TEMECULA, Calif., March 28, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- More than half of the Temecula Valley wines entered in the New World International Wine Competition won medals in a contest that attracted more than 2,000 wines from around the globe.
All told, Temecula wines won 52 medals at the New World competition, which included 483 wineries from the United States, Mexico, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
"It's a pretty good showing," said Joe Hart of Hart Winery, gold medal winner and former president of the Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association. "More than 50 percent of the (Temecula) wines entered received a medal."
Last month wines from the Temecula Valley walked off with 12 medals at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition 2008, which included entrants from nearly every major wine-producing region in the United States.
At the New World International Wine Competition held earlier this month in Ontario, Calif., Temecula wineries captured six gold, 18 silver and 28 bronze medals.
Among the gold medals winners, Keyways Vineyard & Winery won best of class gold for its 2007 Sauvignon Blanc ($19) and 2007 Chenin Blanc ($17).
Other gold medal winners include: Baily Vineyard & Winery's 2007 Rose of Cabernet Sauvignon ($16.95), Hart Winery's 2007 Sauvignon Blanc ($16) and Wilson Creek's 2005 Zinfandel ($34.95) and 2005 Petite Sirah ($32.95).
The Temecula Valley is the premiere winemaking region in Southern California. Over the last decade, the number of wineries in Temecula's Wine Country has doubled and more new wineries are in the planning stages. More importantly, the area's reputation for making fine wine is on the rise as local wines continue to win major awards at wine competitions that include well-known domestic and international brands.
For more information, call the Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association at 801-800-WINE or visit www.temeculawines.org