N.Y. wines win 2 top awards at Eastern competition

  New York wines won two of the top awards at the 2009 International Eastern Wine Competition last weekend.

The 2006 Tierce ($30), a collaboration among three wineries, was named best white wine, and Goose Watch Winery's NV Pinot Noir Rosé — Brut ($18) was chosen as the best sparkling wine.

The 34-year-old competition was judged May 18-20 in Watkins Glen by a 32-team panel, divided into eight groups of four. In recent years, it has drawn more than 2,200 entries with wines from 16 countries and 34 states. Bronze medals require a unanimous vote.

It also included a Riesling Championship, in which New York and California split the honors. The 2006 Tierce won the overall championship and was named best dry Riesling. The best semi-sweet Riesling was Penguin Bay Winery's 2008 Riesling ($18). The California winners were Navarro Vineyards' 2007 Late Harvest Riesling ($35), best sweet Riesling, and Jekel Vineyards' 2007 Riesling ($11.99), best semi-dry Riesling. The four class winners competed for the championship.

"The fact that 2006 was a great year for Finger Lakes Riesling was demonstrated again as the 2006 Tierce took top awards as Best Dry Riesling / Best Riesling / Best White Wine of the competition," Dave Whiting of Red Newt Cellars wrote in his blog. "Tierce is a collaborative winemaking project that Peter Bell (Fox Run), Johannes Reinhardt (Anthony Road) and I have been producing since 2004. Our goal is to create a synergy of three vineyards, from three wineries, and three winemakers to create our vision of the highest expression of Finger Lakes Riesling. It¹s fun when other people give a nod to our success."

In the overall competition, New York wines took home nearly 200 medals, including eight double golds and 10 golds for Finger Lakes wines.

Cascata Winery's 2007 Cascade Riesling ($14.95), Dr. Konstantin Frank's 2007 Semi-Dry Riesling ($14.95), Goose Watch Winery's 2008 Rosé of Isabella ($10) and NV Pinot Noir Rosé — Brut ($18), Hunt Country Vineyards' 2008 Valvin Muscat ($14.99), Penguin Bay Winery's 2008 Riesling ($15), Swedish Hill Winery's 2008 Vidal Blanc ($11.99) and the 2006 Tierce ($30) won double gold medals.

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Other New York double golds were earned by Brotherhood Winery's NV Blanc de Blancs ($10.99) and Peconic Bay Winery's 2006 Riesling ($18).

Among Finger Lakes wineries, gold medals went to Casa Larga Vineyard's 2006 Fiori Vidal Ice Wine ($44.99), Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards' NV White Stag ($8.99), Hosmer Winery's 2007 Chardonnay ($12), Knapp Vineyards Winery's NV "Superstition" Concord ($9.95), Lakewood Vineyards' 2007 Gewurztraminer ($16.99), Long Point Winery's 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon ($24), Montezuma Winery's NV Semi-Sweet Mead ($10.99), Sheldrake Point Vineyard's 2007 Barrel Reserve Chardonnay ($18), Swedish Hill Winery's NV Naturel ($17.99) and Thorpe Vineyard's NV Fialka ($9.99).

Other winners from the Finger Lakes were:

Americana Vineyards & Winery Inc.: bronze, 2007 Riesling ($15.99).

Anthony Road Wine Co.: silver, 2007 Cabernet Franc/Lemberger ($17.99), 2008 Dry Rosé of Cabernet Franc ($12.99); bronze, 2007 Martini-Reinhardt Cabernet Franc ($30).

Belhurst Winery, bronze, 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon ($21.95), 2008 Pinot Grigio ($19.95).

Casa Larga Vineyards: silver, NV Casa Larga Vineyards Chardonnay ($11.99), NV Meritage ($19.99); bronze, NV Gallery 155 Tré Blanc ($14.99).

Cascata Winery: silver, 2008 Cranberry Bog Mead, ($15.95).

Chateau Frank: silver, 2002 Blanc de Noirs ($29.99), 2002 Brut ($24.99); bronze, 2002 Blanc de Blanc ($29.99).

Deer Run Winery: bronze, 2007 Valvin Muscat ($11.99).

Dr. Konstantin Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars: silver, 2007 Gewurztraminer ($17.95), 2007 Dry Riesling ($16.95), 2008 Dry Riesling ($16.95); bronze, 2007 Rhatsiteli ($17.95).

Earle Estates: silver, NV Creamy Apricot ($13.99).

Fox Run Vineyards: silver, 2005 Cabernet Franc ($40), 2006 Lemberger ($17.99).

Frontenac Point Vineyard: silver, 2008 Frontenac ($14.99).

Fulkerson Winery, silver, 2007 Burntray ($11.99), 2007 Riesling Traminette ($12.49), 2005 Merlot ($17.99), 2007 Dornfelder ($15.99), 2007 Lemberger ($15.99), 2007 Riesling Reserve ($16.49), 2007 Traminette ($11.99); bronze, 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon ($15.99), NV Airship White ($9.99).

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Glenora Wine Cellars: silver, 2007 Cabernet Franc ($15.99), 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon — Mason Vineyard ($24.99); bronze, 2007 Meritage ($16.99), 2008 Riesling ($15.99), 2007 Syrah ($16.99), 2002 Brut Methode Champenoise ($24.99), 2008 Vidal Blanc Ice Wine ($24.95 / 375ml).

Goose Watch Winery, silver, NV Renaissance Red ($10), 2007 Lemberger ($16); bronze, 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon ($15), 2005 Chambourcin ($13), NV Golden Spumante ($13), 2006 Merlot ($18), 2008 Villard Blanc ($12), 2008 Melody ($10), 2007 Pinot Grigio ($16), NV Classic Cream Sherry ($15), 2007 Traminette ($13).

Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards: silver, NV White Cat ($7.79), 2008 Homestead Riesling ($18); bronze, 2007 Cabernet Franc ($22), 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon ($19), NV Cabin Fever, ($7.79). 2008 Gewurztraminer ($15), 2007 Merlot ($22).

Heron Hill Winery: silver, 2006 Riesling ($17.99), 2007 Semi-Dry Riesling ($12.99), 2007 Late Harvest Vidal Blanc ($19.99); bronze, 2007 Chardonnay ($12.99), 2006 Pinot Noir ($24.99).

Hickory Hollow Wine Cellars / Highland Cellars: silver, 2006 Riesling ($12.49), 2007 Riesling, ($12.49); bronze, NV Red Hoot ($9.99).

Hosmer Winery: silver, 2007 Cabernet Franc ($18), 2007 Vintners Reserve Riesling ($25), 2007 Riesling ($12), 2007 Dry Riesling, Cayuga Lake, ($12); bronze, 2007 Pinot Gris ($14), 2007 Pinot Noir ($25).

Hunt Country Vineyards, silver, 2007 Cabernet Franc ($17.99); bronze, 2008 Pinot Gris ($15.99), NV Cream Sherry ($15.99).

Keuka Spring Vineyards, silver, NV Clara's Red ($8.49); bronze, 2007 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($24.99), 2007 Chardonnay ($13.99), NV Crooked Lake Red ($12.99), 2007 Reserve Merlot ($24.99), 2007 Reserve Epic ($24.99), 2007 Reserve Riesling ($17.99).

Knapp Vineyards Winery silver, NV "Curiosity" (Cayuga and Vignoles, $9.95), 2007 Dry Riesling — Estate Grown ($14.95); bronze, NV Kat Knapp White Niagara ($9.95), 2007 Riesling ($14.95).

Lakewood Vineyards: silver, 2007 Glaciovinum / Delaware Ice Wine ($13.99), 2007 Dry Riesling ($12.99); bronze, 2007 Cabernet Franc, ($15.99), 2007 Long Stem White ($7.99), 2007 Abby Rose ($7.99).

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Long Point Winery: bronze, 2006 Syrah ($20), 2008 Vidal Blanc ($10).

Montezuma Winery: bronze, NV Cranberry Bag ($12.49), NV Diamond ($9.49).

Penguin Bay Winery, silver, 2007 Surfside Chardonnay ($14), 2007 Rosé of Chambourcin ($11), NV Percussion ($12); bronze, 2007 Gewurztraminer ($17), NV Humboldt Red ($11), NV Maroon Four ($14), NV Tuxedo Red ($9.50), NV Tuxedo White ($9.50), NV Cabernet ($14).

Red Tail Ridge Winery: silver, 2007 Pinot Noir ($19.95); bronze, 2007 Barrel — Fermented Chardonnay, ($16.95).

Rooster Hill: silver, 2007 Rosecomb Red ($10.99), 2007 Riesling, ($15.99); bronze, 2007 Cabernet Franc, ($19.99), 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.99), 2007 Pinot Noir ($15.99).

Sheldrake Point Vineyard: silver, 2008 Dry Rosé ($12).

Swedish Hill Winery, silver, 2005 Cabernet Franc, ($16.99), 2008 Cayuga White ($9.99), NV Eaux de Vie ($28), NV Blanc de Blanc ($14.99), NV Viking White ($7.99), NV Spumante Blush ($12.99), NV Svenska White ($8.49), 2007 Marechal Foch ($11.99), NV Raspberry Infusion ($25), 2007 Cabernet Franc-Lemberger ($15.99), 2007 Excelcia ($15.99), NV Cynthia Marie Port ($22), 2007 Riesling ($15.99); bronze, 2007 Cayuga White ($9.99), NV Blue Waters Chardonnay ($9.99), NV Country Concord ($8.49), NV Viking Red ($7.99), NV Svenska Red ($8.49).

Thirsty Owl Wine Co.: silver, 2008 Diamond ($8.95), 2008 Pinot Gris ($14.95), 2007 Meritage / Bordeaux Blend ($22.95), 2008 Riesling ($14.95); bronze, 2008 Snow Owl / Cayuga Seyval ($10.95), 2007 Pinot Noir Reserve ($19.95), 2007 Pinot Noir, ($16.95), 2008 Vidal Blanc ($11.95),

Torrey Ridge Winery, silver, NV Midnight Blue ($10.99), NV Diamond ($9.99), 2006 Traminette ($11.99).

Ventosa Vineyards, bronze, 2005/2006 Cabernet Sauvignon ($23).

Wagner Vineyards: silver, 2007 Riesling Ice ($23.99), 2007 Vignoles Ice ($21.99); bronze, 2007 Chardonnay Reserve ($13.99), 2007 Riesling Dry ($12.99), 2007 Riesling Select ($12.99).

Other upstate New York winners included:

Adirondack Winery, silver, NV Pinot Noir ($18.50).

Brotherhood Winery: bronze, 2007 Riesling ($9.99).

Johnson Estate: silver, 2007 Vidal Blanc Ice Wine ($39); bronze, 2007 Chautauqua Rouge, ($9), NV Grape A Granate, ($10).

Liberty Vineyards & Winery: silver, NV Fredonia ($8.99), NV Diamond ($9.99), 2008 Dry Riesling ($13.99), 2008 Riesling ($12.99); bronze, 2007 Barrel Select Noiret ($16.99).

Mazza Chautauqua Cellars: bronze, 2007 Lemberger ($14), 2008 Traminette ($13), NV Sparkling Chardonnay ($19.95).

Merritt Estate Winery: silver, NV Bella Rosa ($8.49); bronze, NV Riesling ($10.99).