The New York Wine & Grape Foundation Announces Winners of the 2019 New York Wine Classic

The Nationally Recognized Competition Highlights the Best of New York Wines

NEW YORK, NY – August 7, 2019 —The New York Wine & Grape Foundation (NYWGF) today announced the winners of the 34th Annual New York Wine Classic.  The New York Wine Classic took place on August 5th – 7th in Watkins Glen, NY and included 883 entries from 113 wineries from across the state.  Six Mile Creek Vineyard from the Finger Lakes region took home the most prestigious award of the competition, The Governor’s Cup, with their 2016 Cabernet Franc. Additionally, the esteemed “Winery of the Year” award was presented to Wagner Vineyards of the Finger Lakes region.  The Specialty Wine Champion award, reserved for wines made of fruit or meads, was given to Johnson Estate Winery for their Passionate Peach fruit wine.

The Governor’s Cup, a large silver chalice, recognizes the “Best of Show” or top prize in the New York Wine Classic. 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. The Governor’s Cup and Winery of the Year winners will be presented with their awards at a special event later this summer.

Known as “The Oscars®” of New York wine competitions, the Classic is organized by the New York Wine & Grape Foundation. This year the competition included 883 New York Wines from across the state. A total of 31 Double Gold, 56 Gold, 278 Silver, and 320 Bronze medals were awarded by a panel of more than 20 judges consisting of influential wine writers, wine educators, retailers, restaurateurs and experts from around the state and globe.

“The New York Wine Classic is one of our largest annual events honoring the best of New York Wines.  We are thrilled with the turnout this year.  The Classic and our annual NY Drinks NY events continue to help New York shine as a truly exciting and innovative wine region,” said Sam Filler, Executive Director, New York Wine & Grape Foundation.

“We here at Six Mile Creek Vineyard are very honored to have won the Governor’s Cup,” said owner Mark Renodin. “When my wife Amy and I took over Six Mile Creek four years ago it was with a passion for wine and the Finger Lakes in general. For us this an acknowledgment of our goal to produce great wine. We want to thank our winemaker, Paul King, and all of our staff that helped make this possible.”

“We are extremely proud to receive the honor of Winery of the Year at this year’s New York Wine Classic,” said Wagner Vineyards owner John Wagner.  “Our team has worked tirelessly to strive for excellence for 40 years now – what a way to cap off a season of celebration at Wagner Vineyards!”

New York Wine Classic winners will be featured on August 28th and 31st, 2019 at the Great New York State Fair in Syracuse and at regional events and wine dinners through the rest of the year. Event details can be found on www.newyorkwines.org in late August.

The New York Wine & Grape Foundation is also proud to announced the following “Best of Category” winners:

Best Sparkling Wine
Harbes Vineyard, Blanc de Blancs

Best White Wine
Wagner Vineyards, 2017 Dry Riesling, Estate Grown

Best Rosé Wine
Coffee Pot Cellars, 2018 Rosé

Best Red Wine
Six Mile Creek Vineyard, 2016 Cabernet Franc

Best Dessert Wine
Vineyard View Winery, 2017 Ice Wine

Highlights from the “Best of Class” Awards (Double Gold or Gold medal  wines in classes of at least 7 wines) are:

Best Oaked Chardonnay
Lieb Cellars, 2018 Chardonnay

Best Unoaked Chardonnay
Toro Run Winery, 2018 Chardonnay, Estate Grown

Best Overall Chardonnay
Lieb Cellars, 2018 Chardonnay

Best Gewurztraminer
Sheldrake Point Winery, 2017 Gewurztraminer, Estate Grown

Best Dry Riesling
Wagner Vineyards, 2017 Dry Riesling, Estate Grown

Best Medium Dry Riesling
Baiting Hollow Farm Vineyard, 2015 Riesling

Best Medium Sweet Riesling
Anthony Road Wine Company, 2015 Riesling

Best Overall Riesling
Wagner Vineyards, 2017 Dry Riesling, Estate Grown

Best Pinot Gris
The Lenz Winery, 2015 Pinot Gris

Best Sauvignon Blanc
Hosmer Winery, 2018 Sauvignon Blanc

Best Other Hybrid White Varietal
Deer Run Winery, Aromella

Best Other Native White Varietal
Lakewood Vineyards, 2018 Niagara

Best Rosé
Coffee Pot Cellars, 2018 Rosé

Best Cabernet Sauvignon
The Lenz Winery, 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon

Best Merlot
Clovis Point, 2015 Vintners Select Merlot

Best Cabernet Franc
Six Mile Creek Vineyard, 2016 Cabernet Franc

Best Marquette
Victory View Vineyard, 2015 Independence

Best Syrah
Harbes Vineyard, 2015 Syrah

Best Red Vinifera Blend
Osprey’s Dominion Vineyards, 2013 Flight Meritage, Estate Grown

Best Other Red Vinifera Varietal
Clovis Point, 2017 Petit Verdot

Best Other Red Hybrid Varietal
Vizcarra Vineyards at Becker Farms, 2018 Quaker Red Rougeon

Best Red Blend (Non-Vinifera)
Montezuma Winery, NV Canvasback Red

Best Late Harvest
Colloca Estate Winery, 2017 Dolce Riesling Lake Effect Vineyard ®

Best Ice Wine
Vineyard View Winery, 2017 Ice Wine

Best Traditional Method Sparkling
Harbes Vineyard, Blanc de Blancs

Best Forced Carbonation Method Sparkling
Tug Hill Vineyards, 2018 Bubbly Blush

Best Fortified Wine
Anyela’s Vineyards, 2009 Final Approach

Best Fruit Wine 
Johnson Estate Winery LLC, Passionate Peach

 Click here to view the full list of award winning wines from the 2019 New York Wine Classic!

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About The New York Wine Classic

The New York Wine Classic was created and is annually hosted by The New York Wine & Grape Foundation. Open to all New York State wineries, categories include vinifera wines like Riesling and Cabernet Franc, and hybrid wines like Traminette and Maréchal Foch. The contest also includes categories for wines made from labrusca grapes, other fruits, and honey.

About The New York Wine & Grape Foundation (NYWGF)

The New York Wine & Grape Foundation promotes the world-class image of New York grapes and wines from the state’s diverse regions to responsibly benefit farmers, producers and consumers through innovative marketing, research, communication, and advocacy. Learn more at www.newyorkwines.org.

Thank you to our 2019 New York Wine Classic Sponsors

text logo for Adirondack Barrel Cooperage
Wine Marketing Association of Ontario Logo

The New York Wine Classic has become known as “The Oscars” of the New York wine industry. The 21 judges include wine writers, wine educators, retailers, restaurateurs and other experts from around New York State and country. All samples are judged “blind” on their own merits, with the “Governor’s Cup” and other awards made public as soon as possible after the competition ends. The winners of this competition get enormous publicity, which leads to enormous sales—but you have to enter to win!

2019 Classic Judges

Attractive Awards, Timely Publicity, and Commercial Benefits

  • The Governor’s Cup will be awarded to the best wine (made from grapes) of the competition.
  • A Winery of the Year award will be granted to the winery with the highest average score (based on the type and number of awards relative to the number of entries).
  • A Specialty Wine Champion award will be given to the best non-grape wine of the competition.
  • A Concord Brandy award will be given (if applicable, in accordance with scoring and award rules.)
  • Double Gold, Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards will be presented on a merit basis as determined by the panels of judges. All Double Gold winners automatically advance to the Governor’s Cup round. Panels also have the option of advancing Gold medal wines if they choose.
  • The top scoring wine in each major category (Sparkling, White, Rosé, Red, and Dessert) will be honored as “Best of New York.”
  • The top scoring wine in each major class (e.g., Chardonnay, Seyval, Red Blend) will receive a “Best of Class” designation. In order for there to be a Best of Class award, there must be at least 7 entries in the class.
  • The International Riesling Foundation’s Riesling Taste Profile is used in determining whether Riesling will be judged in the Dry, Medium Dry, Medium Sweet, or Sweet categories—each of which will have a “Best of Class” designee. It is now being used by major competitions as well as the Classic.
  • As soon as possible after the awards are verified, and the Governor’s Cup winners are notified by phone, and full results will be posted on our web site www.newyorkwines.org under the Industry News section.
  • Medals will be sent to wineries as soon as possible after the competition. Please keep in mind that we cannot predict the number of medals needed, so they will be ordered after the competition is held.
  • The retail stores and restaurants represented on the judging panel will feature many of the award-winning wines during the fall and beyond.
  • The award-winning wines will be featured throughout the coming year in the Foundation’s promotional activities.

 

QUESTIONS? Contact Jennifer Cooper at [email protected] or call 1 (315) 924-3706.

FAQs

Online: Enter here on Enofile.

*For a flat fee of $15, you may be submit a paper entry, and mail to: New York Wine & Grape Foundation, Attn: NY Wine Classic/Jennifer Cooper, 1 Keuka Business Park, Suite 208, Penn Yan, NY 14527.

Please ship your wines to: New York Wine & Grape Foundation, Attn: NY Wine Classic/Jenn Cooper, 1 Keuka Business Park, Suite 208, Penn Yan, NY 14527, between July 8th-19th.

For Most Wines: (4) 750 ML bottles, or the equivalent
Grape Brandy: (2) 750 ml bottles
Ice Wines, Dessert Wines, etc:(6) 375 ml bottles

Results for all winners will be announced at the closing luncheon on August 7th (and announced on the New York Wine & Grape Foundation’s website.) 

Medals will be sent to wineries as soon as possible after the competition. Please keep in mind that we cannot predict the number of medals needed, so need to order them after the competition is held

The New York Wine Classic is a program of the New York Wine & Grape Foundation.

The mission of the New York Wine & Grape Foundation is to promote the world-class image of New York grapes and wines from our diverse regions to responsibly benefit farmers, producers and consumers through innovative marketing, research, communication, and advocacy.

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One Keuka Business Park, Suite 208, Penn Yan, New York 14527 | (315) 924-3700 | [email protected]