Kissos Wines Wins Double Gold at San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

The 2011 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, in its 11th year, attracted 5,050 entries from 23 states. Dublin-based Kissos Wines entered the competition for the first time late last year and started the New Year with not one, but two awards including a prestigious Double Gold for its 2009 Sauvignon Blanc. Kissos Wines proprietor Paris Georgallis recently sat down with Dublin Patch to talk about the event.

Patch: Tell me a little bit about the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

Georgallis: I wanted to get some industry recognition for Kissos - we always knew we had good wines - and being in the wine business, I knew that the San Francisco Chronicle does one of the largest blind taste tests in the world (where a brand name doesn't prejudice the outcome).  So back in November I submitted two Kissos wines, our 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon and our 2009 Sauvignon Blanc, for the January tasting. You submit six bottles of each varietal and compete in a price point for the same varietal. There are 63 judges from across the industry who taste the wines and narrow the field by varietal, and then panels further judge the wines. On January 7 the results came out and we were awarded a Double Gold for our Sauvignon Blanc and  Bronze for our Cabernet Sauvignon. The Double Gold is awarded for the varietal - regardless of price point - and requires a unanimous vote by the panel of five judges.

Interestingly, the competition submission fees are invested back in the colleges and universities in California with viticulture programs. Futhermore, if you win a Gold award or above you are required to donate a case of the winning wine to the public tasting that happens every year at Fort Mason (this year's San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition Public Tasting will be held on Saturday February 19 from 2pm - 5pm in the Festival Pavilion, Fort Mason Center, San Francisco). Ticket sales for the event also are invested back in viticulture education programs. Because of our Double Gold win, Kissos Wines will be represented at the event.

Patch: Are there other competitions you'll be entering in 2011?

Georgallis: I've been thinking about competing in the San Francisco International Wine Competition, but I'm not sure yet. We'll definitely enter the San Francisco Chronicle event again next year. We have a good product and I like the blind taste testing approach of the competition. We have also sent the wine to a couple of periodicals in the market.

Patch: What is next on the release calendar for Kissos Wines?

Georgallis: We have the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon already bottled - it's ready to go - and we're probably going to release in March or April. We also have the 2010 Sauvignon Blanc also coming out. We're holding back the Cabernet Sauvignon until the Sauvignon Blanc is ready.

Patch: Are you thinking of moving into other varietals?

Georgallis: Not initially. I think we're going to do a good 3-4 year run of these two varietals - stick with the Bordeaux style - get really good at it and then maybe expand out into other varietals. We're thinking of coming out with a table wine at a lower price point to complement the Cabernet.

Patch: Has there been any increased interest in Kissos Wines as a result of the Double Gold win?

Georgallis: Absolutely. We've found that retail establishments are a lot more willing to talk to you about putting your product on their shelves if you have industry recognition. We always knew we had a good product, but when you are competing for shelf space with thousands of other bottles that are much more entrenched in the market place it's hard to get that space. Getting industry recognition gives you credibility.

Kissos Wines is currently offering Dublin, California residents 15% off any purchase of its award-winning wines.

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