Wine competitions, at what cost?

We are all sitting by our keyboards and screens waiting with bated breath and anticipation! So??

No results yet. It took CA State Fair officials about a week to post the commercial winners after the judging. So, it could be any day or next weekend.

I hope @4Score doesn't mind me posting, but we predicted what we thought our wines would get and what we thought each other would get. I think overall, we are optimistic in our predictions, as I found out last year, a good % of the wines do not receive any mention and only the top 12% (1 out of 8) or so receive a Gold.

NorCal's prediction of NorCal's wine:
2016 Chardonnay Silver
2015 Mourvedre Gold
2015 Zin Silver

NorCal's prediction of 4Score's wine:
2015 Barbera Silver
2014 Syrah Gold
2014 Cab Franc Silver
2016 Chardonnay Silver

4Score prediction of NorCal's wine:
2016 Chardonnay Silver
2015 Mourvedre Silver
2015 Zin Bronze

4Score prediction of 4Score's wine:
2015 Barbera Gold
2014 Syrah Silver
2014 Cab Franc Silver
2016 Chardonnay Silver

Full disclosure. Here are the results from last year's State Fair on the wines that received ribbons; they do not publish how many wines did not place at all. You can see why receiving a gold is a pretty lofty goal, given we are in wine country with arguably some of the world's best fruit and a lot of budding winemakers in the area; UCD is 20 minutes from the State Fair Grounds, Napa 1 hour away.

NorCal said:

I hope @4Score doesn't mind me posting, but we predicted what we thought our wines would get and what we thought each other would get.

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This is great - just amped up the anticipation.

Also - you guys must be great friends.

@4Score called the guy running it and he sent him the results ahead of time. Now mind you, there are hundreds of wines entered in this competition, so it is one of the biggest home wine making events around. But, he got the pdf file. I'll let him post the results.

RESULTS ARE IN!!!

(drum roll please)

NorCal's prediction of NorCal's wine:
2016 Chardonnay Silver: SILVER
2015 Mourvedre Gold: GOLD
2015 Zin Silver: SILVER

NorCal's prediction of 4Score's wine:
2015 Barbera Silver: DOUBLE GOLD & BEST OF CLASS
2014 Syrah Gold: SILVER
2014 Cab Franc Silver: HM
2016 Chardonnay Silver: BRONZE

4Score prediction of NorCal's wine:
2016 Chardonnay Silver
2015 Mourvedre Silver
2015 Zin Bronze

4Score prediction of 4Score's wine:
2015 Barbera Gold
2014 Syrah Silver
2014 Cab Franc Silver
2016 Chardonnay Silver

Beyond Happy!

OK I am officially LOST!

I see "prediction, prediction, prediction"

Nowhere do I see official RESULTS!

4score said:

NorCal's prediction of NorCal's wine:
2016 Chardonnay Silver: SILVER
2015 Mourvedre Gold: GOLD
2015 Zin Silver: SILVER

NorCal's prediction of 4Score's wine:
2015 Barbera Silver: DOUBLE GOLD & BEST OF CLASS
2014 Syrah Gold: SILVER
2014 Cab Franc Silver: HM
2016 Chardonnay Silver: BRONZE

4Score prediction of NorCal's wine:
2016 Chardonnay Silver
2015 Mourvedre Silver
2015 Zin Bronze

4Score prediction of 4Score's wine:
2015 Barbera Gold
2014 Syrah Silver
2014 Cab Franc Silver
2016 Chardonnay Silver

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I took it to mean the bolded parts are the results. I had to read it twice too.

That's fantastic guys, huge congratulations to both of you. So, to answer the original thread question, yes it Is worth the cost.

Stressbaby said:

I took it to mean the bolded parts are the results. I had to read it twice too.

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Yes, sorry....the Actual results were bolded in the post.

4score said:

NorCal's prediction of NorCal's wine:
2016 Chardonnay Silver: SILVER
2015 Mourvedre Gold: GOLD
2015 Zin Silver: SILVER

NorCal's prediction of 4Score's wine:
2015 Barbera Silver: DOUBLE GOLD & BEST OF CLASS
2014 Syrah Gold: SILVER
2014 Cab Franc Silver: HM
2016 Chardonnay Silver: BRONZE

4Score prediction of NorCal's wine:
2016 Chardonnay Silver
2015 Mourvedre Silver
2015 Zin Bronze

4Score prediction of 4Score's wine:
2015 Barbera Gold
2014 Syrah Silver
2014 Cab Franc Silver
2016 Chardonnay Silver

Click to expand...

And, if you notice, NorCal correctly predicted his results! Congrats @NorCal on the GOLD for your Mourvedre!!!

And to @4Score for the best Barbara in Barbara country! The funny thing is that we've swapped bottles over this last year and I have 4 left . Really happy that your wine received the recognition that it deserved.

So, to answer the question was it worth it? Sitting here, having achieved my winemaking goal of winning a gold medal at the state level, I have to say yea. I won't remember the $60, but I will remember achieving the goal.

Now will I do it again next year?

Those predictions are very telling. And affirms that the winemakers themselves are the best judge of their own wine. (Or at least 4score and NorCal)
Congrats. That's gotta feel pretty damn good right about now.

@4Score and I were talking about these wines today. Both the double gold Barbera and the gold Mourvèdre were problematic wines, which we aired our dirty laundry on he first few pages of this thread.

Both had a case of H2S. It really shows to not give up on your wine when they are struggling.

Congrats guys. Excellent results.

Way to go guys!

That is so excellent! Way to go, guys!