Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/455266
58 / the tasting panel / january/february 2015 Gabrielle Leonhard, Vintner and Director of Winemaking for O'Connell Family Wines, comes from a food and wine heritage–her grandfather was a renowned food and wine critic and her mother was a chemist in a wine lab in France. It is no wonder that Leonhard became fascinated with food and wine at a young age. With her O'Connell Family Wines 2007 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley, Leonhard wanted to coax the personality of the soil and climate to make a wine that is complex and site specific, expressing the unique qualities of their estate vineyard. We couldn't agree more, with Anthony Dias Blue giving it a 92 and calling it "smooth and meaty; long and balanced." What started as a hobby back in 1969 with two grape vines, has now culminated 45 years later with a Double Gold win at the San Francisco International Wine Competition. "The two vines were given to me by my wife for our tenths wedding anniversary," says Raymond Haak of Haak Winery, who proudly shows off his 2009 Light Madeira from Jacquez, Texas. "Years later, with much passion and dedication, we are a destination winery, producing the first and only commercial Madeira made and bottled in the state of Texas." PHOTO: DOUG YOUNG "The Double Gold win for our Babich 2013 Pinot Noir was such an honor," says Tom Sorenson North America Sales Manager for Babich Wines. "We have celebrated our win by announcing the award on all our POS material! Additionally, our distributors have been very receptive to the win; after all, a Double Gold medal from the San Francisco International Wine Competition is surely something to shout about!" "We were really nervous and excited when we submitted our tequila into the Competition," says Ivan Brutsche, owner of SilverCoin Tequila. "We know how highly respected the San Francisco World Spirits Competition is in the industry and what a Double Gold award could mean for us," added Brutsche. "My wife and I were in Las Vegas when we received the good news and I am sure our hotel neighbors could hear us celebrating! We are definitely humbled by the Double Gold medal. Since then, we have seen a lot of doors open for us and it has been exciting to see such wonderful response to our SilverCoin Blanco Tequila." PHOTO: MONA SHIELD PAYNE PHOTO: MONA SHIELD PAYNE PHOTO: JASON KINDIG