The first of the nine or ten major wine competitions in America to announce its results, the New World International Wine Competition is now in its ninth year. Being first, it's results are often a harbinger of things to come throughout the judging season.      Open to wines produced anywhere in the "new world," entries are accepted from anywhere in North America, South America, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

    NWI gives the traditional bronze, silver and gold medals and employees an all-professional judging panel. NWI is unique in that it judges each wine type in up to four separate price categories, and then pits the winner of each price class against each other to determine overall best of variety. It is not always the most expensive category that comes out on top!

    The thinking with the price classes is that consumers purchase wines that way. Tuesday night with meat loaf, most folks are definitely thinking under $10. A romantic dinner? Maybe up to $15 or more for him or her. Trying to impress the boss? Take that jump to $25. You're a doctor, lawyer, drug dealer or other wealthy individual? Or it's your parents 50th wedding anniversary? You probably want a $50 or more special grand reserve whoopee. The NWI wants to find the best wines from each price range for you.

    NWI is also the only competition in the U.S. to provide major sponsored trophies for the champions in each important variety, and also for best red, white, dessert and sparkling, as well as overall best of show.

    In coming weeks we'll reveal the top medalists from most of the important categories. Today, some of the best of the best.

    A brand new trophy, the Via Firenze Trophy for Best New World Sangiovese goes to Bonterra 1996 "Mendocino" ($20). This Italian red variety is right behind Syrah in growth in popularity.

    Speaking of Syrah/Shiraz (synonyms for the same grape) the annual Neil McGuigan Trophy for Best New World Shiraz goes to Clos Du Bois 1996 "Alexander Valley" Shiraz ($16). McGuigan is the winemaker at Briar Ridge in Australia.

    McGuigan sponsors a second trophy for Best New World Semillon and as a never-happened-before (and probably never again) occurrence, it also went to Clos Du Bois for 1997 "Knights Valley Late Harvest" ($18 the half bottle), a sweet dessert style with 16 percent residual sugar.

    The Deinhard Trophy for Best New World Riesling to a Kosher producer (convenient with Passover just around the corner). And the winner is: Hagafen 1998 "Napa" Johannisberg Riesling ($12), an off-dry style with 2.6 percent residual sugar. Deinhard is the famous German wine family which produces no wine eligible for the competition, nor does it even sell one. It simply believes in promoting Riesling.

    St. Supery in Napa Valley has a new winemaker (another Aussie import) and it shows. The Napa winery that used to win an occasional medal has blossomed into a competition threat, winning two trophies and a string of medals.

    The Inland Empire Business Journal Trophy for Best New World Meritage White goes to St. Supery 1997 "Napa" ($20). This wine is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon.

    The Beringer Wine Estates-Myron Nightingale Memorial Trophy for Best New World Chardonnay goes to St. Supery 1997 "Napa" ($14). Check this one out!

    The Dry Creek Vineyards Trophy for Best New World Sauvignon (Fume) Blanc goes to a Sonoma neighbor, Geyser Peak 1998 "Sonoma" Sauvignon Blanc ($9). The previous vintage received 100 points and was named White Wine of the Year from "yours truly."

    The new Legacy Winery Trophy for Best New World Meritage Red goes to a small Sonoma Valley producer: Deerfield Ranch 1996 "North Coast" ($35).

    As I mentioned earlier, the trophy winner, the best of the four price categories, is not always the most expensive wine. But when the champ comes from the very lowest price category, that tends to cause excitement.

    This year's Julio Gallo Memorial Trophy for Best New World Merlot goes to Montpellier 1997 "California" ($7). I  think Julio might have smiled at the idea of a bargain wine winning a trophy bearing his name. The good news is this wine is widely available.

    It's appropriate that the Bandiera Winery Trophy for Best New World Cabernet Sauvignon goes to a bargain, Bandiera having produced so many of them. But this wine may be the biggest surprise of all...it's a $10 wine from...Texas! Due for a May 1 release, Escondido Valley Vineyards 1997 "Estate" ($10).

    More trophy winners next week.

BEST BUY
RED WINE OF THE WEEK

    Bearitage NV Red Table Wine ($10) Named best of the blended reds (no trophy for that category), this charming and delicious red wine is mix of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, with a little Carignane and Ruby Cabernet for good measure. What does it taste like? Tasted blind, you could imagine it being any one of the main varieties. Berry and plum fruit in a non- tannic, drink me with burgers, barbecue or pork chop dinner style. Bearitage is produced by Gundlach-Bundschu. Rating: 86/90

BEST BUY
WHITE WINE OF THE WEEK

    Polar Bearitage NV White Table Wine ($8) Like its red wine companion, it will attract you with its striking and colorful label art with a bear squeezing grapes into juice flowing into its mouth. You'll also be attracted to this blend of coastal Sauvignon Blanc made richer by the addition of 25 percent of the winery's own estate Chardonnay (the heavier press fraction). The Sauvignon grapefruit flavors dominate and this crisp and refreshing white will accompany a wide range of foods. Buy a case for outdoor entertaining this spring and summer. Rating: 85/90

    Because of the large number of wines mentioned it is not possible to provide contact information for them all. But you can call my office at (800) 845-9463 or E-mail: winetrader@aol.com for help tracking wines down.

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Wines are scored using a unique 100 point system. First number rates quality; second number rates value.