Best in Glass Month
In anticipation of the Festival in April, top sommeliers from South Florida gather every January to evaluate hundreds of wine entries submitted for blind judging. The Best in Glass Wine Challenge awards gold, silver and bronze medals, creating a group of stunning wines that carry a unique cachet for pouring by the glass in local restaurants. During Best in Glass Month, the month leading up the Festival, the winning wines are featured at elite restaurants throughout the South Florida community.
Sign up for Best in Glass Month | March 12 – April 18, 2012
Restaurants participating in Best in Glass Month receive a considerable amount of publicity, and in exchange agree to feature two or more of the Medal winning wines as by-the-glass pours during the month leading up to the Miami Wine & Food Festival. Your wine choices will be highlighted in print and broadcast media, as well as on the Festival’s website, driving festival fans and potential new customers to your restaurant to sample these acclaimed wines.
Benefits to participating restaurants
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Best in Glass Month will generate visibility, increase traffic to your restaurant and enhance your image and bottom line as a partner of the United Way Miami Wine & Food Festival -- at no cost to you.
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Featured in a series of ads in The Miami Herald and Miami New Times, among other publications.
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Included in e-mails to an audience of more than 30,000 recipients.
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Restaurant name, chef, and web link featured as a Best in Glass participant on the United Way Miami Wine & Food Festival website
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Included in calendar listings, Festival partner emails, newsletters and other local media outlets
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Mentioned on the Festival’s social media outlets
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By participating in Best in Glass Month, your restaurant will support United Way of Miami-Dade and our diverse South Florida community, while enhancing its overall reputation with employees, customers, business partners and other stakeholders, making a powerful statement about your community involvement in South Florida.
If your restaurant is interested in participating please complete the Restaurant Participation Agreement
by Monday, March 5, 2012 – the earlier you confirm, the earlier we can include you in our media campaign.
About Best in Glass Wine Challenge
Part of the United Way Miami Wine & Food Festival, this two-day full scale graded wine tasting competition was held at Miami Culinary Institute January 8 & 9, 2012 and was judged by 18 of South Florida’s top sommeliers. Following their blind tasting, the sommeliers graded the wines and awarded the top entrants gold, silver or bronze medals. List of winners can be found here.
2012 Best in Glass Challenge Sommeliers
Cynthia Betancourt of Azul at Mandarin Oriental
Don Derocher of The Ritz Carlton, Fort Lauderdale
Jorge Mendoza of The Ritz Carlton, Key Biscayne
Erving Machado of La Cofradia
Guillermo Gomez of Hakkasan at Fontainebleau Miami Beach
Eric Larkee of Michael's Genuine Food & Drink
Antoni Yelamos of the W South Beach
Daniel Toral of Sustain Restaurant
Laura Romano of Hollywood Prime
Caleb Ganzer of db Bistro Moderne, Miami
Justin Hall of Bourbon Steak, Miami
Greg Rivera of The Breakers Palm Beach
Henrique Viotti of Hakkasan at Fontainebleau Miami Beach
Sylvie Gervais of Mizner Country Club
Kirsta Grauberger of Market 17
David Meneses of Scarpetta at Fontainebleau Miami Beach
Nicole Candusso of Meat Market
Zarko Stankovic of Fontainebleau Miami Beach
The 2012 award-winning wines are:
GOLD
Bernardus Sauvignon Blanc 2010
C.H. Berres Impulse Riesling 2008
Hugel Cuvee Les Amours Pinot Blanc 2008
Zuccardi Serie A Torrontes 2010
Crios Torrontes 2011
Evening Land Chardonnay 2009
Biagio Prosecco Sparkling NV
Saint-Hilarie Blanquette de Limoux Sparkling 2008
Castle Rock Reserve Pinot Noir 2009
Willamette Pinot Noir 2009
Schug Carneros Pinot Noir 2009
Milbrandt Traditions Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Valle Las Nencias Reserve Malbec 2008
