WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. — Buttonwood Grove Winery 2016 Riesling from the Finger Lakes Region won the coveted “Governor’s Cup” trophy at the 2017 New York Wine & Food Classic competition, held on August 8 & 9 at the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel in Watkins Glen, NY. The “Winery of the Year” award was a tie between CK Cellars/Torrey Ridge Winery from the Finger Lakes Region, and Sparkling Pointe Vineyards & Winery from the North Fork of Long Island.
The Governor’s Cup, a large silver chalice, recognizes the “Best of Show” or top prize of all 958 entries in the Classic, known as “The Oscars” of New York wine. The “Winery of the Year” award is presented to the winery with the best overall showing based on the level and number of awards in relation to entries.
“We applaud the winners in a very competitive event, as well as the strong support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and his administration for the New York wine industry” said Jim Trezise, former President of the New York Wine & Grape Foundation, which sponsors the Classic; Trezise oversaw the 2017 Classic for the last time.
This year’s competition included 915 New York wines, 27 Hard Ciders and 16 Craft Spirits from several regions across New York State including Long Island, Hudson Valley, Finger Lakes, Niagara Escarpment and Lake Erie. The Buttonwood Grove Winery 2016 Riesling was also voted Best Medium Sweet Riesling, Best Overall Riesling, and Best White on its way to the ultimate award. CK Cellars/Torrey Ridge Winery won Best Catawba and Best Pink wine on its way to the Winery of the Year award. Sparkling Pointe Vineyards & Winery won Best Vinifera Sparkling White, Best Vinifera Sparkling Pink and Best Sparkling on their way to the Winery of the Year award.
A “Specialty Wine Champion” award recognizes consistent quality among the increasing number of wines made from fruits other than grapes, or honey. The 2017 winner was 21 Brix Winery Raspberry.
A “Best Limited Production Wine” award, for wines produced with fewer than 100 cases, went to Barnstormer Winery 2016 Riesling N6679P.
There are also awards for Best Spirit and Best Cider. The Best Spirit honor went to Finger Lakes Distilling Seneca Drums Gin, while the Best Cider was Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards Cider Tree with Citra Hops.
The awards were based on blind tastings by 21 expert judges-2 from California, 12 from New York, and 7 from other states. Judges included prominent wine writers, restaurateurs, retailers, and wine educators. Judging panels determined the initial awards, with top-scoring wines evaluated by all 21 judges for Best of Category and Governor’s Cup awards.
Celebrating its 32nd year, the Classic is organized by Teresa Knapp of the New York Wine & Grape Foundation, and is open to all 420 New York wineries from all regions. In 2017, a total of 81 Double Gold, 88 Gold, 454 Silver, and 241 Bronze medals were awarded. In addition, “Best of Category” and “Best of Class” designations were awarded to wines rated as the finest in various areas. Double Gold medals require unanimity among a panel’s judges that a wine deserves a Gold medal, whereas Gold medals require a majority vote.
The “Best of Category” awards, all eligible for the Governor’s Cup, went to:
Best Sparkling Wine
Sparkling Pointe Vineyards & Winery 2014 Topaz Imperial, Méthode Champenoise
Best White Wine
Buttonwood Grove Winery 2016 Riesling
Best Pink Wine
CK Cellars/Torrey Ridge Winery Catawba
Best Red Wine
3 Brothers Wineries & Estates 2016 Zweigelt/Cabernet Sauvignon
Best Dessert Wine
Goose Watch Winery Classic Cream Sherry
Best of Class awards go to Double Gold or Gold medal wines in classes of at least 7 wines.
The “Best of Class” awards went to:
Best Oaked Chardonnay
Osmote Wine 2014 Chardonnay
Best Unoaked Chardonnay
Martha Clara Vineyards 2014 Chardonnay
Best Gewürztraminer
Dr. Konstantin Frank 2016 Gewürztraminer
Best Dry Riesling
Lucas Vineyards 2015 Dry Riesling
Best Medium Dry Riesling
Dr. Konstantin Frank 2016 Riesling, Semi-Dry
Best Medium Sweet Riesling
Buttonwood Grove Winery 2016 Riesling
Best Sweet Riesling
Fox Run Vineyards 2014 Lot 11 Riesling, Lake Dana Vineyard
Best Overall Riesling
Buttonwood Grove Winery 2016 Riesling
Best Sauvignon Blanc
Paumanok Vineyards 2016 Sauvignon Blanc
Best Pinot Grigio
Seneca Shore Cellars Pinot Grigio
Best Grüner Veltliner
Dr. Konstantin Frank 2016 Grüner Veltliner
Best Other Vinifera White Varietal
Kontokosta Winery 2016 Viognier
Best Vinifera White Blend
Bedell Cellars 2016 Taste White
Best Traminette
Johnson Estate Winery 2016 Traminette
Best Vignoles
Anthony Road Wine Company 2016 Vignoles
Best Cold Climate White Varietal
Weis Vineyards 2016 Heart of the Lake
Best Hybrid White
3 Brothers Wineries & Estates Nearly Naked
Best Diamond
Thirsty Owl Wine Company 2016 Diamond
Best Niagara
Chateau LaFayette Reneau Niagara Mist
Best Rosé
Chateau LaFayette Reneau 2016 Pinot Noir Rosé
Best Blush
Owera Vineyards Cazenovia Blush
Best Catawba
CK Cellars/Torrey Ridge Winery Catawba
Best Merlot
Damiani Wine Cellars 2012 Merlot Reserve
Best Pinot Noir
Martha Clara Vineyards 2015 Estate Reserve Pinot Noir
Best Cabernet Franc
Fjord Vineyards 2015 Cabernet Franc
Best Syrah
Clovis Point Vineyard & Winery 2014 Syrah
Best Other Red Vinifera Varietal
Thirsty Owl Wine Company 2015 Malbec
Best Vinifera Red Blend
3 Brothers Wineries & Estates 2016 Zweigelt/Cabernet Sauvignon
Best Cold Climate Red Varietal
Tug Hill Vineyards 2015 Marquette
Best Hybrid Red
Stone Age Winery Reugeon de Chaunac
Best Fruit Wine
21 Brix Winery Raspberry
Best Cider
Hazlitt 1852 Vineyard Cider Tree with Citra Hops
Best Spirit
Finger Lakes Distilling Seneca Drums Gin
Best Port
Hazlitt 1852 Vineyard Light Port
Best Late Harvest
Wölffer Estate Vineyard 2014 Diosa Late Harvest
Best Ice Wine
Leonard Oakes Estate Winery 2015 Vidal Blanc Ice Wine
Best Vinifera Sparkling White
Sparkling Pointe Vineyards & Winery 2012 Blanc de Blanc, Méthode Champenoise
Best Vinifera Sparkling Pink
Sparkling Pointe Vineyards & Winery 2014 Topaz Imperial, Méthode Champenoise
Best Hybrid Sparkling White
J.R. Dill Winery Cayuga White Rise
Complete results of the 2017 Classic will also soon be posted under “Industry/New York Wine & Food Classic” and under “Awards” both at www.newyorkwines.org, which also includes Gold medal New York wines from other major competitions.
Media Contact: Jim Trezise at jimtrezise@gmail.com
—New York Wine & Grape Foundation
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