La Crema Winery Named Winemaker Of The Year André Tchelistcheff Award For Best Medal Showing Earned At San Francisco International Wine Competition

La Crema Winery, one of the pioneers of the Russian River Valley and the Sonoma Coast, was judged to have the Best of Class Pinot Noir and was also awarded the André Tchelistcheff Winemaker of the Year honor by the notable judges of the just-completed 2002 San Francisco International Wine Competition.

Contact:    James Caudill    (707) 525-6229

    After Hours    (707) 570-2098

        Jim.Caudill@kjmail.com

    Andre Boada    (707) 525-6249

        Andre.Boada@kjmail.com

La Crema Winery Named Winemaker Of The Year

André Tchelistcheff Award For Best Medal Showing Earned At

San Francisco International Wine Competition

Windsor, Calif. (June 26, 2002) - La Crema Winery, one of the pioneers of the Russian River Valley and the Sonoma Coast, was judged to have the Best of Class Pinot Noir and was also awarded the

André Tchelistcheff Winemaker of the Year honor by the notable judges of the just-completed

2002 San Francisco International Wine Competition.

    The Winemaker of the Year award is given to a small production winery earning the most medal points in the competition, and is named after the famed winemaker, who is known as the founding father of the modern California wine industry.

    La Crema Winemaker Jeff Stewart entered 11 wines in the nations largest wine competition, which this year saw more than 3,800 entries from wineries around the world. The wines included Chardonnay, Viognier, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel and Syrah and the winery came away with nine medals for his efforts, earning top accolades in what is often referred to as one of the toughest competitions in the wine world.

    Winning awards were:

    1999 Russian River Valley Chardonnay    Bronze    

    2000 Russian River Valley Chardonnay    Bronze    

•    2000 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay    Gold    

•    1999 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir    Silver    

•    2000 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir    Double Gold/Best of Class Pinot Noir    

•    2000 Carneros Pinot Noir    Gold    

•    2000 Anderson Valley Pinot Noir    Bronze    

•    2000 Sonoma County Syrah    Silver    

•    1998 Sonoma County Zinfandel    Bronze    

    Some 918 wineries from 21 countries and 26 states entered the competition, which is now in its third decade after its beginning in 1981 as a competition associated with the San Francisco County Fair.

    With success in several varietals, Winemaker Stewart said he was pleased La Cremas wines were gaining recognition. Our goal is to best represent our home along the Sonoma Coast with wines of elegance and balance, and to have success with a panel this varied and distinguished brings great honor to our efforts," he said. There is no better place on Earth to craft Pinot Noirs than the Russian River Valley." Stewart also acknowledged the close cooperation and team of his vineyard manager, Hector Bedolla and assistant winemaker Melissa Stackhouse.

    La Crema has earned notice in other 2002 competitions as well. Including San Francisco, the winery has earned 73 medals, including 20 golds, in the 23 competitions entered this year. Half those gold medals were for La Cremas Pinot Noirs, produced from vineyards in the Carneros, Sonoma Coast, Russian River Valley and Anderson Valley appellations.

    The judging panels included notable wine writers, sommeliers and retailers and were directed by long-time competition head Anthony Dias Blue, Wine & Spirits Editor for Bon Appétit magazine. Serving on the panel were such noted wine critics as Frank Prial, New York Times; Dan Berger, Vintage Experiences; Doug Frost, MS& MW, Kansas City Star; Debbie Zachareas, Wine Director for Bacar Restaurant; Kevin Vogt, MS, Wine Director, Delmonicos Restaurant, Las Vegas; Larry Walker, Wine & Spirits International and John Lancaster, Wine Buyer, Boulevard Restaurant, among many others.

    The San Francisco competition has earned a world-wide reputation based on the quality of the tasting panels and the application of rigorous standards, which often results in a smaller percentage of gold and double gold medals being awarded than at other competitions. In fact, this year just 82 double gold and 134 gold medals were awarded from the 3,810 wines entered. La Crema won a double gold and two golds among its nine medals.

    For more information about the San Francisco International Wine Competition and its related programs, visit the web at www.SFWineComp.com.

    For more than two decades La Crema has been a pioneer in Sonomas famed Russian River Valley, crafting elegant and sophisticated Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from vineyards in the cool growing regions of the Sonoma Coast. Visit La Crema on the Web at LaCrema.com

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Contact:    James Caudill    (707) 525-6229

    After Hours    (707) 570-2098

        Jim.Caudill@kjmail.com

    Andre Boada    (707) 525-6249

        Andre.Boada@kjmail.com