Finger Lakes wineries score big in international contest

  Results from the 34th International Eastern Wine Competition have been released and Finger Lakes wineries took home scores of medals.

Judging took place May 18-21 at Hidden Valley Camp in Watkins Glen. More than 1,750 wines were entered in the competition with 40 wines awarded double gold medals, 83 gold medals, 517 silver medals and 604 bronze medals.

Finger Lakes wines excelled in the white wine categories, especially in the Riesling Championship, which is a competition within the competition that judges Rieslings in different sweetness categories.

The 2006 Tierce was named the best dry Riesling, the overall Riesling Champion and the best White Wine of the competition (retail $30). The wine was a collaborative effort by three Finger Lakes winemakers -- Peter Bell of Fox Run Vineyards, Johannes Reinhardt of Anthony Road Wine Co., and Dave Whiting of Red Newt Cellars. This is the third year for Tierce, which is a blend of different wines from each winery.

“We try to go into it with no preconception,” says Whiting, who noted they blend samples from each winery together during trials. “It is really an integration of vineyard sources and winemakers tastes” that produces the final product, he said.

Also in the Riesling Championship Penguin Bay Winery was named the best semi-sweet Riesling for its 2008 Riesling, Finger Lakes, (retail $15).

In the sparkling wine category, Goose Watch Winery on Cayuga Lake, was named the Best Sparkling for its Non-Vintage Pinot Noir Rose - Brut, Finger Lakes, (retail $18).