The Hilton Head Island Wine &amp; Food Festival presented by Publix announced 163 award winning wines in association with the Hilton Head Island International Wine Judging for 2016. Each year hundreds of wines pour in from around the world to be judged by master sommeliers, certified wine educators, and others gathered at the Sonesta Resort on Hilton Head.

This year’s top wines included the 2012 Chardonnay from California’s Chalk Hill as Best in Show for white wines and Willamette Valley’s 2013 Pinot Noir from Two Messengers as Best in Show for red. In its 31st year, the Hilton Head Wine &amp; Food Festival, a nonprofit event, facilitates scholarships for local collegiate students studying tourism, hospitality, and the culinary arts.

“Our company supports the festival not just because it’s fun and we all love wine, but because it gives back to our community” said Audre Reichenbach Vugrinac, Community Relations Manager at Mike Reichenbach Chevrolet. “Sure, you can taste hundreds of wines and it’s a big party, but it’s a party with a purpose.”

The acclaimed panel of judges included individuals who hold certifications from the Court of Master Sommeliers, Society of Wine Educators, International Sommelier Guild, and Wine and Spirits Education Trust. Many judges participate year after year because of the wide variety of entrants and beauty of the Hilton Head Area.

“We can say many things about our festival. Hilton Head is beautiful. We are one of the oldest wine festivals on the East Coast. It is one of the largest wine events in the South. However, what we are most proud of is that our event has created dozens of opportunities for students in the past few years. The fact that we have a wine competition and festival makes us fairly unique” commented HHIWFF Executive Director Jeff Gerber.

Excess wine bottles are used for charitable bidding lots made available at the Grand Tasting and Public Tasting events. This year the wine festival will last from March 7th through 12th, with the tasting events happening the last two days at The Sea Pines. Award winners are also featured by organizers at special events, such as ‘Wine and Cinema’ at Custom Audio Video, and knowledge sessions offered throughout the week.

Joining Chalk Hill and Two Messengers (Maison L'Envoye') was Barboursville Vineyards’ Paxxito, a 2012 Muscato, which took home the top dessert wine prize. In total, there were 17 Double Gold Medal winners, 25 Gold Medal winners and 121 Silver Medal winners were named out of 418 entrants.

“Our festival offers one of the few East Coast judging competitions and is one of the oldest. This makes our medals prestigious to vintners and generally signals to the public that a wine is worth trying” said Tami Bream, President of the Board of the HHIWFF. “As a restaurant owner, I can safely say it’s a big deal.”

All 163 award winners are available for reference and tickets are available at hiltonheadwineandfood.com, along with 2015’s collection of winners.

<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><b>Double Gold Winners 2016</b></span>

<b>Alexander Valley Vineyards
</b><em>Alexander Valley Vineyards</em>
Pinot Noir, 2014

<b>Alexander Valley Vineyards
</b><em>Alexander Valley Vineyards</em>
CYRUS, 2011

<b>Alexander Valley Vineyards
</b><em>Alexander Valley Vineyards</em>
Alexander School Reserve Single Vineyard Cabernet, 2012

<b>Alexander Valley Vineyards
</b><em>Alexander Valley Vineyards</em>
Cabernet Franc, 2013

<b>Barboursville Vineyards
</b><em>Barboursville Vineyards</em>
Paxxito (Passito), 2013

<b>Delicato Family Vineyards
</b><em>Black Stallion Estate Winery</em>
Cabernet Sauvignon, 2013

<b>Don Sebastiani &amp; Sons
</b><em>Sivas-Sonoma</em>
Zinfandel, 2013

<b>Dr. Konstantin Frank
</b><em>Dr. Konstantin Frank</em>
Riesling, 2014

<b>Dr. Konstantin Frank
</b><em>Dr. Konstantin Frank</em>
Gewurztraminer, 2014

<b>Foley Family Wines
</b><em>Chalk Hill</em>
Chardonnay, 2013

<b>Old Bridge Cellars
</b><em>Maison L’Envoyé</em>
Two Messengers Pinot Noir, 2013

<b>Patricia Green Cellars
</b><em>Patricia Green Cellars</em>
Estate Old Vine Pinot Noir, 2014

<b>Pollak Vineyards
</b><em>Pollak Vineyards</em>
Cabernet Franc, 2013

<b>Pollak Vineyards
</b><em>Pollak Vineyards</em>
Petit Verdot, 2013

<b>Rombauer Vineyards
</b><em>Rombauer Vineyards</em>
Merlot, 2012

<b>Rombauer Vineyards
</b><em>Rombauer Vineyards</em>
Cabernet Sauvignon, 2012

<b>Rombauer Vineyards
</b><em>Rombauer Vineyards</em>
Cabernet Sauvignon, 2013

<b>Schug
</b><em>Schug</em>
Carneros Pinot Noir, 2014