Girardet Winery takes people's choice award at Greatest of Grape

Marc Girardet stands with a bottle of Girardet Winery's 2009 Pinot Noir Barrel Select, winner of the 2011 people's choice award Saturday at the Greatest of the Grape.
MICHAEL SULLIVAN / The News-Review

CANYONVILLE — Umpqua Community College's culinary arts program, two Roseburg caterers and 11 Douglas County wineries were among those presented awards Saturday in front of a sold-out crowd at the 41st annual Greatest of the Grape celebration held at Seven Feathers Casino Resort.

Vintages from 28 Southern Oregon wineries were paired with food from 14 restaurants and caterers. The wines were judged by those attending and by three professional judges from California.

The Greatest of the Grape, the overall people's choice award, went to Girardet Winery for its 2009 Pinot Noir Barrel Select.

Winemaker Marc Girardet said the 2009 pinot was his 10th vintage of the wine.

“I think we really hit the sweet spot with this one,” he said. “It's our best ever for that $20 price range.”

Julianna Vineyard's 2009 Chenin Blanc was honored for best white wine, and HillCrest Winery's 2007 Gabor Petite Syrah tied with Troon Vineyard's 2008 Zinfandel, made in Grants Pass, for best red wine.

Though HillCrest has won awards at the event in the past, owner Dyson DeMara said this year's winner was especially meaningful because the wine was made in honor of friend Gabor Palotai, who founded Palotai Vineyard and Winery in Roseburg in 2000.

Palotai moved to South America a few years ago and is greatly missed in the Umpqua Valley wine community, DeMara said.

“The wine was just a great way for his friends to gather around a table and honor him,” he said.

The judges' platinum award for best wine went to Medford's RoxyAnne Winery for its 2008 Syrah.

Umpqua Valley wineries and vineyards receiving the gold award were Abacela, Spangler and Sienna Ridge Estate, while Bradley, Brandborg, Melrose and MarshAnne Landing received the silver.

For food and wine pairing, Julianna Vineyards' 2009 Chenin Blanc with tuna ceviche and smoky aioli by Feast of Florence took home the top people's choice award.

UCC's culinary arts program was the runner-up with a chocolate pana cotta with a cherry port glaze paired with Foris Vineyards' 2008 Syrah.

UCC also received a first-place judges' award for best food, which was a pork slider with a smoked fontina cheese and fire-roasted apple and sweet onion relish.

Joe Monkey Catering came in second with baked parmesan mushroom caps with Italian sausage.

This is the second consecutive year the college took first place in this category.

The students involved in the competition were Crystal Abel, Cody Perry, Myah Crager, Kate Look, Jack Meier and Ron Gausnell. They were joined by instructors Steve Fair-Harrison, Phil Hawkins and program director Chris Van Dyke.

“It's a great event not only for the wine aspect, but it's also a great opportunity for our kids to network with potential employers,” Van Dyke said. “It was just a fun weekend for the students.”