National Women’s Wine Competition is the only competition with all-women judging panels, reflecting the marketplace reality that women make 60-70% of all wine buying decisions.