SOLIS WINERY WINS MOST PRESTIGIOUS AWARD YET
AT CALIFORNIA STATE WINE COMPETITION
GILROY, CA, July 22, 2008 – In what is recognized as the oldest, most prestigious wine contest in North America, Gilroy’s award-winning Solis Winery received two of the highest awards handed out at the 2008 California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition. The Santa Clara Valley winery’s 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate ($34) and 2004 Sangiovese, Estate ($18) were individually recognized with the esteemed ‘Best of Class of Region’ awards, making them the highest scoring varietals from their region.
“These awards are truly incredible, considering that the wines received the best score in all the appellations represented,” said Vic Vanni, owner of Solis Winery.
The ‘Best of Class of Region’ award is calculated after all the awards and numeric scores have been given, determining the winning varietals in each of the 11 regions designated throughout California. Solis Winery was recognized in the massive Greater Bay Appellations Region, which consisted of San Francisco Bay, Alameda County, Livermore Valley, Contra Costa County, San Francisco County, San Mateo County, Santa Clara County, Santa Clara Valley, San Ysidro District, Santa Cruz County, Ben Lomond Mountain and Santa Cruz Mountains.
In addition to the coveted ‘Best of Class of Region’ award, Solis Winery took home a Gold Medal for its 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate ($34) and a Silver Medal for its 2004 Sangiovese, Estate ($18).
First held in 1855, the California State Wine Competition is, by far, the oldest wine competition and most meaningful of the major competitions restricted to California wines. It is the only competition requiring all wines to be entered based on the viticulture area, or appellation, where the grapes are grown, and not where the winery is located. Entries are limited to California bonded wineries selling retail. Distinguished panels of judges, who must first pass a Qualification Test designed specially for the California State Fair, determine the winners among the thousands of entries. The selected judges range from wine educators, wine makers, wine journalists, retailers and wholesalers to wine collectors and those from the restaurant trade. For more information about the California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition, visit www.thebestcaliforniawine.com.
Following the announcement of the awards, all winning wines are featured and available Save Mart markets. Solis Winery’s award-winning wines are always available locally. Guests are encouraged to sample them by personally visiting the winery’s tasting room, located at 3920 Hecker Pass in Gilroy.
About Solis Winery
Solis Winery lies in the heart of Santa Clara Valley’s rich wine-growing region. Originally planted by Italian immigrants in the 1920s, the vineyard changed hands in 1980 when the Vanni family purchased the land. Since then, the Vannis have continued to marry tradition with modern technology and art with innovation to produce award-winning wines.
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