El Coto Tempranillo 2007
Bodegas Carchelo 2010
Rocca delle Macie Sasyr 2007
J L Chave Mon Coeur Cotes du Rhone 2009
Stratton Lummis The Riddler NV
Layer Cake Syrah 2010
The Chook Shiraz/Viognier Syrah 2010
Willamette 'Estate' Pinot Noir 2008
Seufert Idyl Valley Pinot Noir 2009
Seufert Zenith Valley Pinot Noir 2009
Justin Isosceles Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
Ch. Ste. Michelle Meritage Artists Series 2008
Ramey Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
SILVER
Luna Pinot Grigio 2009
Terlato Pinot Grigio 2009
Jermann Pinot Grigio 2010
Milbrandt Traditions Pinot Gris 2010
J Vineyards Pinot Gris 2010
Villa Maria Cellar Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Star Lane Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Hanna Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Pezzi King Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Mulderbosch Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Ch. Ste. Michelle Columbia Valley Riesling 2010
Eroica Riesling 2010
Martín Códax Albariño 2010
Bolgheri Guado al Tasso Vermentino 2010
Terredora Dipaolo "Falanghina" 2010
Monti Guidi del Carmine Pecorino 2010
Istituto Agrario San Michele All'Adige Pinot Bianco 2010
Domaine de la Pepiere Muscadet 2010
Bramito del Cervo Chardonnay 2010
Olivier Leffaive Les Setilles White Burgundy Chardonnay 2009
Christian Moreau Chablis Chardonnay 2009
B.R. Cohn - Silver Label Chardonnay 2010
Charm Acres Chardonnay 2010
Stag's Leap Karia Chardonnay 2009
Ch. Ste. Michelle Cold Creek Chardonnay 2008
Heron Chardonnay 2010
Gary Farrell Chardonnay 2009
Ramey Chardonnay 2008
Agusti Torello Mata Reserva Sparkling 2008
Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Champagne NV
Agusti Torello Mata Rosat Trepat Sparkling 2009
Nicolas Feuillatte Rosé Champage NV
The Chook Sparkling Syrah Sparkling NV
Brovida Cordara Blanc Moscato D'Asti Dessert 2010
Costaripa RosaMara Rosé 2010
Chateau D'Esclans Rosé 2010
Over the Edge Pinot Noir 2010
Silver Ridge Pinot Noir 2009
Tangley Oaks Pinot Noir 2009
Solena Estates Grande Cuvée Pinot Noir 2010
Cubanisimo Rumba Pinot Noir 2009
Cubanisimo Estate Pinot Noir 2008
Sean Minor Pinot Noir 2009
Lucas & Lewellen Pinot Noir 2008
J Vineyards Pinot Noir 2009
Cusumano Merlot 2010
Milbrandt The Estates Merlot Merlot 2009
Castle Rock Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
BenMarco Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Ch. Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Louis M. Martini Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Bell Claret Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
Truchard Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Layer Cake Malbec 2010
Michel Torino Don David Reserve Malbec 2010
Pulenta La Flor Malbec 2010
Altos Las Hormigas Terroir Malbec 2009
Viña Cobos Felino Malbec 2010
Paulucci "La Posta" Malbec 2008
Zuccardi Q Malbec 2009
Zuccardi Santa Julia Reserva Malbec 2010
Salentein Reserve Malbec 2009
Val Di Suga Rosso Di Montalcino Sangiovese 2009
Farnese Sangiovese 2010
Marchesi Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva Sangiovese 2006
Il Poggione Sangiovese 2008
Loriñon Reserva Tempranillo 2006
Barco de Piedra Tempranillo 2009
De Restia Select Harvest Crianza Tempranillo 2004
Ch. Saint-Sulpice Bordeaux 2008
Las Rocas Grenache 2008
Celler Piñol Ludovicus 2010
Guerrieri Gonzaga "Terre di San Leonardo" 2008
Tormaresca Trentangelli 2008
Sevent-Five Wine Co. The Sum 2008
Tuck Beckstoffer Amulet 2008
Montes Alpha Carmenere 2009
Woop-Woop Syrah 2010
Robert Hall Syrah 2008
B.R. Cohn Zinfandel 2009
Brazin Old Vine Zinfandel 2009
Evening Land Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2010
Domaine Faiveley Premier Cru Mercurey Pinot Noir 2009
Willamette 'South Block' Pinot Noir 2008
B.R. Cohn Pinot Noir 2009
Domaine Serene Cuvée Pinot Noir 2008
La Spinetta Ca' Di Pian Barbera D'Asti 2008
Produttori del Barbaresco 2007
Ciacci Piccolomini Sangiovese 2009
Montecastro y Llanahermosa 2006
JAQK Bone Dance Merlot 2007
Owen Roe Rosa Mystica Cabernet Franc 2008
Hidden Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
B.R. Cohn Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
Stag's Leap Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
DiamAndes de Uco Gran Reserva 2008
Rudy Schultz Syrah 2008
