California Rosé Wine Competition

For years Rosé has been the Rodney Dangerfield of wines -- it just couldn't get any respect. That's because many people, including me, had bad experiences early on with cloyingly sweet wines that bore the name Rosé.

It took me years to try a Rosé again. When I finally did I was somewhere in France on a very hot summer day. My travel companion insisted that my misgivings about Rosé were baseless and urged me to try again. As you might guess, the wine was light, refreshing and dry, and I've been a Rosé fan ever since.

And now my old friend Bob Ecker -- a long-time wine writer and a frequent judge at wine competitions over the years -- has just coordinated the first-ever professional Rosé wine competition held in California.

Held on May 6, 2013 at Napa Valley's Meritage Resort, "First Blush" was a blind judging of California Rose wine. A total of 89 Rose wines competed, resulting in 4 Double Gold Medals, 6 Gold Medals, 36 Silver Medals and 19 Bronze Medals.

There were three Double Gold winners in the Dry Rose category:

• Jelly Jar Wines of Lake County (category winner)
• Handley Cellars of Anderson Valley
• Curtis Winery of Santa Barbara

The fourth Double Gold was awarded to a sweeter wine, Menage a Trois from Trinchero Family Estates (Delta/Lodi/Coastal). The biggest winner among appelations was Paso Robles AVA, with 10 awards that included 2 Gold Medals.

You can read about all the winners here.

 I'm saving the best news for last. You can celebrate the winners and sample their wines (and enjoy good food and live music) on Saturday,  June 8, 1-4 p.m., at Meritage Resort. Tickets are $25, and you can purchase yours here.