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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Menu Guide Wedding Weather Subscribe Contact Us March 8, 2005 Off The Vine Judging can be harrowing experience Lorn Razzano I just returned from judging the commercial wine competition at the Newport Seafood and Wine Festival in Newport. There were more than 120 wines entered this year from around the Pacific Northwest. These types of professional wine judgings are interesting events that can be very taxing as well as rewarding. The judging panel is composed of five judges with, at times, very different points of view on wine evaluation. The point of the competition is to eliminate or retain, through panel tastings and discussions, commercially made wines entered in the competition. Most of the wines retained through a first round evaluation will eventually earn a medal (bronze, silver, gold) in their flight of same variety. Zinfandel will, for example, be tasted with other zinfandels as will chardonnay be tasted with other chardonnays. The gold medal winners will then be evaluated together to receive "Best of Show." Tasting and evaluating wine, especially more than 100 wines in one and a day and a half, can be grueling. Working with other judges can also be grueling. I have always felt that I learn as much or more about myself as I do about the wines I am evaluating. Balancing opinions, egos, preferences and wine prejudices can be a dicey proposition and I have learned over the years to sit back and listen to the others, formulate my own opinion on the wines then try to blend some sort of common evaluation on a specific wine for a final decision. Every once in a while we come across a judge who simply won't budge or has a decidedly single purposed vision on how a certain wine should be made and we either go with the flow or edge the judge out of the decision process by overwhelming him or her with an opposite yet united opinion. The most effective judge is the judge who evaluates well, understanding the balance between chemistry and art and can communicate those feelings effectively and with some passion. The very finest commercial wine judges, those with the great palates can very gently change opinions and illuminate strengths and weaknesses in wines so that the rest of us can see more clearly and efficiently. This is called "flow," where committee/panel resistance is at a minimum and evaluation time is maximized. It's quite an experience on all levels. Here is a list of the gold medal winners: Airlie 2002 pinot noir, Chateau Lorane 2002 Baco Noir, Columbia Crest 2002 Syrah, St. Michelle Sparkling wine, King Estate 2001 pinot noir, Laurel Ridge 2002 chardonnay, LaVelle 2004 riesling, Maryhill 2002 zinfandel, Paschal 2001 merlot, Springhill 2001 pinot noir, Willamette Valley Vin. 2003 pinot gris and Wine by Joe 2003 pinot gris. Have fun see you next time! DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Free Musick Downloads Slippers Ceramic Piggy Banks Heloc Calenders 2005 Women's & Men's Slippers Accelerate Weightloss Products Memory Foam Mattress tcg student loan consolidation Home Equity Loans teleconferencing W2 Forms cortisol weight loss Diamonds Paris Hilton Mesothelioma Free Home-Loan Referrals Tatoos Website Design & Marketing Student Loans African Safari Conference Calls - $50/Month Security Systems Helzberg Diamonds Currancy Exchange Online Casinos Community Student Loans Tatoo Poker Games Homeschooling Auto Insurance Mortgage Calculator Mailing Lists Payday Loans Click Here .:Advertisements:. Site Search: RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams