Category Archives: Competition

Competition, Festivals, Film, Judging, Sommelier, Wine

Submission Time! 5th Annual SIFF Wine Awards

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This professional wine competition became part of Sonoma International Film Festival in 2018: It is organized and executed by sommelier Christopher Sawyer and a panel of wine writers, star sommeliers and retailers, taking place on March 16th, 2022. Deadline for wine submissions is March 11th. CATEGORIES & DETAILS BELOW!

  • Best Sparkling Wine
  • Best Chardonnay
  • Best Aromatic White Wine
  • Sauvignon Blanc
  • Other White Varietals & Blends
  • Best Pink Wine (still)
  • Best Pinot Noir
  • Best Merlot
  • Best Red Wine Blend
  • Best Zinfandel
  • Best Rhone Varieties
  • Best Bordeaux Varieties
  • Best Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Best Dessert Wine
  • Best Port Wine

Select the categories you want to enter from the list above. Please provide 2 bottles of wine for each category you are entering, including a spec sheet with the level of residual sugar information.

Deliver your wine to the SIFF office @ 103 E Napa Street, Ste. B, Sonoma, CA (above Maya Restaurant) before March 11th, 2022.
Contact Chay or Danyelle, 707-200-8215 , if you have any questions.

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Awards, Competition, Event, Sommelier, Travels, Wine

McMinnville Wine Classic Awards 2022!

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As seen in this gorgeous shot by Jason E. Kaplan Photography, the wine was flowing to perfection at the wine competition for McMinnville Wine & Food Classic, coming up this March 11-13.

See the McMINNVILLE WINE CLASSIC AWARDS results here!

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A few lucky judges also went touring, THANKS to the hospitality of Erath & WillaKenzie for the spectacular visits!

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#oregonwine #winecompetition #orwines #oregonwinecountry #visitmcminnville #SawyerSomm #TheSommFiles

Competition, Sommelier, Travels, Wine

The Results! México Selection 2021

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DRUMROLL PLEASE Finally the results you have all been waiting for! 2021 México Selection, a division of the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles in Guanajuato, Mexico last month. Click the links to find out more!

WINE RESULTS

SPIRITS RESULTS

Cheers & Happy New Year from Sawyer Somm!

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Competition, Event, Sommelier, Wine

Vote Baby Vote! Best Of Bohemian Until December 1st

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The time has come again to select your favorites from Sonoma County, honoring local businesses! I humbly request your support in the BEST SOMMELIER category, VOTE HERE, and type in Christopher Sawyer.

Also please consider Gravenstein Grill for BEST RESTAURANT as well as an assortment of the dining categories you deem worthy. And most especially, if you have had the pleasure of trying out Sonoma Burger then give them a nod for BEST BURGER. If not then go try it out today!

Thank you, enjoy and happy voting! Chris

Competition, Event, Festivals, Film, Sommelier, Video, Wine

SIFF: The Wine Awards 2021!

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Congratulations to the winners of our 4th Annual SIFF | Safe Harbor Wine Storage Wine Awards presented by San Francisco Magazine

Sonoma International Film Festival and our jury of tasting experts, led by noted sommelier Christopher Sawyer, toast the winners and thank all that participated. Watch the Wine Awards announcement on the SIFF Vimeo Channel and check out the details below!

Competition, Event, Festivals, Film, Wine

SIFF Wine Competition: Enter Now Through April 5th!

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The splendor of the Sonoma International Film Festival may be coming to a close but your wines can still participate! Info below for more details or contact Chay Woerz.

4th Annual SIFF Wine Awards: Sponsored by Safe Harbor Wine Storage &Presented by San Francisco Magazine

How To Enter: Select the categories you want to enter from the list below.  Then provide 2 bottles of wine for each of the categories you are entering.

Deliver wines to SIFF office: Located above Maya Restaurant (103 E Napa Street, Ste. B, Sonoma) by April 5th, 2021.

CATEGORIES! BEST Sparking Wine, Chardonnay, Aromatic White Wine, Pink Wine (still), Red Wine Blend, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Dessert Wine, Port Wine, Sake (NEW)

Winners receive digital laurels to use for your marketing and a framed certificate to hang in your winery or tasting room as well as some serious bragging rights!

Judging will be organized and executed by sommelier Christopher Sawyer and panel of wine experts, on April 9th. 

The winners will be announced prior to the SIFF Saturday Film Screening on April 24th.

Following the screening the Awards Presentation will then be available on our SIFF Food and Wine Vimeo channel for those that missed it. We encourage you to send us virtual tasting content (10 minutes max) and any special offer (need link, description and promo code) you may have to share with our audience.

Deadline for wine submissions is April 5th and we will need your video by April 15th.

Competition, Sommelier, Virtual

Annual BOHO Best Of . . . VOTE Until Dec 15th!

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Getting a little late start on this with all the election fracas reverberating around the nation, but it is not too late to be heard: At least not for the North Bay Bohemian! Time to select your favorites in Sonoma County to honor those businesses keeping it real in the current pandemic.

VOTE HERE: Deadline is Tuesday, December 15th! And I would be honored if you choose me again for BEST SOMMELIER.

Cheers & Happy Holidays! Christopher

Awards, Competition, Judging, Sommelier, Wine

Summing Up the North Coast Wine Challenge For 2020

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It finally happened, after an initial postponement in April, so now rounding back to the big (socially distanced) competition in July, you can read some results about The Press Democrat North Coast Wine Challenge (NCWC) in my follow up article published by Spirited Magazine in September, and then scroll down for a full list of winners!

WINNING WINES: RESULTS FROM THE NORTH COAST WINE CHALLENGE 2020

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Photo by Kent Porter for The Press Democrat.

Competition, Judging, Sommelier, Virtual, Wine

The Wine Competition Virtual Discussion – Watch it HERE!

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Lucky for you our virtual meetup was recorded and can be shared after the fact! In preparation for the Central Coast Wine Competition on October 12-14, listen in this illuminating discussion with Tim McDonald, Jeff Kralik, Sarah Tracey and myself, via the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance!

Cool ass AVA map of Paso Robles!