JUDGEMENT OF CLEAR LAKE
SEPTEMBER 22, 2012
6 FEATURED CALIFORNIA AND TEXAS WINES
AND THEIR CHARACTERISTICS
1. Becker Vineyard, Viognier
History: Family owned, first Texas winery to commercially produce
Viognier
Location: Bingham, Reddy, and Martin vineyards in TX High Plains,
Grapes: 85% Viognier and 15% Chardonnay, oak-aged for four months
Color: Golden, clear
Aroma: Full bodied, dry, intense, slightly spicy, sweet, smooth, low
acidity, rich, floral, vanilla, honey, peaches, citrus
2. Bonterra Winery, Sauvignon Blanc (organic)
Location: Lake County & Mendocino County, CA
Color: Clear, pale straw
Aromas: Citrus, hon ey dew mel on, crisp, bright, sharp, refleshing, grassy
3. Haak Winery, Tempranillo (100%)
Location: Redding vineyards, TX high plains (near Lubbock area)
Color: Deep velvety
Aroma: Cinnamon, cocoa powder and ripe blackberries
4. Hahn Winery, Pinot Noir (100%)
Location: Monterrey County, CA
Color: Moderate reddish-purple
Aroma: Raspberry, black cherry, cloves, oaky
5. Pietra Santa Winery, Sangiovese (100%)
Location: Cienega Valley near Monterrey Bay, CA
Color: Deep brick red, nearly opaque
Aromas: Spicy, rich, oaky, black cherry, smokey, coffee, chocolate
6. Sonoma Ridge Winery, Cabernet Sauvignon (80%)
Location: Sonoma County, CA
Color: Deep purple
Aroma: Dry to medium body, blackberry, blackcherry, plums, cocoa,
cedar, oaky
UNDERSTANDING TEXAS WINE BOTTLE TERMINOLOGY
Winery
Facility that produced the wine.
75 percent of the grapes are grown in the place named.
75 percent of the grapes are grown in Texas
Wines with a Texas vineyard mean 100 percent of the grapes grown on this vineyard.
Between 25 percent and 74.9 percent of the wine is made with Texas grapes, and this wine can only be sold in Texas.
Less than 25 percent of the wine is made with Texas grapes.
At least 85 percent of the wine was produced with grapes from that American Viticultural Area (AVA), a grape-growing region distinguished by geographical features.
The year the grapes used in the wine were harvested.
The kind of grapes that were used in the making of the wine.
Indicates the wine was made from grapes harvested on their own vineyard.
California Wine Label Information
Vintage
2006, U.S. law allows up to 15% of the blend can be from vintage other than that year
95% of the grapes must be from the stated vintage from a specific AVA
Appellation of Origin
100% of the grapes come from within CA.
85% of the grapes must come from the Designated Viticultural Areas.
Wine Type
May be labeled by a grape, or be given a generic name, "Red Table Wine"
1983, wines using varietal names must derive 75% from the grape designated.
Special Designations
Wine of high standard is designated as a special selection or private reserve.
Vineyard of Origin
95% of the grapes must have been grown in the vineyard named.
Producer and Bottler
"Produced and bottled by" certifies the bottler fermented 75% or more of the wine.
"Cellared and bottled by" indicates that the bottler has aged the wine or subjected it to cellar treatment before bottling.
"Made and bottled by" indicates that the bottler fermented at least 75% of the wine (10% before July 28, 1994).
Estate Bottled
Winery grew 100% of the grapes on land it owns or controls
Winery crushed, fermented, finished, aged, and bottled wine in a continuous process.
Alcohol Content
No table wine can contain more than 14% alcohol.
Dessert wines contain > 14% and < 21% alcohol.
No Sugar can be added to dessert wines for sweetness only grape juice.
Declaration of Sulfites
1988, wines with a level of 10 parts per million or greater of sulfur dioxide must be labeled with a sulfite declaration.