PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 11, 2016 CONTACT: Molly Quigley (202) 791-3560 | [email protected] 2016 Old Ebbitt Grill International Wines for Oysters Competition Results Washington, DC – On November 7, 2016 on the eve of Election Day, a panel of judges convened in the Cabinet Room at the Old Ebbitt Grill for the final round of the Old Ebbitt Grill International Wines for Oysters Competition. Their task was to select gold medal winners from among twenty finalists. The remaining wines earned silver medals, while the bronze medal winners were chosen during the semi-final round a week earlier. An impressive 233 wines from all over the world were entered in this year’s Competition. Within the United States, 94 wines were submitted from five states. Wineries from twelve other countries entered a total of 139 wines— Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Portugal, South Africa, and Spain. In addition to the Oyster Bar at Old Ebbitt Grill, Clyde’s Restaurant Group has Oyster Bars at Clyde’s of Gallery Place, Mark Center, Tower Oaks Lodge and Chevy Chase. The Grand Champion will be served at these five locations during the coming year. Our Distinguished Panel of Judges José Andrés, David Del Bene, James Dinegar, Bart Farrell, Michael Franz, Mike Friedman, Stephen Heald, Paul Lukacs, Tommy McFly, Tom Meyer, Luca Paschina, Anna Spiegel, Sally Swift, Marguerite Thomas, Robert Wiedmaier 2016 GOLD MEDAL WINNERS Grand Champion Kono Sauvignon Blanc 2015, Marlborough, New Zealand First Runner-Up Villa Maria Estates Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc 2016, Marlborough, New Zealand Best American Old Ebbitt Grill · 675 15th Street NW · Washington, DC ·20005 · 202.347.4801 · ebbitt.com Ste. Michelle Wine Estates Michelle Brut NV, Columbia Valley, Washington Best French Patient Cottat Sancerre Anciennes Vignes 2015, Loire Valley, France Best Italian Pighin Sauvignon 2015, Friuli Grave, Italy Best Spanish Gotas de Mar Albarino 2015, Rias Baixas, Spain Best Portuguese Adega do Salvador “Portal da Calçada” Reserva Vinho Verde 2015, Portugal Best South African Essay Chenin Blanc/Viognier 2015, Western Cape, South Africa Gold Medal Huntaway Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2014, Marlborough, New Zealand Gold Medal Starborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015, Marlborough, New Zealand 2016 SILVER MEDAL WINNERS Sauvignon Blanc, Sea Pearl, Marlborough, New Zealand, 2016 Sauvignon Blanc, Three Brooms, Marlborough, New Zealand, 2016 Sauvignon Blanc, Wairau River Winery, Marlborough, New Zealand, 2015 Sauvignon Blanc, Kim Crawford, Marlborough, New Zealand, 2016 Sauvignon Blanc, Sileni Estates Cellar Selection, Marlborough, NZ, 2016 Sauvignon Blanc, Ranga Ranga, Marlborough, New Zealand, 2015 Albarino, Bodegas as Laxas, Rias Baixas, Spain, 2015 Sauvignon Blanc, Neil Ellis Sincerely, Western Cape, South Africa, 2015 Albarino, Martin Codax, Rias Baixas, Spain 2015 Pinot Grigio, Maso Canali, Trentino, Italy, 2015 2016 BRONZE MEDAL WINNERS Sauvignon Blanc, Casablanca Nimbus, Casablanca Valley, Chile, 2015 Sauvignon Blanc, Le Charmel Touraine, Loire Valley, France, 2015 Cava, Cavas Masachs Mas Fi Cava Brut, Penedes, Spain, NV Riesling, Trefethen Family Vineyards Dry Riesling, Oak Knoll/Napa Valley, California, 2015 Old Ebbitt Grill · 675 15th Street NW · Washington, DC ·20005 · 202.347.4801 · ebbitt.com Riesling, Chateau Ste. Michelle Dry Riesling, Columbia Valley, Washington, 2015 Sauvignon Blanc, Glen Manor Vineyards, Virginia, 2015 Sauvignon Blanc, Santa Rita 120, Central Valley, Chile, 2016 Riesling, Van Duzer, Ribbon Ridge, Oregon, 2015 ABOUT THE COMPETITION Old Ebbitt Grill International Wines for Oysters Competition was inspired by the Pacific Coast Oyster Wine Competition, organized over twenty years ago by seafood consultant Jon Rowley in Seattle. Mr. Rowley likes to compare his competition to “a dating service for wines and oysters.” As far as can be determined, these two competitions are the only ones in the world in which wines are judged with oysters. In 1995, Tom Meyer, Clyde’s President, sent David Moran, Area Director of Operations, out to Seattle to be a judge in Mr. Rowley’s competition and immerse himself in Seattle’s oyster culture. Upon his return, David told Tom he would like to replicate an East Coast version of the competition on a larger scale at the Ebbitt. Tom replied, “Why don’t we just throw a great party with oysters and wine, that’s what we’re good at.” Over a few dozen oysters and a few glasses of Chablis, the International Wines for Oysters Competition and the Oyster Riot were born! We are eternally grateful to Michael Franz, wine writer, educator, consultant and editor of Wine Review Online, and Paul Lukacs, award-winning author, educator, wine writer and consultant, for their guidance and palates throughout the years to bring the Competition from its infancy to the celebration it is today. Old Ebbitt Grill · 675 15th Street NW · Washington, DC ·20005 · 202.347.4801 · ebbitt.com .