N.Y. wines win more than 135 medals at competition

Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards' 2009 Gewurztraminer was named best white wine in the 30th annual Riverside International Wine Competition, held Friday in California.

The $15 wine edged Heron Hill Winery's 2008 Dry Riesling Ingle Vineyard ($16) in the sweepstakes round of the competition, according to the New York Wine & Grape Foundation. A California sparkling wine, a Canadian Pinot noir rosé, a California Petit Sirah and a Canadian ice wine won the other four sweepstakes awards.

New York wines received more than 135 medals in what the New York Wine & Grape Foundation called one of the country's most rigorous competitions. More than 1,930 wines, of which about 1,000 were white, were entered.

The top award winners among New York wineries included Heron Hill, which also received Chairman's Awards for its 2009 Semi-Dry Riesling ($14) and 2008 Late Harvest Vidal Blanc ($18), as well as a gold for its 2009 Dry Riesling ($14). Glenora Wine Cellars received one Chairman's Award and three gold medals, and Swedish Hill Winery and Thirsty Owl Wine Co. won four gold medals apiece.

In addition, three of the four International Riesling Foundation Trophies went to Finger Lakes wines. The Dry Wine Trophy went to Heron Hill's 2008 Dry Riesling Ingle Vineyard; the Medium Sweet Wine Trophy went to Lakewood Vineyards' 2009 Riesling ($13); and the Sweet Wine Trophy went to Chateau Lafayette Reneau's 2010 Late Harvest Riesling ($15). The Medium Dry Wine Trophy went to the 2009 Chateau Ste. Michelle & Dr. Loosen 2009 Eroica Riesling ($24), a joint venture between Chateau Ste. Michelle in Washington state and Dr. Loosen of Germany.

The New York Wine & Grape Foundation noted that the sweepstakes round for white wines in the general competition comprised 22 wines, of which seven were Rieslings, more than any other variety, and five of those were from the Finger Lakes.

Chairman's Award winners from New York included Anyela's Vineyards 2009 Riesling ($16); Chateau LaFayette Reneau 2010 Late Harvest Riesling; Fox Run Vineyards 2008 Lemberger ($14); Glenora 2010 Dry Riesling ($18); Lakewood Vineyards 2009 Riesling; and White Springs Winery 2009 Gewurztraminer ($15).

Gold medal winners included the Anthony Road 2009 Vignoles ($13); Atwater Estate 2010 Dry Riesling and 2009 Riesling (both $16); Chateau LaFayette Reneau 2010 Dry Riesling ($15); Dr. Konstantin Frank's Vinifera Wine Cellars 2009 Gewurtztraminer Reserve ($25) and 2008 Rkatsiteli ($18); Fox Run 2009 Riesling ($14); Glenora 2009 Riesling ($16), 2010 Vidal Iced ($25) and 2010 Pinot Blanc ($14); Hazlitt 2010 Semi-Dry Riesling ($12); King Ferry Winery's Treleaven 2008 Late Harvest Eis Riesling ($30); Knapp 2010 Late Harvest Vignoles ($11); Lakewood 2009 Dry Riesling ($13); Prejean Winery 2009 Estate-Grown Gewurztraminer ($15); Swedish Hill Raspberry Infusion ($25), Spumante Blush ($13), 2009 Dry Riesling ($16) and 2009 Vidal Blanc ($12); Thirsty Owl 2010 Pinot Grigio ($15), 2010 Diamond ($10), 2010 Riesling ($15) and 2010 Snow Owl ($10); and Torrey Ridge Winery's Daisy Mae ($11). The 2008 Tierce Riesling ($30), a collaboration among winemakers from Anthony Road, Fox Run and Red Newt Wine Cellars, also won a gold medal.

Other New York wines to win gold were the Coyote Moon Vineyards and Winery Pinot noir ($20); Liberty Vineyards & Winery 2009 Barrel-Select Noiret ($17); Merritt Estate Bella Ice ($16); and Sparkling Pointe 2005 Blanc de Blancs ($42) and 2001 Brut (Seduction) ($50).