2015 Award Season has begun

Food and drink award season has started. Just like Hollywood, we have our own best of – ranging from international wine competitions to the James Beard Awards to homegrown Sonoma Valley Best of 2014, as sponsored by the Sun. Here are some of the highlights of award season so far that feature winners from Sonoma Valley.

Martini Madness Best Overall: Centre du Vin
& Hopmonk Tavern

A sold out crowd of cocktail obsessed attendees taste-tested unique concoctions created by eight Sonoma bartenders at the annual Martini Madness event at Saddles Steakhouse. Here are the two Best Overall recipes so you can enjoy Martini Madness from the comfort of your own home:

Judge’s Choice, Best Overall 

• Bartender: Coy Estes, Centre du Vin
• Classic Vodka Martini
• Solano Vodka
• Angostura Orange Bitters
• Dry Vermouth

First, spice a glass with dry vermouth. Do this by adding ½ oz of dry vermouth to a martini glass. Gently spin the glass to distribute the dry vermouth. Pour out the excess dry vermouth. To make the martini, fill a shaker with ice. Add 2 oz of Solano Vodka. Add 2 dashes of Angostura Orange Bitters. Stir it in the shaker (don’t shake). Pour into the spiced glass.

People’s Choice, Best Overall

• Bartenders: Dax Marchus, Koko Geoffreys, Nathalie Ghordils and Steve Brunolli, Hopmonk Tavern
• Topsy Turvy Tini
• 1 1/2 oz El Jimador silver tequila
• 1/2 peach schnapps
• 3/4 oz fresh grapefruit juice
• 1/2 oz fresh lime juice
• 1/2 oz agave syrup
• 2 dashes of bitters
• 3-4 drops rose flower water

Combine all ingredients into a martini shaker.  Shake. Pour into a martini glass and garnish with a slice of blood orange.

2015 Good Food Award Winners: The Olive Press & Hanson of Sonoma Vodka

In its sixth year, the Good Food Awards were founded by slow food evangelist and Alice Waters devotee, Sarah Weiner. These annual awards seek to showcase food that is “tasty, authentic and responsibly produced.” This year’s winners, announced in an award ceremony at the Palace of Fine Arts, include two Sonoma Valley products: The Olive Press’ Sevillano Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Hanson of Sonoma’s Original Organic Vodka. These products were selected out of thousands of submissions via juried blind tastings. Awardees were given their honors by Alice Waters herself. Congratulations!

San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition: Winners under $25 

Big winners: Gloria Ferrer NV Carneros Blanc de Noirs ($22) and Sweepstake winner Gloria Ferrer 2010 Blanc de Blancs ($42)

It’s that time of the year again: wineries are touting their “medal winning” wines. Winery interns are forced to slap “gold medal” stickers on bottles and wine club members are inundated with award winner sales via email. What’s the big deal? Well, the largest American wine competition, the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, announced its winners this month. Sonoma Valley winemakers walked away with all levels of awards, most notably Gloria Ferrer; the winery won the prestigious Sweepstake Award for sparkling wine for their 2010 Blanc de Blancs ($42). A tasty bottle of bubbly indeed! However, being on a budget, I often seek out wallet-friendly winners. Here is a list of just that – affordably priced Sonoma Valley winners I enjoy and that come with the extra perks of being locally grown (or made) and gentle on your wallet. Oh, and I added one splurge wine for special occasions.

 SFCWC on a Budget: Sarah’s Favorite Budget Friendly Winners

• Sparkling: Gloria Ferrer, NV Carneros Blanc de Noirs, $22 – Silver
• Sauvignon Blanc: Benziger Family Winery, 2013 North Coast Sauvignon Blanc, $15 – Silver
• Chardonnay: Kenwood Vineyards, 2013 Sonoma County Chardonnay, $14 – Best of Class
• Rosé: Muscardini Cellars, 2013 Rosato di Sangiovese, Alice’s Vineyard, $24 – Double Gold
• Pinot Noir: Don & Sons, 2012 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, $19.99 – Gold
• Zinfandel: Cline Cellars, 2013 Ancient Vines, $17.99 – Best of Class
• Red Blend: Buena Vista Winery, 2012 The Count, $20 – Gold
• Splurge: Anaba, 2012 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, $34 – Best of Class