Ramona Ranch wins Gold medal in prestigious Sunset International Wine Competition – Ramona Sentinel

Ramona Ranch Vineyard & Winery’s 2017 vintage Super Tuscan wine was awarded a prestigious Gold medal in the 2021 Sunset Magazine International Wine Competition.

The winery’s owners, Teri Kerns and Micole Moore, said they were thrilled when they received word of the honor this week. Judges scored their wine at 93 points on a scale of 1 to 100.

“It’s a big deal in the winery world,” said Kerns, noting they received three Silver medals in last year’s Sunset International Wine Competition. “100 points is perfect. A 93 score on a scale of 100 means it is a wine of superior character and style.”

The Sunset Magazine competition has the distinction of recognizing the best wines produced internationally. This year’s contest had 2,900 entries.

Gold medals were awarded to wines rated 90-plus points and were eligible to move on to the “Best Of” category. Double Gold awards were given to wines that scored 95 points or higher.

“This contest drew top-level wines and hand-picked, top-notch judges to determine which wines stood out and are worthy of recognition,” wrote Debra Del Fiorentino, president of Wine Competitions Production & Management, which owns and operates the Sunset International Wine Competition, in a letter to contestants. “To receive a medal in a competition of this caliber truly showcases the level of wines you produce.”

Ramona Ranch’s 2017 Super Tuscan is a blend of four grapes from four Ramona vineyards — Ramona Ranch Sangiovese Estate, Paccielo Anglianico, John and Cathi Little Cabernet Sauvignon, and Hatfield Creek Zinfandel — blended in equal parts.

Kerns said she and Moore entered the wine because they “thought it was something special.”

“The judges don’t know where the wine is from or who made it, they just know what type of wine it is,” Kerns said.

Only five barrels of the award-winning Super Tuscan were produced and captured in 1,620 bottles, Kerns said. The wine will be released in July and an announcement of its availability will be posted on the winery’s Facebook page. The wine has not been priced yet.

Kerns attributes some of the wine’s quality to Ramona’s climate, which is influenced by morning fog, afternoon wind and cool evenings, with higher daytime temperatures during the warmer months. This slows ripening, allowing the vines to have a longer growing season than the rest of California, she said.

“Thanks to this extra time on the vine, our grapes develop deeper, with richer flavors, leading to ripe, concentrated wines,” she said.

The owners of Ramona Ranch tout themselves as San Diego County’s only Certified Sustainable Vineyard and Winery. That means their grapes are farmed sustainably, avoiding the use of pesticides, herbicides and involving minimal winemaker intervention. They also incorporate naturally occurring yeast grown on their property in east Ramona, at 23578 state Route 78,

“We are confident our shared philosophy of taking good care of our vineyards will allow us to continue to make great wines here at Ramona Ranch for years to come,” said winemaker Moore.

Kerns said they appreciate the support and encouragement the local vineyards and wineries have had from Ramona community members, who have helped at harvests, come to tastings and shared local wines.

“We could not have survived the pandemic without the support of this great community,” Kerns said.

The winners of the 2021 Sunset Magazine International Wine Competition will be featured in October in a Sunset Magazine Wine Special non-print digital edition. Promotions for the wine award special issue will be placed in sunset.com, Sunset eNewsletters, and Sunset social sites.