Michael Cervin to be Official Wine Judge: The Mountain Democrat Wine Competition Welcomes Wine Judges

Santa Barbara, CA, May 16, 2013 --(PR.com)-- Each May, 30 prestigious experts within the media, trade, and hospitality industries from around the country join together to judge wines open to every state. The majority of wines in the competition tend to be from the Sierra Foothills region, but more and more Western states are entering as well. Judges award Double Gold, Gold, Silver, Bronze, as well as Best of Class. Special Awards include Best Organic Wine, Best Barbera, and the always fun Back Room Gold Awards, wine picked by the back room support staff. “This is one of my favorite wine events to be a judge at,” Cervin says. “It’s a great competition, well-run and produced by terrific people. Of course it doesn’t hurt that I love this region either.”

In the Sierra Foothills you can visit the historic gold mining towns of Placerville, Sutter Creek and Murphys and sample the fruit of the vine while gaining an appreciation for how the gold rush changed the face of California wine. Wine production in the Sierra Foothills actually predates the Napa Valley and in home to the first commercial wineries in California.

“Wine-wise, the best deals are in El Dorado and Amador counties where wine tasting fees are nearly non-existent and exceptional wines can be purchased for around $20,” Cervin says. “The quality to price ratio is amazing, and it’s not just white wines, but bold concentrated reds like Zinfandel, Barbera and Syrah continue to dominate this region.”

Michael’s wine writings have appeared in top wine magazines like Decanter (London), Fine Wine & Liquor (China) Wine & Spirits, Wine Enthusiast, Sommelier Journal, The Tasting Panel, Food & Beverage World, IntoWine.com Westways, and more than 80 publications. He is the restaurant critic and travel writer for the Santa Barbara News-Press and author of the book “California Wine Country.”