Ron and Jamie McManis don't have a tasting room at their winery, McManis Family Vineyards in Ripon, just south of Lodi.
"It's on a busy road, but there are no other wineries around here," says Jamie McManis. "Maybe one of these days we'll have a tasting room."
Given what happened in Houston last weekend, they may want to make that possibility a priority.
They'll have two of the wine trade's more unusual and eagerly sought trophies to display in it, and they're much bigger than the customary gold medals.
At the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo International Wine Competition, which drew about 1,800 wines from 14 countries, McManis Family Vineyards won two major awards.
From a field of 30 best-of-show candidates, their highly aromatic, richly fruity and persistent McManis Family Vineyards 2007 California Petite Sirah (14.5 percent alcohol, $12) won the title of reserve grand champion – second only to the grand champion.
"That's a fun wine. I can see people really liking that wine," said judge Sean Beck, sommelier of the Houston restaurant Backstreet Cafe.
The grand champion was another California wine, the muscular Vina Robles 2006 Paso Robles Suendero (14.5 percent alcohol, $49), a Bordeaux-inspired blend of 53 percent cabernet sauvignon and 47 percent petit verdot.
Because of the competition's link with a livestock show and rodeo, the wineries with the grand champion and reserve grand champion wines will be awarded saddles.
The McManises also will get a pair of chaps, the award for the competition's "top value" wine, which was the youthful and refreshing McManis Family Vineyards 2007 California Zinfandel (14.5 percent alcohol, $12).
Now the couple faces a dilemma that may have to be resolved with a flip of a coin: Do they seriously consider adding a tasting room, or do they buy a horse?
Call The Bee's Mike Dunne, (916) 321-1143.
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