Shannon Ridge Vineyards & Winery has recently received numerous awards for its array of wines. Courtesy photo.

CLEARLAKE OAKS – This week Lake County’s Shannon Ridge Vineyards & Winery received notification from the Orange County Wine Society and the California State Fair of 3 “Gold Medal” awards including a “Four Star Gold” and two “Best of Class” awards.

At the California State Fair commercial wine competition Shannon Ridge’s second label, Cross Springs, 2008 Chardonnay received Gold and “Best of Class” for the north coast appellations with a 95 point rating from the panel of expert media and wine industry judges.

Also awarded was a 91 point “Silver Medal” for the Cross Springs Sauvignon Blanc, which also received a “Best of Class” for the north coast appellations.

The Orange County Fair judges also gave Shannon Ridge top honors. The 2008 Petite Sirah received a “Four Star Gold”. Only 30 wines out of the competitions 2,918 entries were given this award.

Of the 242 “Gold Medals” awarded, the Reserve 2008 Rousanne from Shannon Ridge’s “Single Vineyard Collection” was the recipient of one.

Shannon Ridge wines are made by veteran Lake County winemaker Mike Wood. Wood’s own Petite Sirah under his Shed Horn Cellars brand also won “Gold” at the Orange County Fair. Shannon Ridge uses all Lake County grown grapes for the many different award winning wines they produce.

The two ranches owned by the Shannon family in the High Valley and Red Hills Viticulture Areas of Lake County are farmed using only sustainable farming practices.

Since proprietors Clay and Margarita Shannon founded the Shannon Ridge in 2001, the winery has received over two dozen “Gold Medal” or higher honors at the country’s best wine competitions. They have also seen many 90+ point ratings from the nation’s top wine critics.

According to the Gomberg-Fredrickson report (the executive marketing report of the wine industry) Shannon Ridge is one of California’s fastest growing brands from 2008-2010 with over 100 percent growth in that time period.

For more information about Shannon Ridge, visit www.shannonridge.com or call 707-998-9656.