This is the second installment reporting on 1999's top winners at the New World International Wine Competition. The NWI is the first of the season's major wine shows to report its winners, wines that often go on to win medals at other shows all season.

    The official awards book is still in production, but you can reserve your copy by sending $6 to: New World Wine Winners, Box 1598, Carson City, NV 89702. It will contain all the winning wines from every category and price range along with a complete list of judges, rules of the event and more.

    Remember NWI is one of the few competitions to judge by price category and the only one to then do a blind taste-off between the different prices to determine the overall best of type or variety. The most expensive wines don't always beat the bargains.

    Most important varieties have sponsored trophies for the overall best of the category, but a few do not.

    Wines that would have won a trophy if there had been a sponsor include La Famiglia di Robert Mondavi for 1997 Pinot Grigio ($16). It's one of Mondavi's new Italianate wines made in California and a delightful white wine.

    Bonterra, winner of the Sangiovese Trophy would have won another for 1997 "North Coast" Viognier ($20).

    Getting back to the trophy winners, the Fetzer Vineyards/Gus Furtado Memorial Trophy for Best New World Petite Sirah went to another bargain wine, Bogle 1997 "California" ($9).

    Winner of the NWIWC Trophy for Best New World Semillon-Chardonnay is Alice White 1998 "South Eastern Australia" ($7).

    An interesting story surrounds the NWIWC Best New World Rose Trophy winner. The winning wine has been produced from grapes grown in the same vineyard for three consecutive years. In 1997 and 1998 the winning winery was Hart. This year the trophy goes to the same grapes but to a different vintner, Thornton Winery 1998 "Cucamonga Valley - Collins Ranch" Grenache Rose ($13).

    The Doug Davis/Sebastiani Vineyards Trophy for Best New World Pinot Noir goes to Stonestreet 1997 "Russian River Valley" ($33).

    And now for the "biggies," best red, white, sparkling and dessert, as well as the overall grand champion best of show.

    Winner of the Thornton Winery Trophy for Best New World Champagne or Sparkling is Gloria Ferrer 1996 "Royal Cuvee" Brut ($20). It's worth mentioning that there were two runners-up gold medal winners in the final flight, both from S. Anderson of Napa Valley, one for the Brut and one for an absolutely delicious Blanc de Noirs.

    The Galleano Memorial Trophy for Best New World Dessert Wine goes to Quady 1990 "Starboard" ($21.50). This Amador County Port style wine is called Starboard because it is sold in Europe where the name Port may only be used on wines produced in Portugal. Andy Quady makes this wonderful wine from all Portuguese varieties and reasoned if it wasn't Port...then it must be Starboard!

    This years best white was a sweet dessert wine for a change, with the NWIWC Trophy for Best New World Gewurztraminer and the Brown-Forman Trophy for Best New World White Wine going to Husch 1997 "Anderson Valley Late Harvest" ($14 the half bottle) at  nearly 15 percent residual sugar.

    And now comes the big one, winner of the Allied Domecq Trophy for Best New World Zinfandel, the Geyser Peak Trophy for Best New World Red Wine and the American Airlines New World Grand Champion Trophy is La Crema 1997 "Sonoma Reserve" Zinfandel ($22). It's scheduled for a May 1 release, but we're told they may try to get into the market sooner as a result of this major win.

    In future weeks, we'll alert you to gold medal winners from some of the more important classes.

   

CHALONE SECOND LABEL

  Chalone Vineyards is what you might call the original "boutique" winery. It was also virtually the original Monterey County winery, though it always talked more about its own vineyard site than its geo- political location.

    In my salad days, Chalone was one of those labels I coveted but could rarely afford. They're about 30 years late coming out with an affordable second label, but better late than never, right?

    Echelon 1997 "Central Coast" Chardonnay ($13) You'll often find this one on sale for as little as $10. Soft, appealing and very user friendly. Apple, melon and a little tropical fruit with a little oak, but not much. The finish could use a little more acidity, but it's a very good cocktail wine or match it with creamy or cheesy sauces on fish or chicken. Rating: 85/85

    Echelon 1997 "Central Coast" Pinot Noir ($14.50) A gold medal winner at the New World International and an absolute "Best Buy." Very elegant, soft cherry and plum fruit. A touch of smoked tea leaf complexity is beginning to develop in this red wine which is very special for the price category. One of the best value Pinot Noirs in America today. Rating: 89/90

BEST BUY
WINE OF THE WEEK

    Echelon 1997 "Central Coast" Merlot ($14.50) Wow! Really big, juicy black cherry fruit. Tons of flavor for the price. Lots of extraction but no harsh or bitter tannins. It's a value wine that will benefit from at least a few years cellaring. An excellent companion to a grilled chop, lamb, pork or veal. Or maybe some of those summer sausages on the barbecue? Rating: 89/94

    Because so many different wineries are mentioned in today's column it is not possible to list phone numbers for all the vintners. If you have trouble finding any particular wine, call my office at (800) 845-9463 and we'll try to help you track it down.

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