The Third Annual Birch
Thanksgiving Wine Competition 1999

This years competition was conducted by a group of eight very distinguished and tipsy judges gathered around the dining table in the vacation house on Isle of Palms Island, South Carolina, USA.

There was, of course, the tranditional massive consumption prior to the big event Thanksgiving Day!

As well as numerous fun activities... puzzles... sunsets...

sand castles... and a little crabbin...
and time with family... and smiling faces.

Then the awaited event ... and this years competitors!

The Judges, in no particular order, were Betsy, Sue, Dale, Michael, Kathy, Kat, David, and Stayce.
The wine presentors and MC's were, traditionally, Dave, and Harry.
Security arranged and conducted by Eric (the unbribable), Evan, and Matt.

Score and data sheets, prepared by Betsy and Dale, based scoring on the Wine Spectator.

Decanter and competitor preparation and presentation conducted by Dave and Harry. Each entry was presented randomly in plain decantors bearing only a letter designation.

Scoring was supervised and tallied by Dave and Harry.

Awards presentation by Dave.

Entries were judged in four categories:

1. Color
2. Bouquet
3. Taste
4. Finish
5. Overall Rating (50 to 100)

The competition was, again, brutal and highly critical.

Red Wine Competition
Place	Entry	Entered by
First Place Congratulations! The conveted Award	1995 Beringer, Knights Valley, Cabernet	Kat Humbly accepting the coveted award (after coming in last last year) Kat will humbly add her charm tag to those of the previous winners!
Second Place Better luck next time!	1995 Cuvaison Cabernet	Sue Recieving second prize
Third Place	1995 Columbia Crest Merlot	Mike Winning third
Fourth Place	1996 Iron Horse Cabernet	Dale And fourth place
Fifth Place	1996 Hess Select Cabernet	Kathy Taking fifth place
Sixth Place	1996 Pezzi King Cabernet	Betsy And sixth
Seventh Place	1996 Chateau Ste Michelle Cabernet	Stayce Taking seventh place
Eighth Place	1996 Woodbridge Zinfandel	David Trailing in

Then the tension before the White competition! Oh boy, oh boy!

White Wine Competition
Place	Entry	Entered by
First Place Congratulations!	1997 St. Francis Chardonnay	Kathy Happily accepting the award!
Second Place Better luck next time!	1997 Columbia-Crest Gewürztraminer	Dave Picture Unavailable Recieving second prize
Third Place	1998 Rosemount Estate Semillon Chardonnay	Sue Picture Unavailable Winning third
Fourth Place	1995 Pieroth Blue Burg Layer Schlosskapelle Qualitätswein-Nahe	Dale And fourth place
Fifth Place	1998 Dry Creek Vineyard Fune Blanc	Betsy Taking fifth place
Sixth Place	1997 Robert Mondavi Fume Blanc	Mike And sixth
Seventh Place	1994 Viansa Cento Per Cento Carneros Chardonnay	Kat Taking seventh place