Wine Competitions - deborahparkerwong

Ancient Areni Reawakens

August 13, 2026 deborahparkerwong Armenia, SOMM Journal, Wine, Wine Competitions, Wine Tasting, winegrowing

Areni Noir, considered to be indigenous to Armenia, is one of the world’s oldest-known cultivated grape varieties

New Metrics for Wine Competition Medals

July 12, 2025 deborahparkerwong Wine Competitions, sensory, sensory science, SOMM Journal

In 2021, The prestigious Concours Mondial de Bruxelles (CMB) wine competition began using artificial intelligence (AI) developed by Winespace, a Bordeaux-based firm founded by Sylvain Thibaud and Julian Laithier in 2015, as part of its judging protocol as a valueadded feedback mechanism for producers.

Wine Competitions Adopt AI Metrics for Transparent Results

February 3, 2025 deborahparkerwong Wine Competitions, Austria, Sauvignon Blanc, Südsteiermark, Wine, Wine Reviews, Wine Tasting

New metrics shed light on scores and medals in wine competitions

Returning to Radici del Sud

December 30, 2022 deborahparkerwong Italy, Sicily, Sicily, SOMM Journal, Wine, Wine Competitions

The winning wines at this year’s competition are memorable for several reasons: The whites were fresher, the rosés crisper, and the red wines seemingly more elegant than I recall them being in 2015.

Iberian varieties victorious for Lodi’s St. Amant Winery

August 13, 2018 deborahparkerwong CA State Fair, Lodi, Unique Varieties, Wine Competitions

If you enjoy port, the rich, fortified wine of Portugal’s Douro Valley, you’re already a
fan of Touriga. Touriga Nacional as it is known in Portugal is one of the five classic grape varieties that are blended to make Port wines. The Touriga variety that won this year’s Best of Show Red made its way from Portugal to UC Davis where it was selected by St. Amant Winery’s late Tim Spencer and planted at an estate vineyard in Amador County in 1980.

Imagery repeats as CA State Fair California Winery of the Year

August 10, 2018 deborahparkerwong CA State Fair, Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Chardonnay, Enotourism, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma, Wine Competitions

In a repeat performance, Imagery Estate Winery founded by Joe Benziger in 1985 has been honored for the second year running by the California State Fair as the 2018 Golden State Winery of the Year. Benziger, who was at the helm for the 2017 award, has now retired but serves as guide and mentor for his second daughter Jamie Benziger, 31, who stepped up as winemaker in 2018.

Paraiso Vineyard: The backbone of the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA

August 9, 2018 deborahparkerwong CA State Fair, California, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sustainability, Terroir, Vineyard, Wine, Wine Competitions, winegrowing

Spanish missionaries at Mission Soledad first planted vineyards in the region now known as the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA in the late 18th century. But winegrowing on the windswept terraces of the Santa Lucia mountain range began in earnest in 1973 when Rich and Claudia Smith established the Paraiso Vineyard. Parasio is the tenth iconic vineyard to be acknowledged by the California State Fair as Vineyard of the Year.

Campania Update: Focus on Falanghina del Sannio DOP

July 31, 2017 deborahparkerwong Campania, Falanghina, Italy, minerality, SOMM Journal, Unique Varieties, Wine, Wine Competitions, Wine Reviews

If you’re keeping tabs on wine quality in Southern Italy with its myriad indigenous grape varieties and oftentimes limited access to distribution, this update on the Sannio DOC should prove to be useful. Through a combination of research trips to Campania and the opportunity to judge the Radici del Sud “Roots of the South” wine competition which has been held in different venues in the town of Bari, Puglia since 2006, it provides a look at the key factors for the region and a snapshot of wine quality.