Temecula, CA --Keyways Vineyard & Winery continued its remarkable performance at wine competitions in 2008 by winning seven medals at the prestigious Long Beach Gran Cru, including a Best of Class and three gold medals.
Keyways 2007 Chenin Blanca ($18) won a gold medal and Best of Class at the competition. Also winning gold medals were Keyways 2007 Sauvignon Blanc ($20 and Contentment ($21) a Rhone blend made form Viognier, Roussanne and Marsanne grapes.
Other medal winners included Keyways 2007 Riesling ($19), 2006 Barbera ($33), 2005 Cabernet Franc ($27) and 2006 Syrah ($35).
The Long Beach Grand Cru is considered one of the top international wine competitions in the U.S. The major public tasting event attracts more than 1,400 wine and food aficionados every year. In 2008, more than 400 wineries from a dozen countries submitted more than 1,900 entries.
The new Keyways Vineyard & Winery is only four years old, but the winery has received six coveted Double Gold and Best of Class awards at wine competitions in 2008.
Double Gold requires unanimous approval from a panel of four judges and Best of Class reflects superiority, typically in a price category.
For Keyways owner Terri Pebley, the results are evidence of the growing number of quality wines consistently coming from Keyways.
“Keyways wines are receiving this recognition in double-blind wine competitions with participants from all over the United States and the world,” she said. “Neither the judges nor the presenters know the identity of the wine they are tasting.”
Keyways winemaker Michael Tingley said the award is especially fulfilling because his wines were competing against the best of the best.
“Overall I think the level of competency in the Temecula Valley is going up,” he said. “This not only reflects the skill of the winemaker but the expertise of growers who are becoming better and better at what they do.”
For Tingley and many winemakers, award-winning wine always starts with great grapes.
“I really think the growers need to get more credit for the awards and medals,” he said. “They are the unsung heroes of Temecula’s Wine Country.”
He suggests that more wineries should produce vineyard-designated wines when possible so that the growers can share in some of the glory.
Keyways Vineyard & Winery is setting new standards in Temecula’s Wine Country. In addition to offering the first ice wine, it has created a new line of wines for women – who make 60 percent of the wine-buying decisions.
Keyways sit on about 13 acres at the confluence of the 2,000-acre Valle de los Caballos -- Valley of the Horses – and southern tier of Temecula’s Wine Country at 37338 DePortola Road. Its tasting room is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information call (951) 302-7888 or go to www.KeywaysWine.com
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