The Central Coast Wine Competition has announced that Halter Ranch Vineyards & Winery is the 2017 Winery of the Year.

The award was presented July 21, at Wine Night at Mission Square, before the Zach Brown Band concert during the California Mid-State Fair (July 19-30).

“We couldn’t be more proud to win this award from this terrific competition that takes place right here in the Paso Robles community,” said Skylar Stuck, Halter Ranch’s general manager. “This is truly a team win, and a culmination of all the hard work and long hours we devote to producing elegant, complex and approachable wines from our Adelaida District vineyards and winery.”

Of the 12 wines Halter Ranch entered, nine were awarded Gold Medals, two were awarded Silver Medals and one received a Bronze Medal from the panel of 19 expert judges during the blind-tasting competition, held June 20-21.

Four of Halter Ranch’s nine Gold Medal-winning wines went on to win Best in Class, including Best Grenache Blanc (2016 Grenache Blanc), Best Malbec (2014 Malbec), Best Tempranillo (2014 Tempranillo) and Best Rosé From Any Blend (2016 Rosé).

Based on the weighted points given to each medal and Best In Class win, Halter Ranch was the clear winner in a very competitive field of wineries big and small, noted CCWC returning Chief Judge Tim McDonald.

The 19 judges this year included Matt Kettmann of Wine Enthusiast magazine, Mary Orlin of the San Jose Mercury News, author Patrick Comiskey, of Wine & Spirits, and Jim Blumling, group vice president of wine, beer & spirits at Albertsons/Safeway.

The two-day competition took place at Estrella Hall at the California Mid-State Fair. On the first day, judges blind-tasted through nearly 700 wine submissions, rating and then voting on which to award a Gold Medal and Best in Class honor. The following day, the 67 Best in Class wines were blind tasted again and awarded best Red, White, Rosé, Sparkling and Dessert. Only after the awards were the producers revealed.

Best in Show went to Broken Earth Winery’s 2015 Grenache; The Best White Wine was awarded to Eberle Winery’s 2016 Muscat Canelli; Best Pink Wine went to Kitá Wines’ 2016 Grenache Rosé; Best Sparkling Wine was awarded to Laetitia Vineyard & Winery’s 2014 Brut Cuvée; and Best Dessert Wine was awarded to Glunz Family Winery’s Mission Angelica.

Read more at source Paso Robles Daily News