On November 5, 2007, a panel of judges convened in the Cabinet Room at the Old Ebbitt Grill for the final round of the Old Ebbitt Grill International Wines for Oysters Competition. Their task was to select gold medal winners from among twenty finalists. The remaining wines earned silver medals, and the bronze medal winners were chosen during the semi-final round a week earlier. An impressive 420 wines from all over the world were entered in this year's Competition. Within the United States, 191 wines were submitted from eight states. Wineries from 15 other countries entered a total of 229 wines - Argentina, Australia, Austria, Chile, France, Germany, Greece, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Slovenia, South Africa, and Spain. The ten gold medalists were served with twenty types of oysters at the 12th Annual Old Ebbitt Grill Oyster Riot on November 16 & 17.

Our Distinguished Panel of Judges
Jose Andres, Michael Apstein, Andrew Dornenburg, Robert Egger, Michael Franz, Kyle Gaffney, Paul Lukacs, Melissa McCart, Tom Meyer, Karen Page, Chip Reid, Phyllis Richman, Andrea Roane, Antonin Scalia, Tom Smith, and Marguerite Thomas.

2007 GOLD MEDAL WINNERS
Grand Champion
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc 2007, Marlborough, New Zealand
First Runner-Up
Korbel Champagne Cellars "Natural" NV, Russian River Valley, California
Second Runner-Up
Seifried Sauvignon Blanc 2007, Nelson, New Zealand

Other Gold Medal Winners
Saint Clair "Vicar's Choice" Sauvignon Blanc 2007, Marlborough, New Zealand
Saint Clair Sauvignon Blanc 2007, Marlborough, New Zealand
Langlois-Chateau de Loire Cremant de la Loire Brut Rose NV, Loire Valley, France
Staete Landt Sauvignon Blanc 2006, Marlborough, New Zealand
Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2007, Marlborough, New Zealand
New Harbor Sauvignon Blanc 2007, Marlborough, New Zealand
Highfield Sauvignon Blanc 2006, Marlborough, New Zealand

2007 SILVER MEDAL WINNERS
Sauvignon Republic Cellars Sauvignon Blanc 2007, Marlborough, New Zealand
Lake Chalice Sauvignon Blanc 2006, Marlborough, New Zealand
Huia Sauvignon Blanc 2006, Marlborough, New Zealand
Kennedy Point Sauvignon Blanc 2006, Marlborough, New Zealand
Seven Terraces Sauvignon Blanc 2006, Marlborough, New Zealand
Wither Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2007, Marlborough, New Zealand
Matua Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand, 2007
Pouilly Fume 2005, Oliver Schlatter, Loire Valley, France
Westbrook Sauvignon Blanc 2006, Marlborough, New Zealand
Glazebrook Sauvignon Blanc 2006, Marlborough, New Zealand

2007 BRONZE MEDAL WINNERS
Babich Sauvignon Blanc 2007, Marlborough, New Zealand
Bodegas Vinedos de Nieva Blanco Nieva Verdejo 2006, Rueda, Spain
Campanile Pinot Grigio 2006, Fruili, Italy
Cono Sur Estates Sauvignon Blanc 2007, Casablanca Valley, Chile
Covey Run Quail Series Sauvignon Blanc 2005, Columbia Valley, Washington
Domaine Trois Frires Muscadet Sur Lie 2006, Muscadet de Sevre et Maine Sur Lie, La Regrippiere, France
Ferngrove Symbols Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2006, Frankland River, Western Australia
Geyser Peak Winery Sauvignon Blanc 2006, California
Giesen Sauvignon Blanc 2007, Marlborough, New Zealand
Greg Norman Estates Sparkling Chardonnay/Pinot Noir, Southeast Australia
Grove Mill Sauvignon Blanc 2006, Marlborough, New Zealand
Ironhorse Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2006, Lodi, California
J Cuvee 20 Brut NV, Russian River Valley, California
Lake Chalice Wines Sauvignon Blanc 2006, Marlborough, New Zealand
Linden Vineyards Avenius Sauvignon Blanc 2006, Virginia
Martin & Weyrich Winery Chardonnay Unwooded 2006, Central Coast, California
Mary Michelle Winery Mad Squirrel Chardonel 2006, Greene County, Illinois
Meridian Vineyards Pinot Grigio 2006, California
Miguel Torres Santa Digna Sauvignon Blanc 2006, Curico Valley, Chile
Monkey Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2006, Marlborough, New Zealand
Moulin des Vrillires Sancerre 2006, Loire Valley, France
Raymond "Reserve" Sauvignon Blanc 2005, Napa Valley, California
Rutherford Wine Scott Family Chardonnay 2006, Monterey, California
Slipstream Sauvignon Blanc 2007, Western Australia
St. Supery Limited Edition Dollarhide Sauvignon Blanc 2006, Napa Valley, California
St. Supery Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2006, Napa Valley, California
Steve Bird Winery & Vineyards Ltd Bird Sauvignon Blanc 2006, Marlborough, New Zealand
Swanson Vineyards Pinot Grigio 2006, Napa Valley, California
Tohu Mugwi Sauvignon Blanc 2006, Marlborough, New Zealand
Tohu Sauvignon Blanc 2005, Marlborough, New Zealand
Vavasour Wines Ltd Sauvignon Blanc 2005, Marlborough, New Zealand
Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc 2007, Marlborough, New Zealand
Waimea Estates Spinyback Sauvignon Blanc 2006, Nelson, New Zealand
Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc 2006, Marlborough, New Zealand
Woop Woop Verdelho "V" 2006, South Australia
Zolo Sauvignon Blanc 2007, Mendoza, Argentina

Countries and Number of Entries
Argentina, 7
Australia, 41
Austria, 6
Chile, 9
France, 33
Germany, 1
Greece, 9
India, 1
Israel, 1
Italy, 28
Japan, 1
New Zealand, 67
Slovenia, 1
South Africa, 4
Spain, 17
United States, 191

States and Number of Entries
California, 158
Illinois, 1
Idaho, 2
Maryland, 1
New York, 2
Oregon, 5
Virginia, 6
Washington, 16

OYSTERS FEATURED AT OYSTER RIOT XII

European Flat: Ostrea edulis
Wescott Bay Flat, Wescott Bay, WA

Olympia: Ostrea lurida
Olympia, Totten Inlet, WA

Pacific: Crassostrea gigas
Canoe Lagoon, Blashke, AK
Kusshi, Deep Bay, BC, CAN
Snow Creek, Discovery Bay, WA

Eastern: Crassostrea virginica
Beau Soleil, Mirachimi Bay, NB, CAN
Conway Royale, Conway Narrows, PEI, CAN
Dennisport Whitecaps, Cape Cod Bay, MA
Flying Point, Cousins River, ME
Island Creek, Duxbury Bay, MA
Moonstone, Point Judith Salt pond, RI
Onset, Buzzards Bay, MA
Pickle Point, Hope River, PEI, CAN
Pleasant Bay, Pleasant Bay, MA
Raspberry Point, New London Bay, PEI, CAN
St. Anne's, Tatamagouche Bay, NS, CAN
Taunton Bay, Taunton Bay, ME
Wawenauk, Damariscotta River, ME
Wellfleet, Wellfleet Harbor, MA
Wianno, Barnstable Harbor, MA