SOMERSET, CA - An El Dorado County winery has beaten out California's premier winemaking regions in producing the best red wine in a State Fair competition.
"It feels wonderful," Windwalker Vineyard owner Alanna Taff said.
Windwalker's 2008 Primitivo "Shady Lady" was named best red wine in California. Two other Windwalker reds took top regional honors in the Sierra Foothills appellation.
Windwalker Vineyard was awarded third best overall winery in competition with 2,800 other California wineries.
Taff and her husband Jim bought the winery four years ago after making wine at home for decades. They had never entered any of their Windwalker wines in a competition.
Winemaker Dominic Mantei believes Windwalker produces such high quality wines because of its size, not in spite of it.
"I think boutique wineries have an edge because it's more of an artisan winemaking approach," Mantei said.
Jim Taff said the winery does not advertise, relying entirely on word of mouth. He said business has grown 55 percent over the past four years thanks to a loyal network of wine lovers.
Windwalker Vineyard covers 22 acres, but less than half is planted with grapes. To produce its wide variety of wines, the winery carefully buys grapes from more than two dozen growers.
The Primitivo grapes that created the award-winning wine came from a vineyard in nearby Fiddletown.
Despite the obvious commercial success of Windwalker Vineyard, Jim Taff still considers winemaking a hobby.
"We do this because we love it," he said.
By George Warren, GWarren@news10.net
News10/KXTV