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New York wines won a total of 155 medals at the terrific Florida State Fair International Wine & Grape Juice Competition in Tampa, where I just finished judging for the 20th year. The medal count included 16 Double Gold, 22 Gold, 65 Silver, and 52 Bronze medals, with the Lake Erie region's Liberty Vineyards and Winery leading the charge with three Double Golds for its Purple Haze, 2010 Riesling, and White Side of the Moon.
Other Double Gold medals went to Americana 2009 Finger Lakes Chardonnay, Lawyer Family Winery; Arbor Hill Healthy Purple (grape juice); Glenora 2010 Finger Lakes Late Harvest Riesling and 2003 Finger Lakes Brut Methode Champenoise; Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards 2010 Finger Lakes Homestead Reserve Riesling and 2010 Finger Lakes Chardonnay; Heron Hill 2009 Finger Lakes Ingle Vineyard Riesling and 2010 Finger Lakes Semi-Sweet Riesling; Keuka Spring 2011 Finger Lakes Riesling; Lakewood 2010 Finger Lakes Chardonnay; Montezuma Finger Lakes Fat Frog Red; Swedish Hill 2010 Finger Lakes Riesling and Viking Red; and Wagner Vineyards Finger Lakes Sparkling Riesling.
Gold medals were awarded to Americana 2010 Finger Lakes Crystal Lake; Anthony Road 2010 Finger Lakes Gewurztraminer; Brookview Station Hudson River Region The Conductors Cassis; Casa Larga 2008 Finger Lakes Estate Fiori Delle Stelle Vidal Ice Wine; Chateau Frank 2006 Finger Lakes Estate Bottled Blanc de Noir; Dr. Frank 2010 Finger Lakes Dry Riesling, 2010 Finger Lakes Muscat Ottonel, and 2010 Finger Lakes Semi-Dry Riesling; Fulkerson 2010 Finger Lakes Vidal Blanc Iced Wine; Hazlitt 2010 Finger Lakes Vidal Ice Wine; Heron Hill 2010 Finger Lakes Dry Riesling; Hunt Country Finger Lakes Classic Red and 2010 Finger Lakes Estate Bottled Cayuga White; Keuka Spring Finger Lakes Harvest Blush; Lakewood 2010 Finger Lakes Rielsing, 2010 Finger Lakes Dry Riesling, and 2010 Finger Lakes Borealis; Owera New York Bettys White; Swedish Hill Finger Lakes Riesling Cuvee and Spumante Blush; Torrey Ridge Finger Lakes Niagara and Finger Lakes Diamond.
The Florida competition is among my favorites because of the people, the entries, and the results. Bonnie Jean Paulish, Jeanne Burgess, Mary Studt, and an army of volunteers from the Florida Grape Growers Association masterfully organize the 1,000+ entires for 24 judges from around the country. The entries include the usual suspects in any wine competition, supplemented by palate-tantilizing muscadine and fruit wines as well as grape juice. And the results almost always reflect the fact that great wines are being produced throughout the country, with this year's Best of Category winners hailing from California, Iowa, Nebraska, and Ohio. (Several New York wines were also among the Sweepstakes contenders, including three of the four Rieslings.) Competition is a great thing, making us all try harder and elevating the quality and value of wine for consumers.
There are lots more competitions coming up in the next couple months, so watch for more New York Gold and keep up with all at www.newyorkwines.org. |