BRONZE
San Giorgio Venezie Pinot Grigio 2010
Bortoluzzi Pinot Grigio 2010
Bell Pinot Gris 2010
Willamette Pinot Gris 2009
Solena Estates Pinot Gris 2010
Bortoluzzi Sauvignon Blanc 2010
MontGras Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Ch. Ste. Michelle Horse Heaven Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Tuck Beckstoffer Est. 75 Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Gary Farrell Sauvignon Blanc 2010
StoneCap Riesling 2007
Milbrandt Traditions Riesling 2010
Legado del Conde Albariño 2010
Santadi Villa Solais Vermentino di Sardegna Vermentino 2010
Jankara Vermentino di Gallura Vermentino 2010
Malvira Roero Arneis 2010
Robert Hall Viognier 2010
Lagaria Chardonnay 2010
Tormaresca Chardonnay 2010
Jermann Chardonnay 2009
Añoro Chardonnay 2010
DiamAndes de Uco Chardonnay 2010
Bernardus Chardonnay 2009
J Vineyards Chardonnay 2009
Schug Carneros Chardonnay 2009
Schug Sonoma Chardonnay 2009
Truchard Chardonnay 2009
William Hill Chardonnay 2009
Calera Chardonnay 2010
Patz & Hall Chardonnay 2009
Melville Chardonnay 2009
Bianca Vigna Prosecco Sparkling NV
Cava Naveran Sparkling 2008
Chateau D'Esclans Whispering Angel Rosé 2010
Costaripa Molmenti Rosé 2008
Casa Silva Reserva Pinot Noir 2010
Villa Maria Cellar Selection Pinot Noir 2006
RVTZ Pinot Noir 2009
Garnet Pinot Noir 2009
Layer Cake Pinot Noir 2010
Queen of Hearts Pinot Noir 2009
667 Pinot Noir 2010
Handcraft Pinot Noir 2010
Cubanisimo Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2009
Fess Parker Pinot Noir 2009
Schug Sonoma Pinot Noir 2009
Talley Pinot Noir 2009
Milbrandt Traditions Merlot 2009
Ch. Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Merlot 2009
Layer Cake Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Justin Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Handcraft Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
Tuck Beckstoffer Est. 75 Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
Woop-Woop Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
Ch. Ste. Michelle Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Castle Rock Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
Cousiño-Macul Antiguas Reservas Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Ch. Ste. Michelle Cold Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
Milbrandt The Estates Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Kaiken Ultra Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Black Stallion Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
B.R. Cohn - Silver Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Three Saints Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
Marcelo Pelleriti Sol-Fa-Sol Malbec 2009
Massimo Malbec 2010
Altos Las Hormigas Clasico Malbec 2010
Altos Las Hormigas Las Liebres Malbec 2009
Mendel "Lunta" Malbec 2008
Bodega Noemia Patagonia "A Lisa" Malbec 2009
DiamAndes de Uco Malbec 2010
Marchesi Antinori Classico Peppoli Chianti Sangiovese 2008
Monte Antico Sangiovese 2007
Poliziano Rosso di Montepulciano Sangiovese 2009
Caldora Sangiovese 2010
Castello di Verrazzano Chianti Classico Sangiovese 2008
Feuduccio Montepulciano D'Abruzzo Sangiovese 2006
Villa Antinori Toscana Sangiovese 2007
Cepas Antiguas Tempranillo 2010
Zuccardi Q Tempranillo 2007
Cheval Noir Saint-Emilion Bordeaux 2009
Tormaresca Neprica 2009
Xiloca Garnacha 2009
La Cartuja Priorat 2010
Terrabianca Campaccio 2007
Vespres Grenache/Carignano 2009
DiamAndes Perlita Malbec/Syrah 2010
Guardian Peak Frontier 2010
Layer Cake Primitivo 2008
Santadi Grotta Rossa Carignano 2008
Bobal 11 Pinos 2010
Owen Roe Abbot's Table 2009
Tuck Beckstoffer Melee 2009
Zuccardi Serie A Bonarda 2010
Handcraft Petite Sirah 2009
Falernia Reserva Syrah 2006
Antu Syrah 2008
Pezzi King Zinfandel 2009
Bernardus Pinot Noir 2009
Windsor Oaks Pinot Noir 2010
Gary Farrell Pinot Noir 2009
Row Eleven Pinot Noir 2006
Clos de L'Oratoire de Pappes 2009
Orin Swift Abstract 2010
Short Ends Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Stag's Leap Fay Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
Fess Parker The Big Easy Syrah 2008
Every year, under the direction of James Beard award-winning wine and food writer, Lyn Farmer, the festival draws thousands of foodies and wine enthusiasts and has raised $12 million for charity. For more information call 305-646-7111.
