Newcomer Daniel Ojinaga Takes First Place
NAPA, California (July 1, 2013) –Top wine country mixologists and leaders of the spirits and bartending communities gathered on June 24th for the fourth annual Wine Country Cocktail Competition held at the Andaz Napa. Despite the rain filled evening, the event drew a large enthusiastic crowd of consumers, trade, media and key talent as the wine country mixology community competed for the most creative and balanced cocktail featuring Napa Valley based companies The Perfect Purée of Napa Valley and Charbay Distillery.
“It’s very exciting to see past winners and their bar staff, as well as newcomers,” said Tracy Hayward, President and Founder of The Perfect Purée of Napa Valley. “We celebrate the great talent in Wine Country—bar programs that should not be overlooked and the top-level talent this event draws to compete each year.”
Top wine country restaurants and bars that competed included: Goose & Gander, Ad Hoc, Norman Rose, Nick’s Cove, Farmstead and Tra Vigne.. The fourteen competitors were provided several of Charbay’s flavored Vodka portfolio and the entire flavor line-up of The Perfect Purée of Napa Valley.
Prizes were awarded to contestants and cocktails for presentation, flavor and creativity and were judged by Bay area journalists Virginia Miller (The Perfect Spot) and Lou Bustamante (SF Weekly), as well as mixologist Scott Beattie and Chef Ken Frank of Toque restaurant at the Westin, Napa. The first place prize of $150 was awarded to Daniel Ojinaga of Society Culture House in Santa Rosa, for his Zest Tea Fizz cocktail which included Charbay Green Tea Vodka and The Perfect Purée Coconut puree. A second place prize of $125 was awarded to Gabby Saul of St. Helena’s Goose & Gander, winning with her Caribbean Express that combined The Perfect Purée’s Passion Colada blend and Passion Fruit Concentrate. The Rickshaw from Brandon Manning of Santa Rosa’s Jack & Tony’s came in third place winning a prize of $100, and featured Charbay Ruby Red Grapefruit Vodka and The Perfect Purée’s Lychee puree and Thai Basil & Black Pepper blend.
Newly added to the competition this year, much to the delight of the crowd, was a People’s Choice award, which was won by Hunter DeoOcampo of venue host the Andaz. His Salvia Sling cocktail featured Charbay Red Raspberry Vodka and The Perfect Puree’s Mango puree.
Charbay Winery & Distillery was founded in 1983 by Miles & Susan Karakasevic. Miles is a 12th generation Master Distiller/Winemaker from Yugoslavia. The family is known for their fresh fruit vodkas, rums, whiskeys, tequila and black walnut liqueur. The ports & wines are available at their Spring Mountain Winery & Distillery Still House, open to the public. Their son, Marko, became a Master Distiller after a long, colorful apprenticeship with his father. It’s all about capturing and sharing the perfumes of the fruits, vegetables & roots that they lovingly ferment and distill. For more information and recipes, please visit www.charbay.com.
The Perfect Purée of Napa Valley perfects the Art of Flavor for chefs and bar artists. They indulge their culinary passions with fresh fruit purees, concentrates, zests and blends. Their products elevate menus and expand culinary boundaries, allowing every dish to become a masterpiece and every glass a liquid canvas. All products are frozen, maintaining ultimate freshness, flavor and color. For more information, please visit www. perfectpuree.com.
