Lasorda Wine

Over the weekend I went to the Pamona Fairplex to receive a most prestigious award.  Actually, my Pinot Grigio received the award, as it received a gold medal and was named Best Wine, Best in Class at the 2008 Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition's inaugural Wine World of Sports, which pitted sports celebrities' vintages against each other.

My Chianti and Montepulciano, d'Abruzzo were also in the top ten, which makes me so happy because I would never get involved with a wine that wouldn't please the people who drink it. 

It's especially satisfying because all the wine comes from Italy, which means it's the best in the world. 

Nobody makes better wine than the Italians!

My father made his own wine in our basement.  He would take me around the markets with him tasting grapes, and by taste alone he would know if it would make good wine.

Here are the top ten winners from the weekend's competition:

1. LASORDA, Pinot Grigio, Veneto IGT 2007, Best Wine, Best of Class, Gold Medal,
2. JOHN DALY WINES, The Perfect Round, Red Blend, Stellenbosch 2003, Best of Class, Gold Medal
3. GREG NORMAN CALIFORNIA ESTATES, Chardonnay, Santa Barbara County 2006, Best of Class, Gold Medal
4. ANDRETTI WINERY, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa 2005, Best of Class, Gold Medal
5. GUARDIAN PEAK (Ernie Els), Frontier Red, Western Cape 2006, Gold Medal
6. GREG NORMAN AUSTRALIAN ESTATES, Chardonnay, Eden Valley 2006, Gold Medal  
7. ANDRETTI WINERY, Merlot, Napa 2005, Gold Medal
8. LASORDA, Chianti Classico DOCG 2005, Gold Medal
9. LASORDA, Montepulciano, d'Abruzzo DOC 2006, Gold Medal
10. 99 WAYNE GRETZKY ESTATE WINERY, Icewine Vidal, Niagra Peninsula VQA 2005, Gold Medal

I am very proud of Bill Goldberg and Lorenzo Torelli-Lesky of Casa Torelli Imports.  They run the day-to-day operation of the wine business and put their heart and soul into the business so I say to them, "Salute!"