Local Winemakers Awarded for Outstanding Wines

Ramona, Calif., July 20, 2015 — 33 bronze, 16 silver, and 6 gold medal winners were chosen from 70 entries of local red, white, and rosé wines at the Ramona Valley Vineyard Association (RVVA) Awards Dinner for the 2015 RVVA/Lum Eisenman Wine Competition on Wednesday, July 15, 2015 held at the San Vicente Resort.

The awards function, chaired by former RVVA president, Bill Schweitzer, were created to give individual winemakers constructive feedback on their techniques and results and to improve winemaking throughout the Ramona Valley.

Double-blind tasting by eight judges included a sommelier; owners and winemakers from Temecula, Escondido, Julian, and Ramona; and a wine buyer for a major retail purchaser. Ron Nowak, founder of the New York Society of Wine Educators and What’s in Your Glass, served as wine judge coordinator.

Gold Medal Winners:

  • Castelli Family Vineyards, Ramona, CA, for 2013 Tempranillo
  • Espinosa Vineyards, Escondido, CA, for 2013 Grenache
  • The Julian Winery, Julian, CA, for 2013 Zinfandel (37%) blend (amateur)
  • The Julian Winery, Julian, CA, for 2013 Syrah (amateur)
  • Old Coach Vineyards, Poway, CA, for 2011 Estate Aglianico
  • Risotti Vineyard, Ramona, CA, for 2013 Estate Petite Sirah (amateur)

Best of Show Amateur: the Julian Winery, for their Syrah

Best of Show Commercial: Espinosa Vineyards, Escondido, CA, for their Estate Grenache

About Ramona Valley Vineyard Association (RVVA)

Founded in 2001 “to promote, protect and enhance the Ramona Valley AVA, our wines, vintners, and community.” Responsible for creating Ramona Valley AVA in 2006 and the sponsoring organization for the effort to create the Boutique Winery Ordinance 2010. Current President: Micole Moore. https://ramonavalleyvineyards.com

Lum Eisenman

Lum Eisenman was born and raised in Riverside, Calif. A physicist by profession, he migrated to Del Mar in 1971 with his wife. He eventually became an amateur winemaker, a mentor for San Diego vineyard owners, and the founder of the San Diego Amateur Winemaking Society—and always a teacher. He has written dozens of articles and The Home Winemakers Manual is considered an authority by many throughout the Ramona/San Diego area.

Other Awards

Ramona AVA wineries won 20 awards at the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition with more than 3,000 entries from all 50 US states; 14 other countries; and one of only 17 double gold medals won in the entire world.

Ramona wines also won awards at the San Diego County Fair; Riverside County Fair; and Orange County Fair.

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