Best of Show - Hilton Head Island Wine & Food Festival

Hilton Head Island Wine & Food Festival Announces 2013 Award-Winning Wines

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC (February 1, 2013) – The Hilton Head Island Wine & Food Festival has just completed the International Wine Judging & Competition, which took place January 26 and 27, 2013 at the Hilton Head Marriott Resort & Spa. An esteemed panel of 24 judges painstakingly sniffed, swirled and tasted over 670 entered wines in a variety of categories from all over the world. This year’s Best of Show winners include: Overall Best of Show, Bello Family Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009; Best of Show White, Palm Bay International – Genesis, SA Prum, Riesling Kabinett, Wehlener Sonnenuhr, 2009; Best Value Wine, J Lohr Vineyards & Wines, J Lohr Estates, South Ridge Syrah, 2010.

In a field of many wine and food festivals produced in the United States a limited few incorporate an international judging component as part of their activities. A unified online wine entry process (Enofileonline.com) allows the Hilton Head Island Wine & Food Festival to invite many wineries and distributors to compete internationally and more efficiently online.

According to Head Judge, Tom Hines, with Trinchero Family Vineyards, “The 24 professional and accredited wine judges have expert knowledge and a comprehensive understanding of wine; we had more advanced sommeliers participating this year than ever before – including our Master Sommelier, Brett Davis. All are either accredited through the Society of Wine Educators or by the Court of Master Sommeliers. We were honored to have such a wonderful caliber of professionals here for our festival in Hilton Head.”

Now it’s time to raise our glasses with our award-winning wines and toast the 28th annual Hilton Head Island Wine & Food Festival, March 4 – 9, 2013. There are various festival events planned, from the Great Chefs of the South Wine Dinners, Grand Tasting & Silent Auction and Wine & Food Festival and Silent Auction.

The 2013 Hilton Head Island Wine & Food Festival’s Silent Auctions are comprised of wines from the Wine Judging & Competition, which benefit educational opportunities for students in the Hospitality programs of study at the University of South Carolina Beaufort and the Technical College of the Lowcountry through the John F. and Valerie Curry scholarship fund.

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Hilton Head Island Wine & Food Festival, P.O. Box 5097, Hilton Head Island, SC 29938 www.hiltonheadwineandfood.com 843-686-4944