Best-of-Appellation
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Best-of-Appellation Evaluation Program



The best wines are defined by place,
and the character of each appellation
is defined by its best wines.

True wine lovers embrace diversity in wine, and we at Appellation America have started a program that elucidates one of the most important sources of diversity. This is the diversity that arises from the distinctive characteristics of each appellation — something well understood in Europe but under-recognized on this side of the Atlantic.

Our mission is to explore and celebrate this diversity, building place-identity for the hundreds of wine-growing regions of North America and helping to expand the market for North American wines.

THE PROCESS

The Best-of-Appellation process involves structured tastings designed to identify the specific wine characteristics associated with each region. Wines that are determined by the BOA Panel to best express the characteristics of their appellation earn Appellation America's "Best-of-Appellation" awards (Gold and Double Gold medals).

In the BOA process, the "best" wines are defined by their own place of origin, NOT by the personal taste preferences of our expert panel.

THE PRODUCTS

  • Our Blue Book of Appellation Taste Profiles is a living document that profiles the characteristics of each appellation.

  • Tasting Notes are recorded for each evaluated wine and for medal winning wines these appear on our online wine lists (and make great reading, by the way!).

FIRST PRINCIPLES

The place defines the wines; the wines define the place. To a large extent, wine character reflects its place of origin. Local soil and climate, regional cultural traditions and market influences all leave their stamp. The patterns we discover in these "tastes-of-place" generate stories that come to define each appellation in the public mind.

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

Step One is to map the region’s vineyards so we understand the soil and climate of each wine we taste, supported by winegrowing professionals from the region who share their depth of experience. Step Two is to review “Product Info Forms” submitted by the wineries to better understand local grape-growing and winemaking. Step Three is to research the role of history and market influences so that a comprehensive and unique profile emerges.

Our BOA evaluations Director, Clark Smith, has responsibility for selecting panelists, making Blue Book entries, and writing BOA-related articles.

MORE ABOUT PROCESS

Tastings are initially blind as to producer, but otherwise panelists are informed to the maximum extent. The panelists act collegially, openly discussing the wines as they review each “flight”. Wines are grouped for tasting according to wine type and appellation, permitting the panel to observe and articulate flavor and style trends that define a region. These are recorded in our Blue Book, which may contain several style profiles within a wine type for a single region.

Next, wines are judged for "typicity" (how well they exemplify a region’s wines).

Finally, the identity of the wines and the producer information is revealed to lend further information to the understanding of appellation characteristics.

It must be emphasized that the Blue Book is not the "final word". Appellation identity is an organic and on-going process. It is vital that wineries continue to submit wines once the profile is established, so that it can be further refined.

[>] More about Evaluation Process & the Evaluators

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Anderson Valley’s Seductive Pinots Anderson Valley’s Seductive Pinots Anderson Valley
April 23, 2009
NY Riesling Paradise New York’s Riesling Paradise Finger Lakes
April 6, 2009

[>] Browse archive

Upcoming Regional Evaluations


Sierra Foothills
Idaho
Snake River Valley
Madera
Mariposa County
Lake Erie
Temecula Valley
Cayuga Lake
Niagara Escarpment
Long Island
North Fork of Long Island
Paso Robles
Willamette Valley
Anderson Valley
Lake County
High Valley

Iowa tasting
Michael Havens and Dick Peterson tasting Iowa wines.

Why Best-of-Appellation is unique


Best-of-Appellation is NOT yet another wine competition, which is not to say that meritorious wines that are identified in BOA evaluations will go unheralded. Indeed, the market rewards for the wineries participating in BOA could be far more substantial than the often-vague benefits associated with normal wine competitions. Only high quality wines that best express the character and potential of the appellation are elevated to Best-of Appellation status.

The Evaluators


The BOA assessments are done by panels of professional sensory evaluators moderated by the BOA Program Director and in-house oenologist, Clark Smith, and, whenever possible, assisted by a Regional Advocate Evaluator*.

* The Regional Advocate Evaluator must be an industry professional from the region with an intimate knowledge of the appellation, its history, terroir and production practices. The role of the Regional Advocate Evaluator is to bring that knowledge to the assessment process.

[>] More about the Evaluators

Double Gold
Medal
Gold Medal

ATTENTION: WINERIES


Appellation America welcomes submissions from wineries at any time.

How to submit wines (click here)

for Best-of-Appellation evaluation