Nominated by Assemblyman Jim Frazier, Foundation Gala raises funds for student scholarships
SACRAMENTO – In a friendly and entertaining wine competition featuring 30 red and white wines from 23 California wineries, legislators and elected officials awarded gold medals to seven wines. The competition was held during the annual California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) Foundation Gala, which raises funds for scholarships to children of California winegrape grower workers.
Winning Wines
Viognier
2015 Viognier, Bloomfield Vineyards, Contra Costa (wine nominated by Assemblyman Jim Frazier)
Chardonnay
2015 Chardonnay, Rusack Vineyards, Santa Catalina Island (wine nominated by Sen. Ben Allen)
Other White Wines
2015 Vermentino, Ponte Winery, Temecula (wine nominated by Sen. Jeff Stone)
Cabernet Sauvignon
2014 Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon, J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines, Paso Robles (wine nominated by Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham)
Pinot Noir
2012 Seven Twenty Eight Pinot Noir, Fiddlehead Cellars, Lompoc (wine nominated by Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson)
Zinfandel
2014 Mountain Zinfandel, Opolo Vineyards, Paso Robles (wine nominated by Assemblywoman Jacqui Irwin)
“I’m not surprised at all,” said Assemblymember Jim Frazier. “The Bloomfield family has long farmed our region with great results. I nominated Bloomfield Vineyards for this competition because I knew its wine would more than hold its own against wineries across our Golden State. After all, east Contra Costa County is an up-and-coming wine producing area, as more residents and visitors are discovering every day. We not only have wonderful cherries, asparagus, stone fruits and Brentwood sweetcorn, but also award -winning wine and wineries. I’m just glad that other legislators are finally learning what I’ve known all along.”
It’s another prestigious win for Bloomfield’s 2015 Viognier, which earned a double gold at last summer’s California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition and was deemed the Best of the Greater Bay White wines.
“We appreciated being nominated by the Assemblymember,” said Becky Bloomfield. “The viognier has always been my signature wine, and I’ve been making them for 14 years. I’m super excited that it won!”
The boutique winery, based in Brentwood, produces only about 200 cases of viognier a year, among a total of 500 to 700 cases of wine. Most of the grapes the fourth-generation farming family grows on its 200 acres of vineyards are sold to other wineries.
About the CAWG Foundation: The foundation is a nonprofit public benefit corporation that awards scholarships to high school seniors whose parent or legal guardian is employed by a California winegrape grower. The foundation awards at least seven scholarships each year and has awarded $373,000 since its inception in 1998. For more information, visit www.cawgfoundation.org.
About CAWG: CAWG provides industry leadership to advocate for public policies, research and education programs, and sustainable farming practices to enhance the business of growing California winegrapes. The organization represents the growers of more than 50 percent of the gross grape tonnage crushed for wine and concentrate in California. For more information, visit www.cawg.org.
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