|
Sniff. Sip. Swirl. Spit.
It must be the 2003 L.A. County Fair wine competition.
With expectations of its biggest competition yet, Wines of the World will celebrate its 64th anniversary May 14-16 with an array of international judges tasting and testing the globe’s finest vintages and an organic wine fest that will spotlight wines made from organically grown grapes.
Fondly referred to as the “granddaddy” of wine competitions, this year’s event is expected to surpass all others. In 2002, entries totaling nearly 3,400 from more than 600 wineries competed. Entries this year are expected to increase. Judges from England, France, Mexico, Canada, Japan, Australia, Italy and New Zealand will be participating.
“We have an exceptional panel of judges coming. This is definitely going to be an exciting year,” said Dr. Robert W. Small, chairman of the wine competition and a professor in the Collins School of Hospitality Management at Cal Poly Pomona.
In conjunction with the wine event, the Olive Oils of the World competition will also be held May 14-16.
The goal of the wine competition is to develop the results of the competition as a marketing tool for the wine industry and as a means by which the consumer can gain insight and knowledge of the level of wines, said Small.
The wine competition, as well as the Olive Oils of the World competition, will be held at the Millard Sheets Gallery at Fairplex.
Wines will be judged in more than 300 classes, including the limited production wine competition. This category recognizes wines produced in smaller quantities and is open to all wines in selected classes with production levels of less than 2,500 cases. New this year is the competition’s partnering with EcoWineFest for a special category for wines made from organically grown grapes. Small anticipates 500 entries in this category alone, with many international entries.
|
