Greenest Winery? Not Quite. Sunset Magazine’s First Wine Awards
Out of the blue I got an email informing me that Sokol Blosser was a finalist in the 2005 Sunset Magazine’s Wine Awards. I had no idea the magazine was doing wine awards, but I was thrilled we were involved. Turns out we were one of 3 finalists in the Green Winery of the Year category. The other finalists were Frog’s Leap and Benziger Family Winery. My first thought was WOW, I’m glad just to be listed with these other two leaders in the field. The winner would be announced August 12th and I was invited to the dinner at Sunset’s headquarters in Menlo Park, CA.
Sunset Magazine is an icon in the lifestyle magazine industry and I’ve subscribed to it for many years—long before they did anything with wine. I have a love-hate relationship with Sunset. I love it for the beautiful gardens, cozy kitchens, interesting travel ideas and glossy photos showing how wonderful life can be, the Sunset way. I hate it for the sinking feeling I have as the do-it-yourself projects and plans build up, filed away for when I have time. Sunset symbolizes for me all the things I want that are beyond my reach.
The chance to visit Sunset’s headquarters and see the base for all these creative ideas was so alluring, that I decided to go, and take Alison with me, if I could get a tour of the place. That request was generously granted and Sara Schneider, the Senior Food and Wine Editor, showed us around the afternoon of the big dinner. The buildings, kitchens, gardens, grounds were authentic Sunset. I was pleased to see that the head office looked like the magazine and not a corporate office in an impersonal high rise building.
At dinner, Alison and I sat with Editor-in-Chief Katie Tamony at the awards dinner. It was great fun. The disappointment was that we didn’t win. Benziger did and certainly well deserved. But we were glad to be part of the event and my complicated feelings about Sunset were preserved.
Learn more about Sunset's Wine Awards and the nominees at Sunset's web site.
In the photo, from left to right: Editor-in-Chief Katie Tamony, Susan Sokol Blosser and Senior Food & Wine Editor Sara Schneider.