Swedish Hill Winery was named Eastern United States Winery of the Year at the recent Critics Challenge International Wine Competition in California, winning four Platinum medals and one Gold, with sister wineries Goose Watch and Penguin Bay adding to the medal count.

                The Platinum medals--all Rieslings--went to 2013 Dry Riesling, 2013 Riesling (Humphrey's Vineyard), 2013 Riesling, and 2013 Blue Waters Riesling, with Gold for 2013 Gewurztraminer (Doyle Vineyard).  Goose Watch 2012 Lemberger struck Gold, as did Penguin Bay 2013 Vidal Blanc Ice Wine, 2013 Pinot Grigio, and 2014 Dry Riesling.

                Other Platinum medals were awarded to Fulkerson 2014 Diamond and Wagner 2012 Semi-Dry Riesling.

                Other Golds went to Fulkerson 2014 William Vigne Gruner Veltliner; Heron Hill 2012 Cabernet Franc and 2013 Dry Riesling; Wagner 2013 Dry Riesling and 2013 Riesling Select.

                   Elsewhere, Shaw Vineyard received several excellent ratings from Wine Enthusiast, including 2012 Road Block Reserve Riesling (92), 2009 Pinot Noir (92), 2007 Merlot (91), 2008 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2013 Vin Rustique Gewurztraminer (90), with the first four wines designated "Editors' Choice" as well.

                   Other notable wines include Bloomer Creek 2013 Tanzen Dame Auten Vineyard and Clone 239 Dry Riesling (90); Boundary Breaks 2013 No. 239 Dry Riesling (90); and Dr. Frank 2013 Reserve Riesling (90).

                    Domaine Laseurre's 2013 Dry Riesling, Cuvee Classic received scores of 90 from both Wine Enthusiast and Wine & Spirits magazines.

                   Full Monty Riesling from Lakewood Vineyards will be available for purchase starting Monday, with a dollar from every sale going into The Monty Fund, which supports students in the grape growing and wine industry.  Lakewood founder and patriarch the late Monty Stamp was a true giant in our industry, and his family continues the tradition of commitment to the industry.

                    A Wine Spectator web piece about MLB wines includes a nice mention of Anthony Road-produced Dry Riesling being the official white wine of the New York Yankees.  With a label featuring the Yankees' iconic NY logo and a mention of Anthony Road, it's great publicity for the Seneca Lake winery.

                   Bedell Cellars, Martha Clara Vineyards, and Shinn Estate Vineyards got nice plugs in a Fodor's online article on "10 Reasons to Visit Long Island", with the three wineries included in "North Fork Wine Tours" as one of those reasons.

                   Silver Thread Vineyard has received a grant from the New Farmer Grant Fund to improve and expand its seven-acre vineyard, panted in the 1800's on the east side of Seneca Lake.  In addition to operating the vineyard and award-winning winery, Paul and Shannon Brock are wine-active in other ways as well; Paul is Assistant Professor of Viticulture and Wine Technology at Finger Lakes Community College, and Shannon is an instructor for the Wine & Spirit Education Trust.