Family wineries take top Harvest awards

Family wineries in Healdsburg and Petaluma took the two top honors Saturday night at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair wine judging, nabbing the coveted white and red sweepstakes awards.

Dry Creek Vineyard in Healdsburg won the white wine sweepstakes with its 2007 Fume Blanc Sonoma County, which retails for $14.50.

Adobe Road Winery in Petaluma won the red wine sweepstakes with its 2005 Zinfandel Sonoma County, which retails for $34.

Dry Creek Vineyard, founded in 1972 by David Stare, was the first new winery in Dry Creek Valley following Prohibition and is now run by a second generation of the family. Lisa Bishop-Forbes is the winemaker.

"Dave Stare was the first to plant sauvignon blanc in Dry Creek Valley," said Reenie Donahue, hospitality coordinator for Dry Creek Vineyards, who accepted the award. "They all thought he was crazy, but wines of the Loire Valley were his passion."

Adobe Road Winery, founded in 1999 by sports car racer and entrepreneur Kevin Buckler and his wife, Debra, makes small lots of red varietals under winemaker Michael Scorsone.

"We're very pleased and very surprised with this wonderful award," said Kjell Kallman, general manager of The Racer's Group, Buckler's professional road racing team and a spokesman for the winery. "The recognition by your peers and your colleagues in the industry, it takes your breath away."

A crowd of about 2,000 people packed into the Grace Pavilion at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds to taste the award-winning wine and food during the Harvest Fair Awards Night Gala.

Tickets to the gala sold out Friday afternoon, said Marlina Harrison, public relations manager for the Sonoma County Harvest Fair.

This year's wine competition drew a record 1,051 entries, up from 1,002 last year. Zinfandel was the most popular varietal in the contest, at 193 entries, followed by 113 in pinot noir and 106 in cabernet sauvignon.

During last week's wine competition, 25 judges from across the country swirled, sniffed and sipped the array of Sonoma County wines.

The judges were tough this year, awarding only 142 gold medals, down from 194 last year. "Out of the wines, less than 10 percent got golds," Harrison said.

Additionally, there were 405 silver awards, down from 412 last year; and 367 bronze awards, up from 287 last year.

The gala is a preview of the annual Harvest Fair, which celebrates autumn's bounty with food, wine and family fun next weekend at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds.

The fair is being cut back from three days to two this year. The all-inclusive tasting event will still be held Friday afternoon, and the $40 admission includes entry to the fair on Saturday or Sunday.

"Friday night is the night for serious tasters, who like to compare, because it's arranged by varietal," Harrison said. "People are really interested in buying the wines."

You can reach Staff Writer Diane Peterson at 521-5287 or diane.peterson@

pressdemocrat.com.