21 Year Old Charter Oak Winemaker wins “Top Young Winemaker” at NextGen Wine Competition for Millennial Winemakers

David Robert Fanucci’s 2007 Zinfandel wins

Best of Show-Young Winemaker Challenge

Santa Rosa, CA – The Next Gen Wine Competition for Millennial Wine Buyers awarded Top Young Winemaker of the year is 21-year-old David Robert Fanucci of Charter Oak Winery of St. Helena, CA (www.charteroakwine.com). He is a third generation winemaker.

His Charter Oak Winery Zinfandel Sonoma Valley Monte Rosso Vineyard  2007 took “Best of Show” at the competition, besting nearly 750 other wines. It retails for $42.00. For more details, visit www.charteroakwine.com

“Winning Best of Show for the Young Winemaker’s Challenge is a true blessing and honor, especially in light of all the outstanding wines that were entered into the competition,” Fanucci said.

“This award is a great tribute to my great grandfather, Guido Ragghianti who handed down from generation to generation his Old World Italian winemaking methods, which are still in use today,” he added. Fanucci is a third generation family winemaker.

“The judges were asked to choose wines that they would recommend to their peers,” said Elisa Thurman, Director of competition. “If any conclusions can be drawn from this competition, it is that Millennial wine drinkers like well-made bottles from across the spectrum… from frothy sparklers like Barefoot Bubbly Rose Cuvee to Charter Oak Winery’s powerful Zinfandel.”

The competition, held June 14 in Santa Rosa, CA, offered two Divisions – the Open Division, in which any wine could be entered, and the “Young Winemaker’s Challenge,” which was limited to wines made by winemakers age 21-35.

Here are the top medalists. Complete results will be posted Monday, June 21 at www.nextgenwinecomp.info.

BEST OF SHOW: Open Division

E&J Gallo/Barefoot Cellars California Moscato NV $6.99

BEST OF SHOW:  Young Winemakers’ Challenge

Charter Oak Winery Zinfandel Sonoma Valley Monte Rosso Vineyard  2007 $42.00

BEST OF CLASS AWARDS Open Division (Any wine may enter)

ADS Wines

Heavy Weight White California Chardonnay 2008 $12.99

E & J Gallo Winery

Barefoot Bubbly California Rose Cuvee NV $6.99

Barefoot California Moscato NV $6.99 BEST OF SHOW Open Competition

Hagafen Cellars

Don Ernesto Napa Valley Vin Gris 2009 $15.00

Wilson Winery

Wilson Winery Dry Creek Valley Estate Dorothy’s Vineyard Syrah 2007 $30.00

BEST OF CLASS: Young Winemakers Challenge (Wines produced by winemakers age 21-35)

Charter Oak Winery BEST IN SHOW, Young Winemakers Challenge

Charter Oak Winery Sonoma Valley Monte Rosso Vineyard Zinfandel 2007 $42.00

Dr. Konstantin Frank

Dr. Konstantin Frank Finger Lakes Bunch Select Late Harvest Riesling 2008 $69.99

Gundlach Bundschu Winery

Gundlach Bundschu Sonoma Valley Estate Grown, Produced and Bottled Estate Vineyard Tempranillo Rose 2009 $22.00