Earthquake from Lodi rocks San Francisco wine competition

Michael-David Vineyards shook the competition at a prestigious San Francisco wine show last week when its 2003 Earthquake Petit Sirah won the top prize for red wines.

Earthquake was one of only three wine out of more than 3,200 entries to win a sweepstakes award at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, given to the top red, white and sparkling wine. Lodi wines took home a total of seven Best of Class awards and even more gold and double-gold medals.

"Lodi knocked their socks off," said Mark Chandler, executive director of the Lodi-Woodbridge Winegrape Commission. "The caliber of the wines (at the competition) was very high across the board. For us to get the sweepstakes award was quite an achievement."

The other sweepstakes winners, announced late Monday, were Napa's Charles Krug, for a 2004 Sauvignon Blanc, and Korbel Champagne Cellars for its Brut Rose California Champagne.

Three labels produced by Michael-David -- Earthquake, 7 Heavenly Chards and Incognito -- took home gold medals. Incognito won gold Best of Class for its 2004 Viognier, while the winery's 2003 Chardonnay won double-gold.

"These are blind tastings. There's no pre-conceived bias against Lodi," said Michael-David co-owner David Phillips as he poured Earthquake at the Lodi Grape Day tasting event at Hutchins Street Square on Tuesday. "It just shows how great the fruit is in Lodi."

Other Lodi wineries with multiple gold medals or Best of Class awards include:

• Macchia, which won Best of Class for its 2002 Sangiovese.

• Clay Station, which won Best of Class for its 2001 Cabernet/Petit Sirah blend.

• Ehlers Estates, which won gold for its 2003 Verdello and gold Best of Class for its 2002 Port.

• Olde Lockeford Winery, which took gold Best of Class for a 2003 Barbera and double-gold Best of Class for its 2003 Cabernet Franc.

• Klinker Brick, which won double-gold Best of Class for its 2002 Old Vine Zinfandel and gold for its 2001 Syrah.Owner Steve Felten said on Tuesday that the recognition helps his product on many levels. It recognizes not only the winemakers, but it gets salespeople and consumers excited about the winery and the Lodi Appellation.

"It just creates a buzz about your wines and your winery," Felten said. "Every little bit helps in this business."The competition is second only to the Los Angeles County Fair Wine Competition in the state, Chandler said. San Francisco's 55 judges, which included Chandler, came from across the country to sample the wines.

"It's another endorsement of the advances we've made over the past five years in wine quality," Chandler said.

Complete results and information about the competition are at http://www.winejudging.com.

Contact Business Editor Greg Kane at gregk@lodinews.com.