KELSEYVILLE – In a quiet room at the Riviera Hills Restaurant overlooking the breathtaking expanse of Clear Lake, 17 Lake County winemakers and wine industry professionals recently joined together to taste and rate more than 20 Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet blends from the region, compare opinions and identify exceptional wines.

“Lake County produces an impressive collection of Cabernet Sauvignons, several of which have won gold medals at international wine competitions,” said Shannon Gunier, Director of the Lake County Winegrape Commission. “Tasting these wines collectively allowed us to define the distinct characteristics that set our wines apart from those of other regions. It also offered an opportunity for our winemakers to challenge one other, share expertise and experiences, and help make Lake County wines even better.”

The Cabernets were divided into two flights: wines under $25 from vintage years 2003-2006, and wines over $25 from vintage years 2004-2005. Among the top-rated Cabernets from the under $25 flight were the 2006 Obsidian Ridge, 2004 Dynamite, and 2005 Brassfield Estate. In the $25 and over flight, the top-rated Cabernets were 2004 Snows Lake One, 2004 Steele and 2005 Shed Horn.

“Lake County offers beautiful Cabernets with a distinctive, dense dark fruit character and intense color," said Gunier. “They are not overblown or over oaked. They are beautifully made wines that express the true varietal character of the Cabernet Sauvignon that we grow in Lake County. And they are winning a lot of medals.”

Those in attendance included John Adriance of Snows Lake Vineyard, Mark Burch of Wildhurst Winery, Bob Broman of Bob Broman Cellars, Greg Graham of Gregory Graham Wines, Brent Holdenried of Holdenried Harvesting, Jeff Lyon of Robin Hill Vineyards, Glenn McGourty of UC Cooperative Extension, Rob Roumiguiere of Roumiguiere Vineyards, Donna Roumiguiere of Steele Wines, Malcolm Seibly of Dynamite Vineyards, Clay Shannon of Shannon Ridge Winery, Jim Smith of Nova Winegrape Brokers, Mike Wood of Shannon Ridge Winery, Paul Wagner and Susan Olson of Balzac Communications, and Shannon Gunier and Collette Merrill of Lake County Winegrape Commission.

“Lake County produces some of the highest quality fruit in California,” said Gunier. “The quality of the wine produced from our grapes continues to impress. It’s time for people to taste these wines again and see for themselves what Lake County wines are all about.”

Since its inception in 1992, the Lake County Winegrape Commission has marketed the premium Lake County winegrape growing region to new and existing grape buyers and wineries all over California. The Commission also assists growers in a variety of activities including educational and research programs that benefit growers’ vineyard development.

In 1991, when the statewide California Winegrape Commission was voted down, Bob Roumiguiere, a local Lake County grower and president of the Grape Growers Association, saw the opportunity for local Lake County Winegrape growers to band together and with the LCGGA, spearheaded the creation of a local commission.

Now in its 15th year, the Lake County Winegrape Commission has been instrumental in developing the Lake County winegrape region’s unwavering commitment to high quality winegrapes through education, marketing, and research.

Visit the commission online at www.lakecountywinegrape.org.

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