The winners of the Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition were announced June 10 at a media roll-out in Los Angeles. Find the winners here.

Everyone had a great time at Wine & Cars Under the Stars last weekend. Don’t believe me? Check out the video:

The evening was a great success, netting nearly $50,000 for the foundations at Fairplex and their programs. If you missed Wine & Cars, you can taste the award-winning wines of the Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition at the L.A. County Fair, Sept. 5 – Oct. 4.

The winners of the 70th annual Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition were announced today and the list is an impressive one! A box wine, a Scotch whisky, repeat winners (Armida Winery and baseball legend Tommy Lasorda) and so much more! Take a look at the winners here then check out the buzz on the Web that our winners are already creating:

http://freshcatering.blogspot.com/2009/06/la-international-wine-spirits.html

http://www.diglounge.net/drinks/los-angeles-international-wine-spirits-competition/

 Congratulations to all the winners!

For three days, our judges swirled, sniffed and spit their way through more than 3,500 wines from around the globe. Today they wrapped up by choosing the best of the best in each category. Results will be available next month, so stay tuned. In the meantime, enjoy this compilation of expert spitters:

Judges completed the first day of tasting the finest vintages the wine world has to offer at the 70th Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition. Stepping into the Millard Sheets Center for the Arts, where judging is taking place, the aroma is musky, flowery, fruity, nutty. Pretty powerful!

Judges gather around round tables comparing notes on each varietal. The discussions are pretty detailed, with as many opinions flowing as there are wines! It’s a tough decision! Here is Dr. Robert Small, wine competition chairman, welcoming everyone to this prestigious event:

That’s right – it’s time. The Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition begins tomorrow. Nearly 100 international judges, more than 3,000 international wines. Who will take the gold? Keep coming back to find out more information about the 3-day event and watch for judges to be blogging and twittering in between judging!

Guest blogger and wine judge  Stacie Hunt offers some insight into being a judge at the Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition. Stacie is a commentator on wine for National Public Radio, a Certified Sommelier (AIS), an international wine judge, educator, journalist and blogger.

Everyone has his or her own idea of spring.  In the city, the trees are in full bloom, birds sing and the hillsides are green and covered with yellow mustard blossoms.

Aromas are everywhere. For those of us who judge wines at the Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition, the sure-fire sign of spring’s arrival comes from a football-sized room set with dozens of round tables and sparkling stemware; a room filled with scents of yeast, aromatic Riesling, citrusy Chardonnay, berry-scented Cabernet Sauvignon and fleshy Syrah.  Ah, yes, spring is here!   And so more than 100 of us judges gather from around the globe, ready and set to sniff, swirl and (begrudgingly) spit as we taste our way through more than 3,000 wine entries – all vying for medals signifying they are the best.
The judges come from the vineyards, wineries, education, journalism and kitchens of the world. 

For three days, beginning May 27, the only sounds you’ll hear emanating from this venue are clinking glasses, inhales and exhales, low-key to insistent opinions, some “oohs and aahhs,” pencils rapidly scratching notes across competition forms, papers rifling and a few exclamations (in several languages) of satisfaction and/or discovery. 

The rules are fairly strict.  Perhaps most restrictive is the announcement that no PDAs are to be turned on during judging.  What?  We can’t check emails, text or make and receive phone calls?  We feel momentarily disconnected, uneasy and uh…on our own. 

But, being selected to be a wine judge at this competition is serious business. We have to look at each pour of wine as an individual.  How does it represent the varietal or blend of varietals?  Is the color accurate, clear, brilliant or unfiltered?  Dipping our noses deep into the bowl of the glass, we sniff for the accuracy of the aromas; the style of the winemaker; the identity of the land of origin; the section of land within that origin.  Then as a taste of this sensual liquid comes across our tongues and coats our palates, we determine the final quality of each of the entrants.  Is it food friendly or one that lives on its own; are all of the elements of alcohol, fruit, tannin, acidity and sapidity in balance? Does this wine truly represent its birthright?

Then, it’s lunchtime.  We file out into the sunny courtyard and fall upon sandwiches, salads and points of view!  The conversation gets loud and stories abound.  After all, for many, it’s the first time to get together since last year! Business cards flash back and forth, get togethers are planned and conversations are punctuated with laughter, exclamations and shared excitement regarding the wine entries.  We’ve almost forgotten to check our emails.

The true benefit of a wine competition is what it means to us as consumers.  There are thousands of wines from around the world with so many opportunities to explore and venture into new taste experiences.  Where to begin?  Which have value and quality?  In this new economy, money spent demands a return on investment.  We have become more risk aversive. The wines that receive and display their medals act as a guide for the consumer. The bottles with Gold, Silver and Bronze, as well, signify that this wine is set apart from the pack.  For those winemakers and wineries, the investment in their work is validated.  They’ve now been given a showcase in the world’s wine arena.

When the wine bottle sports a Gold, Silver or Best of Show from the
Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition, there is assurance that a field of pros has awarded this wine with experience, thought and taste.  And, that we wine lovers will either pull a cork or crack a seal on a new adventure.

Come to McKinley’s Grille at the Sheraton Fairplex hotel Thursday, January 22, from 6 – 8 p.m. to find out. The Sheraton’s monthly wine tastings include a variety of wine, food and spirits pairings, a gustatory delight for foodies who enjoy the pleasures of the palate.

Thursday’s culinary adventure will feature tequila tastings, award-winning wines from the Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition, naturally, and a variety of wonderful McKinley’s Grille food samplings. (Note: It’s enough food to count as dinner).

The whole shindig is just $24 per person, including tax and gratuity. Try it. You’ll have fun.

Where: 601 W. McKinley Avenue, Pomona, CA
When: 6 p.m.
Cost: $24

Call 909-868-5915 for rezzies.

I know it is only January, but my calendar is already filling up, as is yours I’m sure. So I wanted to remind you of a grand event held here at Fairplex in June – June 20 to be exact. Wine & Cars Under the Stars is an awesome wine, spirits and food event benefiting the Millard Sheets Center for the Arts at Fairplex. It also presents the winners from the Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition. This year there will be an extra spark to the evening. Winners from the second annual Wine World of Sports – which features sport celebrities’ wines – will be announced as will the medal recipients of the inaugural Music Uncorked, featuring musicians and their wines.

Sounds like fun, doesn’t it? It’s always a wonderful evening, filled with some of the top wines and spirits, amazing food, entertainment and always some special treats. Keep checking back for more information or visit the Wine & Cars Web site at www.winecarsstars.com.

Just a few weeks into 2009 and all of those resolutions are looking harder and harder to keep, especially the one about cutting back on the wine budget. In these hard times we need wine more than ever! Many of us will be trading evenings out with friends where wines by the glass or bottle can be pricey for quiet evenings at home with a more affordable bottle. Here are a few suggestions from the 2008 Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition that will be kind to your new budget without having to sacrifice good flavor.

The Little Penguin, Pinot Grigio, South Australia, 2007…$8.00 – Gold Medal

This wine has a fragrance of lime, lemon and honeysuckle, is sweet on the tip of the tongue, soft body with light citrus flavors on the palate and a zesty finish.  Perfect with shellfish or fresh salads.

Alice White, Chardonnay, South East Australia, 2007…$8.00 – Gold Medal

This is really a simple pleasant wine that is guaranteed to bring a smile. It has a pleasant nose reminiscent of white flowers and pineapple with citrus on the tongue and a bright fresh finish.

Redwood Creek, Merlot, California, 2006…$7.99 – Gold Medal

Flavors of black cherry, black berries, plums, baking spices, vanilla with a soft smooth finish and would go well with grilled meats. Pairs well with roasted red meats and meaty pasta dishes.

Fetzer Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon, Valley Oaks California, 2006…$8.99 – Gold Medal, Best of Class Award

Layers of  rich explosive flavors, with black cherries, plums with a hint of chocolate and aromas of vanilla and spice. Pairs well with beef, lamb and pork.

Rosemount Estate, Shiraz, Diamond Label, South East Australia, 2005…$10.00 – Gold Medal

Full bodied, plenty of depth, ripe blackberries, bold spices with a long rich finish. Pairs well with pasta and grilled meats.