Swedish Hill 2007 Vidal Blanc is NY's top wine
Swedish Hill Winery in New York's Finger Lakes region swept the top two categories at this year's New York Wine & Food Classic, walking away with the coveted Governor's Cup for producing the state's best wine, and the title of "Winery of the Year."
The family-owned winery's 2007 Vidal Blanc beat out 774 other white, red, blush and sparkling entries to receive top honors at Wednesday's competition.
The "Winery of the Year" title reflects Swedish Hill's overall showing based on the number and level of awards in relation to entries.
"We've been on a roll this year," said David Peterson, general manager of the 22-year-old winery on Cayuga Lake, which also took the competition's best sparkling wine prize with its Spumante Blush.
The awards were based on blind tastings by a panel of 25 expert judges, including seven from California and 11 from New York. The winning 2007 Vidal Blanc, an $11.99 bottle, was voted best white wine and best Vidal Blanc on its way to winning "Best of Show" and the Governor's Cup silver chalice.
"It's unbelievably exciting," Peterson said. "These days the number of really good wines is incredible so it makes it even more satisfying to win it, knowing that."
While California towers over the $162 billion-a-year wine-and-grape industry, New York is fourth in the nation with more than 240 wineries, nearly twice as many as a decade ago. The Finger Lakes boasts 98 wineries, compared with 61 in 2000.
The Wine & Food Classic judges also named a best red, best rose, best sparkling wine and best dessert wine Wednesday. A new specialty wine champion award was added this year to recognize the quality of the increasing number of wines made from honey and fruits other than grapes. That award when to Earle Estates Meadery of Seneca Lake.
The 23-year-old New York Wine & Food Classic is sponsored by the New York Wine & Grape Foundation and is open to all New York wineries. Entrants from Long Island, the Hudson Valley, Finger Lakes, Niagara Escarpment, Lake Erie and other regions took home a total of 14 double gold medals, 62 gold medals, 198 silvers and 266 bronzes. (Double gold medals require unanimous agreement among a panel's judges, while a gold medal requires a majority vote.)
At $11.99 a bottle, this year's top wine is also a bargain.
"It's been a bit of an underrated variety," Peterson said. "Riesling has been the best known in the Finger Lakes region so it sometimes takes a back seat to the success of Riesling, but I think it can really hold its own with the best of them."
The day's other winners were:
_Best red wine: Bedell Cellars 2006 Musee.
_Best blush or rose wine: Anthony Road Wine Company 2007 Dry Rose.
_Best specialty wine: Earle Estates Meadery Creamy Apricot.
_Best dessert wine: Casa Larga Vineyards 2005 Fiori Vidal Ice Wine.