Few wines go with oysters and their vibrant combination of minerals, sweetness, and the sea. To pair up nicely with oysters on the half shell, wines need to be dry and crisp-finishing, according to the competition's founder, Jon Rowley. That is why the Pacific Coast Oyster Wine Competition, sponsored by Taylor Shellfish, identifies, on an annual basis, a group of great "oyster wines" that restaurants can offer with oysters on the half shell — an increasingly popular menu item. Each wine is blind tasted with a Kumamoto oyster. The judge chews the oyster well, then smells and tastes the wine, then rates the "bliss factor" — the wine's affinity for the oyster.

Food lovers, wine writers, restaurateurs, oyster growers, and oyster lovers at-large have selected winners from 20 finalist wines in the Pacific Coast Oyster Wine Competition, a popular annual dating service to find the best West Coast wine matches for oysters. "The search for wines to go with oysters adds to the excitement and culture of oysters," says Bill Taylor, whose company sponsors the competition.

2009 Oyster Award Recipients

Airfield Estates 08 Thunderbolt Sauvignon Blanc (WA)
Anne Amie Vineyards Cuvee A Amrita 07 White Wine (OR)
Cedergreen Cellars 07 Sauvignon Blanc (WA)
Chateau Ste. Michelle 08 Pinot Gris (WA) **
Covey Run Winery 07 Pinot Grigio (WA) *
Hogue Cellars 08 Pinot Grigio (WA)
Kenwood Vineyards  07 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc (CA)
Robledo Family Winery  "Seven Brothers" 07 Sauvignon Blanc (CA) **
Rutherford Ranch 07 Sauvignon Blanc (CA)
Sweet Cheeks Winery 08 Pinot Gris (OR) *

 * Prior Oyster Award Winner
** Multiple prior Oyster Awards

2008 Oyster Award Recipients

Amity Vineyards* 06 Pinot Blanc (OR)
Chateau Ste. Michelle** 06 Columbia Valley Sauvignon Blanc (WA)
Clayhouse Vineyard 06 Sauvignon Blanc (CA)
Covey Run Winery 06 Fume Blanc (WA)
Dry Creek Vineyard* 06 Sonoma County Fume Blanc (CA)
Girard Winery 06 Sauvignon Blanc (CA)
Kathryn Kennedy Winery* 07 Sauvignon Blanc (CA)
Robledo Family Winery* 06 Sauvignon Blanc (CA)
Simi 06 Sauvignon Blanc (CA)
Van Duzer Vineyards 07 Pinot Gris (OR)
Willamette Valley Vineyards** 07 Pinot Gris (OR)

2007 Oyster Award Recipients

Brassfield Estate Winery 05 Sauvignon Blanc (CA)
Dry Creek Vineyard 05 Sonoma County Fume Blanc (CA)
Dry Creek Vineyard** 06 Dry Chenin Blanc (CA)
Geyser Peak Winery** 06 Sauvignon Blanc (CA)
Hall 06 Sauvignon Blanc (CA)
Kenwood Vineyards** 06 Sauvignon Blanc (CA)
King Estate Winery 05* Signature Pinot Gris (OR)
Martin & Weyrich Winery* 06 Unwooded Chardonnay (CA)
Sweet Cheeks Winery 06 Pinot Gris (OR)
Willamette Valley Vineyards* 06 Pinot Gris (OR)

2005 Oyster Award Recipients

Buena Vista 2003 Sauvignon Blanc (CA)
Chateau St. Michelle 2004 Pinot Gris &
Columbia Valley Sauvignon Blanc (WA)
Dry Creek Vineyard 2004 Chenin Blanc (CA)
Dynamite Vineyards 2003 Sauvignon Blanc (CA)
Foris Vineyards Winery 2003 Pinot Blanc (OR)
Geyser Peak 2004 Sauvignon Blanc Kunde Estate Winery &
Vineyards 2003 Magnolia Lane Sauvignon Blanc (CA)
Lake Sonoma Winery 2003 Dry Creek Fume Blanc (CA)
Pomelo 2004 Sauvignon Blanc (CA)
St. Supery 2004 Sauvignon Blanc (CA)