Gather around, wine lovers! Here is this week’s Miami wine news:
db Bistro Moderne Names New Head Sommelier
Coming to the Magic City from top restaurants–like Atlas, at the St. Regis Atlanta, and Del Frisco’s Grille and TITOU Hospitality Group, both in Palm Beach–Haunah Klein is now Head Sommelier at Downtown Miami’s Daniel Boulud locale, db Bistro Moderne {255 Biscayne Boulevard Way, Downtown Miami; 305.421.8800}. A Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers Program, Haunah will now manage db Bistro’s cellar of 600+ vintages and plan events with new and emerging wine producers, like her Champagne Pommery event, which will take place at the Downtown hotspot on March 15. 
Breakthru Beverage Florida Wants You to Get in an ‘Oregon State of Mind’
On January 30, Breakthru Beverage Florida and Jackson Family Wines invites wine lovers to participate in a 90-minute panel tasting and wine reception at the InterContinental Miami. Paying homage to great Oregon winemakers, this panel event will be hosted and moderated by Julia Jackson, Proprietor of Jackson Family Wines, and Gilian Handelman, Director of Wine Education for Jackson Family Wines, respectively. Running from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., it will feature wine greats like Eugenia Keegan (from Gran Moraine), Craig McAllister (from La Crema), Lynn Penner-Ash (from Penner-Ash), Ryan Zepaltas (from Siduri), and Tony Rynders (from Zena Crown), all of whom will discuss hot topics in the wine world while sipping Pinot Noirs from the great Willamette Valley.
American Fine Wine Invitational (AFWI) Picks the Best American Wines
Just last week, AFWI held its 10^th-annual Wine Judging event, where wine experts, aficionados and local press (including yours truly!) sipped American wines and awarded medals to more than 850 vintages from 230 wineries. During this interesting three-day event, which took place at FIU’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management, 24 judges selected top vintages for “Best of Class” and “Best of Show.” Here are the winners:
Best of Class
Sauvignon Blanc, ’14 Marston Family Vineyard, “Albion”, Yountville (MRP $50)
Chardonnay, ’13 Mi Sueno, Sonoma Mountain (MRP $54)
Riesling, ’15 Glenora Wine Cellars, Finger Lakes, NY (MRP $15)
Dry Rose, ’15 Fulcrum, “Cloisonne” Lake County (MRP $24)
Pinot Noir, ’14 Benovia Winery, Tilton Hill, Sonoma Coast (MRP $60)
Malbec, ’13 Kestrel Vintners, Yakima, WA (MRP $45)
Merlot, ’13 Tenor Columbia Valley, WA (MRP $58)
Other Red Blend, ‘13 Maldonado Family Vineyards, Proprietary Red, Napa (MRP $38)
Zinfandel, ’13 Jeff Cohn Cellars, Cassata Vineyard, Sonoma (MRP $42)
Sangiovese, ‘14 Luna Vineyards, Napa (MRP $42)
Grenache,’15 Oak Farm Vineyards, Lodi (MRP $27)
Red Bordeaux Style Blend, ’13 Alpha Omega Propriety Red Blend, Napa (MRP $98)
Cabernet Franc, ’13 Vinoce Vineyards, Mt. Veeder (MRP $75)
Petite Sirah, ’13 Robert Biale “E.B.A.”, Napa (MRP $75)
Syrah, ’13 VIE Las Madres Vineyard, Los Carneros (MRP $49)
Best of Show
Sparkling, NV Mumm Napa, “Santana” Brut, Napa (MRP $50)
Dessert Wine, ’11 John Anthony Vineyards Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc, Napa (MRP $65)
White, ’15 Chehalem Vineyards, Gruner Veltliner, Ribbon Ridge, OR (MRP $24)
Red, ’13 Baldacci Family, Cabernet Sauvignon “Ruppert”, Napa (MRP $125)
All wines entered into the judging will be available to taste at the highly-anticipated AFWI Charity Wine Gala, which will take place on April 29 at the Design Center of the Americas (DCOTA). The Gala will include a “Sparkling” reception, The Wine Walk, and a  wine-centric dinner featuring the weekend’s award-winning wines, all of which will be poured by AFWI “Wine Angels.”  There will be live and silent auctions, a “Premium” wine auction, live entertainment, and the opportunity to dine with your favorite Miami Dolphins player. Adding to its allure, proceeds from this fun-filled event will benefit The Dolphins Cancer Challenge.
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor