The 6th Annual Cabernet Franc Celebration event is opened for both domestic and international producers of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Franc Blends (a minimum of 50% Cabernet Franc grapes). We have had fourteen states and five countries participating previously in the event representing over 90 wines.
The Best of Class awards will be for the following categories:
- Specialty Division – PetNat, Sparkling, Blanc, etc.
- Blend Division – A minimum of 50% Cabernet Franc grapes
- Eastern Division – All states along the east coast (NY, North Carolina, Virginia, etc.)
- Central Division – Michigan, Ohio, etc.
- Northwest Division – Oregon, Washington and Idaho
- Southwest Division – Arizona, New Mexico and Texas
- California Division – Broken down in various price points
- International Division – All other countries besides USA
Early Bird Registration opens November 1st and closes November 30th. Early Bird cost is $75 per entry and closes 11/30/24. Regular registration ($85 per entry) closes on 2/1/24. The competition will take place on March 5th, 2025.
To Register: 2025 6th International Cabernet Franc Wine Competition « California Wines & Wineries
Why hold this event? It is to show the uniqueness and versatility of Cabernet Franc and to celebrate the wine as so much more than a blending grape.
How will the competition be judged? The event will be a blind tasting using the “Danish System,” sometimes called the group method. Unique to this event, two separate judging stations will be set up. The first will comprise of Professional Judges and the second being the People’s Choice Judges (serious consumers). Each set of Judges will award medals and award Best of Show based on geographic regions and categories. Additionally, each set of judges will select a Grand Sweepstakes winner from taste-off of all the Division & Category winners.
Who are the judges? Tom Bender has agreed once again to head up the Professional Judging Panel(s). Tom has headed the California Sierra Foothill Competition for over 35 years, served on California State Fair Judges, is a well-known writer for various wine magazines and teaches at a local college. Other judges slated include Mike Dunne retired food editor, wine columnist for the Sacramento Bee, distinguished judge at San Francisco Chronicle and other events, Fran Cunniffe a DipWSET and certified Sommelier, Tana Cole winemaker from Sonoma Valley, Napa, Lodi and Calaveras AVA’s, Dr. Elizabeth Smith award-winning wine writer, a judge at various judging events and Winelovers Wine Awards in Budapest and the 2023 Open Balkan Wine Trophy in Belgrade and others with WSET I, II and III qualifications. People Choice Judges are astute individuals with years of experience. All judges are prepared with extensive documentation and profiles on Cabernet Franc’s characteristics from various geographic areas in advance. Each wine is judged on its own terroir characteristics within their respective category.
Benefits for wineries participating? National exposure from California Wines and Wineries website which will run a full feature article on those receiving Best of Show (domestic and international) per category. The story will also be sent to eighty blogs for reposting and all social media for a readership reach of over 600,000. Additionally, it will be submitted to two magazines with an additional 500,000 readership if reprinted. The two Grand Sweepstakes winners will also be featured on a podcast by Exploring the Wine Glass in a joint session. And California Wines and Wineries will do a feature article on each Grand Sweepstakes winner. Last year we had two newspapers (both hard copy and electronically) cover the event.
Where and when is the event being held? It will be in Copperopolis, California (Sierra foothills) March 5th, 2025.
Registration can be found at 2025 6th International Cabernet Franc Wine Competition « California Wines & Wineries.
Results from the 5th Annual Wine Competition Event can be found here.
