Who the medal winners are

Winning swirls

These two lists -- the wines that won the most gold medals in American wine competitions in 2006 and the wines that have won multiple gold medals so far this year -- were developed by American Gold Medal Winners, an online service that compiles the results from 24 competitions into a searchable database ( www.americangoldmedalwines.com). The presence of a seemingly disproportionate (to overall amount produced) number of dessert and fortified wines on both lists offers insights into the complications of wine competitions. Chief judges from several competitions suggest that dessert wines are more likely to receive multiple awards because there are multiple sweet wine categories with a smaller number of entrants and, the judges add, it’s relatively easy to make these wines.

2007 Nine Gold Medals

2005 Huntington Wine Cellars Petite Sirah

2004 Jade Mountain La Provençale (red Rhône-style blend)

Eight Gold Medals

E & J Distillers Chocolate Temptation (nonvintage)

2005 Victor Hugo Winery Estate Zinfandel

2003 Wattle Creek Winery Vintage Select Cabernet Sauvignon

Seven Gold Medals

E & J Distillers XO Brandy (nonvintage)

2005 Toucan Wines Estate Zinfandel

2005 V. Sattui Winery Napa Valley Chardonnay

Six Gold Medals

2005 39 Degrees Petite Sirah

Barefoot Cellars California Pinot Grigio (nonvintage)

2004 Barefoot Reserve Sonoma County Russian River Merlot

2003 Gloria Ferrer Champagne Caves Blanc de Blanc

2004 Napa Cellars Zinfandel

2004 Napa Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon

Rancho de Philo Triple Cream Sherry (nonvintage)

Gallo of Sonoma Sheffield Cellars Cream Sherry (nonvintage)

2006 V. Sattui Winery Off-Dry Johannisberg Riesling

2004 V. Sattui Winery Napa Valley Merlot

2006 Wattle Creek Winery Yorkville Highlands Rosé

2006 Eight Gold Medals

2002 V. Sattui Winery Preston Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Seven Gold Medals

Ballatore Champagne Cellars Sparkling Gran Spumante (nonvintage)

2003 Geyser Peak Winery Late Harvest Semillon

2002 Jessie’s Grove Winery Westwind Zinfandel

2003 Rancho Zabaco Winery Dancing Bull Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc

2002 Silver Rose Cellars Jupilles Merlot

2002 Silver Rose Cellars Dentelle (red Meritage-style blend)

2002 Trentadue Winery La Storia Cuvee 32 (red Italian-style blend)

Six Gold Medals

2002 Bogle Vineyards Petite Sirah Port

2003 Ferrante Winery Vidal Blanc Ice Wine

2002 Gallo of Sonoma Laguna Vineyard Chardonnay

1995 Gloria Ferrer Champagne Caves Carneros Cuvee

Gloria Ferrer Champagne Caves Blanc de Noir (nonvintage)

Gloria Ferrer Champagne Caves Sonoma Brut (nonvintage)

Goose Watch Winery Diamond (nonvintage white varietal)

2001 Grgich Hills Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

2001 Guenoc Winery Petite Sirah

2003 Hahn Estates Monterey Cabernet Sauvignon

2002 Klinker Brick Winery Old Vine Zinfandel

2002 Lava Cap Winery Granite Hill Reserve Petite Sirah

2003 Navarro Vineyards Estate Gewürztraminer

2003 Quady Winery Elysium Black Muscat

2002 Renwood Winery Barbera

2001 Rutherford Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon

2002 V. Sattui Winery Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon