• Coyote Moon earns right to howl

CLAYTON, NY — Coyote Moon Vineyards is not among the most recognized wine labels in New York, but it is making a name for itself on the West Coast.

Winemaker/co-owner Phil Randazzo (near right) had entries took a trio of gold medals in the recent “Consumer Wine Awards” competition held in Lodi, CA, with his LaCrescent, River Run Rose and unoaked Naked Chardonnay doing the trick.

And, proving you have to catch the consumer’s eye before you capture their palate, house artist/co-owner Mary Randazzo (right) spearheaded the Thousand Islands company’s entry that won “Best Label Series” in the recent Pacific Rim Competition in which its wines also took 10 medals. Rich Clarke of Clarke Graphics and Tim Tice of Label World also worked on the project for the Rochester area entry.

You can see the list of awards Coyote Moon has won over the past few years by going here.

Check out my New York Drinks Events Calendar, the most comprehensive you’ll find anywhere.

 

• Newcomers sweep TAP NY competition

HUNTER — A pair of comparatively new breweries swept the major cup awards at this weekend’s 14th annual TAP NY Brewer’s Festival competition.

Barrier Brewing of Oceanside, Long Island, which was founded in 2009, earned the F.X. Matt Memorial Cup, emblematic of “Best Brewery in New York State” status. The micro operation is run by Evan Klein and Craig Frymark.

Crossroads Brewing of Athens, Greene County, which was founded in 2010, won the Matthew Vassar Brewers’ Cup as “Best Brewery in the Hudson Valley.” In addition, it won the new John Calen memorial Award for “Best English Style Pale Ale.” The company was founded by Ken Landin and Janine Bennett.

Barrier Brewing is located at 3595 Lawson Boulevard, Oceanside. Phone: (516) 316-4429.
Crossroads Brewing is located at 1 Second Street, Athens. Phone: (518) 945-2337.

Brown’s Whiskey Porter, made by Brown’s Brewing Co. of Troy, was named “Best Beer in New York State” for the second consecutive year after earning a silver medal in 2008.

Other award winners:

• New York State category: Silver: Cortland Brewing Flight Level 410 Olde Ale; Bronze: C.H. Evans Hefeweizen.

• Hudson Valley category: Gold: High Point Brewing Double Platinum Hefeweizen; Silver: Brown’s Brewing, Whiskey Barrel Porter; Bronze: Crossroads Brewing Outrage IPA.

Check out my New York Drinks Events Calendar, the most comprehensive you’ll find anywhere.

 

• More California gold for Upstaters

SAN BERNARDINO, CA — New York wineries won a total of 82 medals, including 17 golds and three “Best of Class” honors at this week’s Pacific Rim International Wine Competition held here.

“Best of Class” honors went to:

• Merritt Estate Edelweiss

• Red Tail Ridge 2010 Sweet Riesling

• Torrey Ridge Diamond.

Chateau LaFayette Reneau and Thirsty Owl Wine Company each won four gold medals along with silver and bronze awards. In addition, golds went to Anthony Road 2008 Vignoles Trockenbeeren and 2008 Tierce Dry Riesling; Belhurst Estate Winery 2010 Sweet Riesling; Chateau LaFayette Reneau 2009 Chardonnay Barrel Fermented, 2010 Late Harvest Vignoles, 2009 Off-Dry Riesling, and 2010 Dry Riesling; Goose Watch Brut Rose and 2009 Pinot Gris; Red Tail Ridge 2010 Chardonnay; Thirsty Owl 2009 Off-Dry Riesling, 2010 Off-Dry Riesling, 2010 Pinot Gris, and 2010 Vidal.

Check out my New York Drinks Events Calendar, the most comprehensive you’ll find anywhere.

 

• Polls open for Golden Tap Awards

BAYSHORE, Long Island, NY — Starfish Junction, the local promotions company behind the upcoming Long Island Craft Beer Week, today announced the inaugural Golden Tap Awards Gala.

The awards gala, honoring winners decided by an online vote of beer lovers, will be held during the first beer week — scheduled for May 13-20 — at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 19, at the Boulton Center for the Performing Arts here. It will honor beer innovators and pioneers. Polls close on Thursday, May 12. The categories and nominees (cast votes here):

• Best LI Beer Bar ( non-brewery)

• Best New York State Brewery (all nominees are current members of the New York State Brewers Association):

Adirondack Pub & Brewery
Bacchus Brewing Company
Blue Point Brewing Company
Brewery Ommegang
BrickHouse Brewery
Brooklyn Brewery
Brown’s Brewing Company
Buffalo Brewpub
Butternuts Beer & Ale
C.H. Evans Brewing Company
Captain Lawrence Brewing Company
Coopers Cave Ale
Davidson Brothers
Defiant Brewing
Ellicottville Brewing Co.
Empire Brewing Company
FX Matt
Great South Bay Brewery
Greenpoint Beer Works
Greenport Harbor Brewing Company
Heartland Brewery
Horseheads Brewing Company
Ithaca Beer Company
Lake Placid Pub & Brewery
Middle Ages Brewing Company
Naked Dove Brewing Company
North American Brew./High Falls
Rohrbach Brewing Company
Sixpoint Craft Ales
Southern Tier Brewing

• Best LI Brew Pub

Black Forest Brew Haus, Farmingdale
Brickhouse Brewery, Patchogue
John Harvard’s Brew House, Lake Grove
Southampton Publick House, Southampton

• Best LI New Beer of the Year — 2010 releases

Asian Pear American Wheat, Black Forest Brew Haus
Fire Island Pumpkin Barrel Ale, Fire Island Beer Company
Imperial Honey Pumpkin, BrickHouse Brewery
Long Island Potato Stout, Blind Bat Brewery
Massive IPA, Great South Bay Brewery
Southampton Keller Pils, Southampton Publick House
Toxic Sludge, Blue Point Brewing Co.
Triton Barleywine Style Ale, Greenport Harbor Brewing Company

• LI Beer of the Year

Black Duck Porter, Greenport Harbor Brewing Company
Black Forest Pilsner, Black Forest Brew Haus
Blonde Ambition, Great South Bay Brewery
Double White Ale, Southampton Publick House
Fire Island Lighthouse Ale, Fire Island Beer Company
Hellsmoke Porter, Blind Bat Brewery
John Harvard’s Pumpkin Spice, John Harvard’s Brew House
Nitro Stout, BrickHouse Brewery
Toasted Lager, Blue Point Brewing Company

Check out my New York Drinks Events Calendar, the most comprehensive you’ll find anywhere.

 

• NYC sommelier nation’s No. 1

Alexander LaPra

NEW YORK — db Bistro Moderne has long been regarded as one of the nation’s top restaurants. Now its Alexander LaPratt is the nation’s top sommelier.

LaPratt won the title of “Best Sommelier in America” on Sunday night in a competition hosted by the American Sommelier Association, an organization dedicated to wine education and the sommelier industry in America. He was in competition with 30 candidates from 12 states in a two-day competition at the Jumeirah Essex House hotel.

All the competitors completed a blind tasting test and a written exam that cut the field to four finalists. The others were Christopher Bates of the Hotel Fauchere in Milford, PA, Jared Fischer of Le Bernardin in New York, and Michael Meagher of Treasury Wine Estates in Waltham, MA.

They had to complete tests in food and wine pairing, a blind spirits tasting and a cigar service test, as well as work in a mock dining room full of demanding customers.

Judges for the event included Aldo Sohm, chef sommelier of Le Bernardin and 2007’s “Best Sommelier in America,” Andre Compeyre, chef sommelier of Adour Alain Ducasse; Andrew F. Bell, co-founder of American Sommelier, and Rajat Parr, wine director of Mina Group.

Check out my New York Drinks Events Calendar, the most comprehensive you’ll find anywhere.

 

• NY Rieslings top international field

ROCHESTER, NY — Could it have been scripted any better? Nah. A Riesling from the Finger Lakes, which has staked a claim to being the Riesling capital of the known universe, won the top award in that category of the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition.

The 11th annual event, held March 26-27 at the Rochester Plaza Hotel, is the largest charitable wine competition in North America. All net proceeds benefit Camp Good Days and Special Times, the not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for children, adults and families whose lives have been touched by cancer and other life-threatening challenges.

Zugibe Vineyards of Geneva took the top Riesling award with its 2009 Late Harvest Riesling. The winery was established in 2005 by the Zugibe family on the shore of Seneca Lake. The father, Frederick II, died unexpectedly in 2006, and his three sons — Frederick III, Brendan and Sean — operate Zugibe Vineyards now.

Other major winners:

Best Chardonnay: Santa Barbara Winery of California, 2008 Reserve.
Best Cabernet Sauvignon: J. Lohr of California, 2007 Hilltop Cabernet Sauvignon.
Best ice Wine: Vignoble Riviere du Chene of Quebec, 2009 Vidal.

A record 3,259 wines from 788 wineries were entered in the competition. The wines came from 19 nations, six Canadian provinces and all 50 states. The international judging panel awarded more than 70 double golds, which requires unanimous agreement among the tasters. Not surprisingly, four of New York’s double-gold medalists came in the Riesling category.

Here is the full New York double-gold rundown:

Other White: Arbor Hill Rhine Street White NV (Diamond, Cayuga and Delaware grapes); Woodbury Vineyards Seaport White NV (Chardonnay, Cayuga White, Vidal).
Late Harvest White (24 brix +): Chateau Lafayette Renault Late Harvest Riesling 2010.
Viognier: Goose Watch Winery Viognier 2008.
Riesling: Heron Hill Winery Semi-Dry Riesling 2009; Red Newt Cellars Riesling 2009; Wagner Vineyards 2008; White Springs Riesling 2009.
Ives: Johnson Estate Winery Ives 2009.
Shiraz-Syrah: Long Point Syrah 2007.
Vidal Blanc: Schulze Vineyards & Winery Vidal Blanc Semi-Dry 2010.
Brandy: Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery American Fruits Pear Brandy NV.
Pear: Young Sommer Winery 2 of a Kind Bartlett Pear 2010.

Go here for the full list of medalists in all categories.

Check out my New York Drinks Events Calendar, the most comprehensive you’ll find anywhere.

 

• NY winemakers strike gold in California

HEALDSBURG, CA — New York State entries, all of them from Upstate, took 16 gold medals in the recent 2011 Grand Harvest Awards competition held here.

The event, sponsored by Vineyard & Winery Management magazine, is the only wine judging event in North America that is based on terroir — a group of vineyards or even vines from the same region, belonging to a specific appellation, and sharing the same type of soil, weather conditions, grapes and wine making style, which contribute to give its specific personality to the wine.

In other competitions, this factor is not taken into consideration, according to the V&WM organizers. At the Grand Harvest, judges taste wines with other wines of the same appellation. Thus, with cross-regional competition removed, the inherent quality of wines can be seen without the influences that sometimes eclipse even a wine of very high quality.

Gold medal New York wines, by terroir:

Cayuga Lake (AVA)

Treleaven, King Ferry Winery, 2008 Late Harvest Riesling, $29.99

Finger Lakes (AVA)

Anthony Road Wine Company, 2008 Tierce Riesling, $30
Belhurst Estate Winery, 2009 Dry Riesling, $18.95
Belhurst Estate Winery, 2009 Semi-Dry Riesling, $17.95
Hunt Country Vineyard, Hunt Country Vineyards LLC, NV Classic Red, $10
Lucas Vineyards, 2009 Dry Riesling, $13.99
Thirsty Owl, Thirsty Owl Wine Company, 2009 Dry Riesling, $14.95
Thirsty Owl, Thirsty Owl Wine Company, 2009 Riesling, $14.95
Thirsty Owl, Thirsty Owl Wine Company, 2009 Diamond, $9.95
Thirsty Owl, Thirsty Owl Wine Company, 2009 Vidal Blanc, $11.95
Ventosa Vineyards, 2009 Riesling, $17

Lake Erie (AVA)

Liberty Vineyards & Winery, Liberty Vineyards, LLC, 2010 Dry Riesling, $14.99
Liberty Vineyards & Winery, Liberty Vineyards, LLC, NV Cat Noir, $8.99
Liberty Vineyards & Winery, Liberty Vineyards, LLC, NV Diamond, $9.99
Liberty Vineyards & Winery, Liberty Vineyards, LLC, 2009 Traminette, $12.99

New York (state appellation)

Winery of Ellicottville, NV Vidal Blanc, $12

Other New York medalists, as an overall group, after the jump:

 

• 600 hopefuls in ‘Ultimate Spirits Challenge’

NEW YORK — More than 600 entries were in the field for the Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2011, held here in the Big Apple.

This was the second year for the event, a fact that in itself belies its name. If something is truly “ultimate,” it cannot be repeated or topped. Oh well, the language is falling apart, so why not drink to it.

Entries were scrutinized by a diverse panel of 37 judges earlier this month, however the official results were not released until this week.

Here are the final results:

 

• 4-gold days for pair of NYS wineries

HEALDSBURG, CA — Rieslings continue to be the star of New York State wines, as results in competition after competition keep proving.

The latest came at this week’s Grand Harvest Awards, held at Villa Chanticleer in this Sonoma County wine region. New York wines took 16 Gold medals, including 9 from Riesling entries, among its 62-medal haul in the judging.

Two wineries — Liberty Vineyards & Winery in the Lake Erie region, and Thirsty Owl from the Finger Lakes — each won four Golds with a range of different wines. Liberty’s Golds were for its 2010 Dry Riesling, Cat Noir, Diamond and 2009 Traminette. Thirsty Owl’s Golds were for its 2009 Dry Riesling, 2009 Riesling, 2009 Diamond and 2009 Vidal Blanc.

Other New York Golds:

• Anthony Road Wine Company 2008 Tierce Riesling, a collaborative wine made by the winemakers from that winery along with Fox Run Vineyards and Red Newt Cellars

• Belhurst Estate Winery 2009 Dry Riesling and 2009 Semi-Dry Riesling

• Hunt Country Vineyards Classic Red

• King Ferry (Treleaven) 2008 Late Harvest Riesling

• Lucas Vineyards 2009 Dry Riesling

• Ventosa Vineyards 2009 Riesling

• Winery of Ellicottville Vidal Blanc

Grand Harvest is focused on “terroir” and conceived by Bill Moffett and Hope Merletti, former owners of the Vineyard & Winery Management company now owned and run by Rob Merletti. The concept, in addition to evaluating wines and awarding the best, is to try identifying common aroma and taste characteristics which may be reflective of the climate and soil in a particular region. When a sufficient number of entries from a region warrants it, they’re grouped into “terroir” flights which include a range of varietals, styles, and colors, and the judges are asked to cite common characteristics. Sometimes it’s simple, sometimes not, but it always stimulates discussion and the excitement of learning the region after guessing what it is.

Complete results of the competition are expected to be posted online in the next few days.

Check out my New York Drinks Events Calendar, the most comprehensive you’ll find anywhere.

 

• Coffee & Tea Festival this weekend

NEW YORK — If you make a habit of perusing my NYS Drinks Events calendar, you’re aware that the 6th Annual Coffee & Tea Festival NYC is nearly upon us.

The two-day event, open to the public and the trade, is an international event featuring demonstrations, tastings, lectures and product displays. Chocolates and other sweet treats will be availble as well.

The event will be held this weekend at 7WEST, located at 7 West 34th Street in Manhattan. Also included is the “Ultimate Barista Challenge,” a dueling stage of identical espresso stations where baristi will create espresso cocktails, caffe latte art, blend espresso frappe and brew the coffee.

There are four ticket options:

• Saturday: Coffee And Tea Festival, $20
• Saturday: Coffee And Tea Festival plus admission to “An Evening of Chinese Tea & Tradition,” $40 (100 tickets available to the general public)
• Admission to “An Evening of Chinese Tea & Tradition” only, $35 (100 tickets available to the general public)
• Sunday: Coffee And Tea Festival, $20

Check out my New York Drinks Events Calendar, the most comprehensive you’ll find anywhere.

 

• Texan is ‘Master of the Manhattan’

NEW YORK — The results are in, and a Texas mixologist has won the mantle of “Master of the Manhattan” for 2011.

Marcelo Nascimento (right) of Austin was selected in the competition held here this week,co-sponsored by the Woodford Reserve distillery and Esquire magazine. He was among 11 bartenders selected after regional competitions to vie for the title.

(See my earlier story here for details of the event.)

Here’s the winning recipe:

VOODOO MANHATTAN

2½ ounces Woodford Reserve

½ ounce Amaro Averna

½ ounce Clément Créole Shrubb

½ bar spoon of pink peppercorns

Garnish with skewered blood orange supremes and inflamed orange peel.

Check out my New York Drinks Events Calendar, the most comprehensive you’ll find anywhere.

 

• Swedish Hill wins 2 ‘bests’ in SF

CLOVERDALE, CA — The monumental, week-long task of judging more than 5,000 different wines has been completed, and the five sweepstakes winners — as well as dozens of other medalists — have been selected in the 8th annual San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

The event, which for all eight years has held the title of “Largest Competition of American Wines in the World” racked up 4,913 entries last year and topped it this year with 5,050 from 23 states.

Judging was conducted at the Cloverdale Citrus Fairgrounds in Sonoma County. Wines were awarded as bronze, silver, gold, and double gold (unanimous gold by the judges). In addition, there were “Best of Class” awards and the prestigious Sweepstake Awards. New York State entries took a range of major awards in a variety of categories, led by Swedish Hill Winery’s two “Best of Class” awards.

The major sweepstakes awards, by category:

• Sparkling: 2006 Gloria Ferrer Carneros Brut Rosé ($42)

• White: NV St. Clair New Mexico Gewurztraminer ($11)

• Pink: 2010 Barnard Griffin Columbia Valley Rosé of Sangiovese ($12)

• Red: Tie between 2008 Thacher Triumvirate Paso Robles Zinfandel ($36) and 2008 Ecluse Wines Lock Vineyard Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon ($32)

• Dessert: 2009 Alapay Cellars Late Harvest Paso Robles Sauvignon Blanc ($30)

The New York State major winners, by medal category:

• Best of Class

Sparkling Sweet: Swedish Hill Winery NV Spumante Blush ($12)

White Hybrid: Swedish Hill Winery 2009 Valvin Muscat ($11.99)

• Double Gold

Sparkling Sweet: Goose Watch Winery NVV Finger Lakes Golden Spumante ($12)

Sparkling Dry: Sparkling Pointe 2001 North Fork Brut Seduction ($50)

Fruit Wine: Montezuma Winery NV Finger Lakes Cranberry Bog ($12.49)

Red Dessert – RS > 4.0 Double Gold: Casa Larga Vineyards 2008 Finger Lakes Ice Wine Cabernet Franc ($74.99)

• Gold

Gewurtztraminer: Dr. Konstantin Frank Finger Lakes 2009 Reserve ($24.99); Keuka Springs Vineyard 2009 Finger Lakes ($16.99)

Riesling RS < 1.49: Casa Larga Vineyards 2009 Finger Lakes ($10.99), Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards 2008 Finger Lakes Homestead ($18), Keuka Lake Vineyards 2009 Finger Lakes Falling Man Vineyard ($30)

Viognier Up to $19.99: Goose Watch Winery 2008 Finger Lakes ($18)

All Other White Varietals and Blends: Coyote Moon Vineyards 2009 Finger Lakes Coyote Moon Vineyards River Time ($13.95)

White Blush: Coyote Moon Vineyards NV Finger Lakes Coyote Moon Vineyards River Run ($13.95)

Check out my New York Drinks Events Calendar, the most comprehensive you’ll find anywhere.

 

• The Manhattan? Never off my radar

Some writers and public relations people are heralding the “return” of the Manhattan cocktail. From my vantage point, it has never gone out of favor. For those unfamiliar with the muscular concoction, or have drifted away from it for one reason or another, I feel the same way about you as one old-time comedian commented about people who don’t drink at all.

“I pity them because when they get up in the morning that’s as good as they’re going to feel.”

That’s why I’m happy to pass along the information that Woodford Reserve and Esquire magazine are teaming up to to showcase what they say are “the nation’s ultimate well-crafted Manhattans” when they feature 11 “Masters of the Manhattan” on Monday (January 10) during The Manhattan Experience Finals.

The “masters” earned their way into the event by winning regional qualkifying competitions across the country.  The event, set for 6:30 p.m. at Top of The Standard in the Standard Hotel at 848 Washington Street in Manhattan, NY. Their creations will be reviewed by a panel of experts, including Woodford Reserve Master Distiller Chris Morris and spirit journalist Paul Pacult.

Esquire spirits writer David Wondrich developed the “Esquire Manhattan,” featuring Woodford Reserve bourbon. You may want to try it if you’re not attending the shake-off.

1½ ounces Woodford Reserve bourbon
1 ounce Martini & Rossi red vermouth
½ ounce Fernet Branca

Stir well with cracked ice. Strain into chilled cocktail glass and twist swatch of thin-cut orange peel over the top.

Note: For those who think an orange peel garnish is sacrilege when it comes to a Manhattan, feel free to use a maraschino cherry as shown in the illustration. No one will think the less of you.

Check out my New York Drinks Events Calendar, the most comprehensive you’ll find anywhere.

 

• ‘Battle of the Belgians’ on Saturday

NEW YORK — Are you a fan of Belgian and Belgian-style beers? Do you have $60 and time to be in the city this Saturday? Then you’re in luck.

BeerMenus and Jimmy’s No. 43 have teamed up to create “Battle of the Belgians,” an event at which consumers can compare top-shelf Belgian and American Belgian-style beers and vote for their favorites.

The event will be held at Jimmy’s 43, located at 43 East 7th Street in the East Village, from noon to 5 p.m. Local cheeses, charcuterie and chocolate will be paired up with 30-plus Belgian bottled beers and a dozen taps of American-made beers.

The American beers:

Bruery 3 French Hens
Sly Fox Ichor
Barrier Belgian Dubbel Down
Stillwater Stateside Saison
Bear Republic Ryevalry
Saint Feullien/Green Flash L’Amite
Ommegang Zuur
Sixpoint Belgian Rye
Avery The Reverend
Allagash Interlude
Pretty Things Baby Tree
Kelso St. Gowanus (cask)
Flying Dog Raging Bitch
Goose Island Sofie

The Belgian beers:

Duvel Triple Hop
A’Chouffe La Chouffe
Chimay Red
Chimay White
Chimay Blue
Troubador Obscura
Troubador Magma
Rodenbach Grand Cru
Boon Lambic Kriek
Boon Oude Gueze
Lindemans Framboise
Orval
Westmalle
Rochefort
Petrus Oude Bruin
Dupont Avril
Dupont Foret
Scaldis Refermentee
Vanberg Hop Ruiter

Go here for ticket information. Phone: (212) 982-3006.

Check out my New York Drinks Events Calendar, the most comprehensive you’ll find anywhere.

 

• Beer pong players going pro

NEW YORK — Fans of beer pong are taking their soggy competition to the next level. Introducing, the New York Professionals Beer Pong League.

The group claims to be the city’s first organized pong league. It consists of 60 co-ed teams of two to five players each. They’ll meet each Tuesday to determine “who’s got the best hand-eye coordination, accuracy, balance, teamwork … and strategy.” (Not familiar with the sport? Go here to be educated.)

Games will begin at Wicked Willy’s, 149 Bleecker Street (between LaGuardia and Thompson) in Greenwich Village. Half-priced drinks for players and fans will be available. Details on signing up, the rules and other stuff are available online.

Can a Fantasy Beer Pong League be far behind?

Check out my New York Drinks Events Calendar, the most comprehensive you’ll find anywhere.

 

Albany wins state water title competition

• UPDATE: Albany emerged as the winner of the Drinking Water Taste Test held earlier today.

GEDDES, NY — Water, water, everywhere. Well, at least from a dozen communities.

That’s the field in the two rounds of the New York State Drinking Water Taste Test being held here today as part of the goings-on at the Great New York State Fair.

• The first round includes samples from New York City, Albany, Ovid (Seneca County), Afton (Chenango County) and Bolton Point (Tompkins County).

• The second round includes Clifton Park (Saratoga County), Clymer (Chautauqua County), Dix Hills (Suffolk County), Pulaski (Oswego County) and Johnsville (Montgomery County).

The general public is participating in the judging at the state Department of Environmental Conservation booth. Results are scheduled to be announced at 4 p.m.

Check out my New York Drinks Events Calendar, the most comprehensive you’ll find anywhere.

 

Public judging adds to NY gold

WASHINGTON, DC — We’ve been bombarded in the past few months with the results of professionally judged wine competitions, so this little item is a nice change of pace.

New York State wines did very well in the recent Tasters Guild Consumers Wine Judging here, a test in which all the judges are non-professional wine consumers.

“Their main interest is in flavor and price, but they are open to unfamiliar varieties and proprietary blends,” said Joe Borello, Tasters Guild president.

Here are New York’s big winners:

• Double Gold — Chateau LaFayette Reneau’s 2009 Semi-Dry Riesling; Merritt Estate’s Raspberry Truffle.

• Gold — Belhurst Winery’s 2009 Dry Riesling, 2008 Cabernet Franc, 2009 Semi-Dry Riesling and Carrie Blush; Chateau Frank’s 2004 Brut and Dr. Frank’s 2008 Late Harvest Bunch Select Riesling; Chateau LaFayette Reneau’s 2009 Dry Riesling; Glenora’s 2008 Merlot; Knapp Vineyards’ 2009 Semi-Dry Riesling; Lakewood’s 2009 Long Stem White and 2009 Niagara; Merritt’s Bella Ice, and Wagner’s 2009 Vidal Blanc Ice Wine.

In particular, the four Golds for Belhurst continue what I’ve dubbed “The Summer of Belhurst,” with a stunning array of awards.

Check out my New York Drinks Events Calendar, the most comprehensive you’ll find anywhere.

 

NYers among Wine Star nominees

NEW YORK, NY — A New York winery is among the nominees for “winery of the year” honors in this year’s Wine Star Awards from Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard, located in the Finger Lakes, will be vying with three California wineries — Barefoot of Modesto, J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines of  San Jose, and Shafer Vineyards of Napa — and Pacific Rim of Columbia Valley, WA, for the honor to be announced at the magazine’s 11th awards dinner on January 24, 2011, at the New York Public Library.

That is not the only New York company or individual among the 55 overall nominees. Others, by category:

• Retailer of the Year: Sherry-Lehmann; Stew Leonard’s.

• Restaurateur of the Year: Tom Colicchio; Danny Meyer; Gordon Ramsay.

Check out my New York Drinks Events Calendar, the most comprehensive you’ll find anywhere.

 

Finger Lakes vs. Long Island, again

Finger Lakes wines seem to have a lock on top honors in the annual New York State Wine & Food Classic (results here), created and run by the New York Wine & Grape Foundation.

For the second straight year, “winery of the year” honors went to Caygua Lake’s Sheldrake Point Vineyards. And, in this summer of Riesling supremacy in so many major competitions, another Caygua Lake winery, Swedish Hill, took the Governor’s Cup for top individual wine with the Riesing Cuvee created by winemaker Ian Barry. It is labeled non-vintage but is completely 2009 grapes.

There often is a Finger Lakes vs. Long Island mentality to discussions of New York wines, and to results of judgings that involve both of the state’s major wine regions. So, I found Evan Dawson’s rundown on the New York Cork Report blog yesterday an interesting look at the topic. Read “Is This the Best Wine in New York State?” here.

Check out my New York Drinks Events Calendar, the most comprehensive you’ll find anywhere.

 

Cayuga Lake wineries top NY Classic test

WATKINS GLEN, NY — Winning “winery of the year” honors in the annual New York Wine & Food Classic is one thing, Winning two years in a row is quite an achievement.

Sheldrake Point Vineyards, located in Ovid on the west bank of Caygua Lake, won the judges’ award in the 25th annual competition, held at the Glen Harbor Hotel Monday and today. The award is presented to the winery with the best overall showing based on the level and number of awards in relation to entries. Sheldrake received two Double Golds, two Gold, four Silver, and two Bronze awards.

The Riesling Cuvee from Swedish Hill Winery, located near Romulus, also on the west bank of Caygua Lake, won the Governor’s Cup trophy, the top individual award. It surpassed 850 other entries. It also won “Best Vinifera Sparkling” and “Best Overall Sparkling” en route to the top award.

A “Specialty Wine Champion” award was added in 2008 to recognize consistent quality among the increasing number of wines made from fruits other than grapes, or honey.  The 2010 winner was ELF’s Farm Winery & Cider Mill with one  Double Gold and two Silver awards. A new “Best New York Spirit” award went to Finger Lakes Distilling’s Seneca Drums Gin.

The wine entries and 17 spirits came from wineries and distilleries from the Long Island, Hudson Valley, Finger Lakes, Niagara Escarpment, Lake Erie, and other regions of the state. The judges awarded a total of 32 Double Gold, 74 Gold, 284 Silver, and 250 Bronze medals.

The “Best of Category” awards, all eligible for the Governor’s Cup, went to:

• Best Sparkling Wine — Swedish Hill Winery Riesling Cuvee

• Best White Wine — Keuka Lake Vineyards 2009 Semi Dry Riesling

• Best Rosé Wine — Arbor Hill Grapery Coriesa Hill Iona Rose

• Best Red Wine — Bedell Cellars 2008 Cabernet Franc

• Best Dessert Wine — Casa Larga Vineyards 2007 Fiori Delle Stelle Vidal Ice Wine

• Best Specialty Wine — Torrey Ridge Winery Scarlet Red

• Best New York Spirit — Finger Lakes Distilling Seneca Drums Gin

The “Best of Class” awards went to:

• Best Vinifera Sparkling — Swedish Hill Winery Riesling Cuvee

• Best Sparkling — Swedish Hill Winery Riesling Cuvee

• Best Unoaked Chardonnay — Coyote Moon Vineyards Naked Chardonnay

• Best Overall Chardonnay — Coyote Moon Vineyards Naked Chardonnay

• Best Dry Riesling — McGregor Vineyard 2008 Riesling

• Best Medium Dry Riesling — Keuka Lake Vineyards 2009 Semi Dry Riesling

• Best Medium Sweet Riesling — Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars 2009 Semi Dry Riesling

• Best Overall Riesling — Keuka Lake Vineyards 2009 Semi Dry Riesling

• Best Niagara — Schulze Vineyards & Winery Thirty Mile Point Sweet Niagara

• Best Gewürztraminer — Sheldrake Point Vineyards 2008 Gewürztraminer

• Best Cayuga White — Swedish Hill Winery 2009 Cayuga White

• Best Traminette — Bet the Farm Winery 2009 Traminette

• Best Vidal Blanc — Swedish Hill Winery 2009 Vidal Blanc

• Best Vignoles — Lucas Vineyards 2009 Vignoles

• Best Hybrid White — Thousand Islands Winery Wellesley Island White

• Best Diamond — Torrey Ridge Winery Diamond

• Best Native White Blend — Niagara Landing Wine Cellars 2009 Rosebud Gold

• Best Vinifera Rosé — McGregor Vineyard 2009 Rosé D’Cabernet Franc

• Best Native Rosé — Arbor Hill Grapery Coriesa Hill Iona Rosé

• Best Cabernet Franc  — Bedell Cellars 2008 Cabernet Franc

• Best Other Vinifera Red Varietal — Fulkerson Winery 2008 Dornfelder

• Best Vinifera Red Blend — Peconic Bay Winery Nautique Esprit De Rouge

• Best Native Red Blend — Penguin Bay Winery Tuxedo Red

• Best Concord — Eagle Crest Vineyards 2009 Canal Boat Red

• Best Fruit Wine — ELF’s Farm Winery and Cider Mill 2009 Appalachian Trail Apple Wine

• Best Mead — Torrey Ridge Winery Scarlet Red

• Best Late Harvest — Dr. Konstantin Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars 2008 Bunch Select Late Harvest Riesling

• Best Ice Wine — Casa Larga Vineyards 2007 Fiori Delle Stelle Vidal Ice Wine

Check out my New York Drinks Events Calendar, the most comprehensive you’ll find anywhere.

 

Summer of Belhurst remains golden

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN — This is turning out to be quite a summer for Belhurst Winery (right), the Finger Lakes establishment, after a very strong spring.

Its latest accolade was winner of “Best of Show/Wine of the Year” honors for its 2009 Riesling over 2,600 other wines from around the world at this week’s 2010 Indy International Wine Competition held at Purdue University here.

That came a mere three weeks after the same wine took “Best White Wine” honors at the Long Beach Grand Cru in California. The same wine also earned Double Gold against an international field in June’s San Francisco International Wine Competition, a Gold medal in May in the 23rd annual Tasters Guild International Wine Competition in Grand Rapids, MI, and “Gold/Best in Class” at the Pacific Rim International Wine Competition in San Bernardino, CA, in April.

New York wineries’ entries here won 155 medals, including 10 “Concordance” (similar to Double Gold), 20 gold, 77 silver, and 48 bronze awards, plus several in the “Best of Show” tasteoff.

The Belhurst Riesling won convincingly, first by a wide margin as “Best White Wine,” then as “Best Wine” of any type.

Other concordance honors for New York entries, by category:

• Cayuga Ridge 2008 Cayuga White
• Swedish Hill 2009 Cayuga White
• Torrey Ridge Daisy-Moo (French-American blend)
• Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards 2008 Vidal Ice Wine
• Belhurst 2009 Gewuztraminer
• Belhurst 2009 Dry Riesling
• Chateau LaFayette Reneau 2009 Dry Riesling
• Dr. Konstantin Frank 2008 Bunch Select, Late Harvest Riesling
• Swedish Hill 2007 Cabernet Franc

Gold medals went to Lakewood Vineyards 2009 Catawba, 2009 Niagara, and 2009 Vignoles; Hunt Country 2009 Valvin Muscat and Swedish Hill 2009 Valvin Muscat; Penguin Bay Percussion; Swedish Hill 2007 Late Harvest Vignoles; Liberty Vineyards Noiret; Lucas 2009 Chardonnay; Cayuga Ridge 2008 Gewurztraminer and Dr. Frank 2008 Gewurztraminer; Hazlitt 2009 Pinot Gris and Merritt Estate Pinot Gris; Chateau Lafayette Reneau 2009 Dry Riesling, Hazlitt 2009 Riesling, Swedish Hill 2009 Riesling, and Thirsty Owl 2009 Riesling; Earle Estates Pear Mead; Belhurst 2006 Tower Port; and Pazdar Ravishing Sunshine.

Belhurst Castle and Winery (seen above), a resort and commercial manufactuing space, is located at 4069 Route 14 South near Geneva, overlooking Seneca Lake. It is open daily year -round from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Phone: (315) 781-0201, ext. 8.

Check out my New York Drinks Events Calendar, the most comprehensive you’ll find anywhere.

 

New York wines star in California again

LONG BEACH, CA — New York wines have found plenty of fans in major California competitions. The latest is Belhurst Estate Winery’s showing at last weekend’s Long Beach Grand Cru competition organized by wine journalism guru Dan Berger.

The Seneca Lake winery won “Best of White” with its 2009 Dry Riesling, its 2009 Gewurztraminer placing second. It also had two other wines in the final tasteoff — its 2009 Semi-Dry Riesling, and its Golden Pheasant, a Seyval-Chardonnay blend.

Another Seneca Lake winery, Torrey Ridge, took “Best Rosé Wine” honors with its Catawba.

Of the 32 judges, only two were from outside California. The field was 1,488 wines from around the world. Only 64, or 4+ percent, received Gold/Best of Class designations that put them in the sweepstakes round. Of those 64, 17 were New York wines.

Other New York sweepstakes entries:

Sparkling Wine — Goose Watch Pinot Noir Brut Rosé; Goose Watch Golden Spumante.
White Wine — The Belhurst Riesling and Gewurtztraminer; by Swedish Hill 2009 Vidal Blanc and Torrey Ridge Diamond.
Rosé Wine – The Torrey Ridge Catawba; Coyote Moon River Run Rosé.
Red Wine – Coyote Moon Frontenac; Penguin Bay Tuxedo Red.
Dessert Wine – Heron Hill 2007 Late Harvest Vidal Blanc; Lucas Vineyards 2008 Vidal Blanc Iced.

Jim Trezise, head of the New York Wine & Grape Foundation and one of the two non-Californian judges, said, “Long Beach is not an isolated incident. At many other competitions in California, other states and abroad, New York wines have regularly been rated Best of Category and/or Best of Class, and won hundreds of Gold medals this year alone. Keuka Spring Gewurztraminer won Best White Wine in the San Francisco Chronicle completion, Whitecliff Riesling at San Francisco International, Cayuga Ridge Estate Riesling at Riesling du Monde for “Best New World Riesling,” just to name a few.

“It is a tribute to the growers who produce great grapes, the winemakers who transform them into the finest wines possible, and people like Dan Berger who insist that judges select the best wines, wherever they are from and whatever grapes are in them. It also reflects the great research on quality by Cornell scientists supported with our funding, as well as collaboration among winemakers who openly share their ‘secrets’.”

Check out my New York Drinks Events Calendar, the most comprehensive you’ll find anywhere.

 

Whitecliff Riesling best white in San Francisco Int’l

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — It’s not often a winemaker can say it has topped literally several thousand competitors to be named the best.

Whitecliff Vineyard & Winery can so brag. Its 2009 New York Riesling won “Best White Wine” in last weekend’s San Francisco International Wine Competition, topping an international field.

This was the first competition of the year for Whitecliff, located in Gardiner, Ulster County. Michael Migliore, winemaker and co-owner, used Riesling grapes from three his  own vineyards in the Hudson Valley, plus grapes from Long Island and Finger Lakes.

The competition is one of the nation’s largest, with nearly 4,000 entries, and New York entries earned nine double gold, 10 gold, 30 silver, and 35 bronze medals.

“Whitecliff rarely enters wine competitions. They’re a lot of work and money for a small winery, and this was in fact their first this year,” said Jim Trezise, president of the New York Wine & Grape Foundation. “The shipping company destroyed their first case, and they thought seriously about not sending a replacement case.  Aren’t they glad they did?”

Other double gold New York medalists:

• Hazlitt 2009 Riesling, the only other Riesling  in the sweepstakes round
• Belhurst 2009 Dry Riesling
• Chateau LaFayette Reneau 2009 Semi-Dry Riesling
• Goose Watch 2009 Diamond  and 2009 Villard Blanc, both also in the sweepstakes round
• Keuka Spring 2009 Riesling
• Lucas 2009 Semi-Dry Riesling
• Penguin Bay Percussion

New York gold medalists:

• Belhurst 2009 Semi-Dry Riesling
• Chateau Lafayette Reneau 2009 Dry Riesling
• Goose Watch Golden Spumante
• Hazlitt 2008 Vidal Ice Wine
• Niagara Landing 2009 Rosebud Rosé
• Swedish Hill 2009 Dry Riesling
• Blue Waters Riesling, 2009 Cayuga, 2009 Vidal Blanc, and Spumante Blush

Check out my New York Drinks Events Calendar, the most comprehensive you’ll find anywhere.

 

Goose Watch soars in NYS Fair Wine Competition

SYRACUSE, NY — Goose Watch Winery racked up a trio of major awards in the 2010 New York State Fair Commercial Wine Competition in Syracuse, whose results were just released.

Goose Watch, located on the west bank of Caygua Lake near Romulus, took these “best of category” honors:

• Sparkling: Pinot Noir Brut Rosé NV

• Rosé/Blush: Cabernet Franc Rosé 2008

• Fortified: Classic Cream Sherry NV

Goose Watch was founded in 1997. Its line ranges from classic European grape varieties such as Pinot Grigio, Viognier, Lemberger and Merlot to true Finger Lakes specialties such as Traminette and Melody, newer grape varieties developed by Cornell University. In between, it offers Diamond and Rosé of Isabella, two of the original grape varieties planted in the 1800s in the Finger Lakes region. And, it has dessert wines such as Finalé White Port, one of the only premium white ports produced in North America.

Other category toppers:

• White: Glenora Wine Cellars Riesling 2009

• Red: Atwater Estates Vineyard Meritage 2007

• Fruit: JD Wine Cellars Blackberry Boogie 2009

• Dessert: Casa Larga Vineyards Vidal Blanc Ice Wine 2006

• Specialty Wines:</strong> Hosmer Winery Raspberry Rhapsody NV

• Mead/Honey Wine: </strong>Earle Estates Meadery Raspberry Reflections  NV

The Fruit Category award was particularly interesting in that it went to an operation that didn’t officially open until May 1 of this year, JD Wine Cellars, located at Long Acre Farms in Wayne County. (Go here for my mini-profile of JD).

Check out my New York Drinks Events Calendar, the most comprehensive you’ll find anywhere.

 

Hudson Valley wine label competition results

Nearly 100 labels in seven categories were submitted for the first-ever Vini Awards: The Face of the Hudson Valley, a wine label competition sponsored by the publishers of Hudson Valley Wine Magazine.

A panel of four industry professionals in the fields of design, branding and marketing rated the labels on originality, style, composition and legibility.

Results by category:

Best Use of Illustration:

1st: Benmarl Winery 2006 Baco Noir

2nd: Hudson-Chatham Winery 2007 Merlot

3rd: Brotherhood Winery Ruby Port

Best Limited Edition:

1st: Millbrook Vineyards 2006 Cabernet Franc

2nd: Hudson-Chatham Winery Baco Reserve

3rd: Brookview Station Winery Hudson River Ridge

Best Use of Photography:

1st: Palaia Vineyards 2007 Cabernet Franc

2nd: Cereghino-Smith Tarragona

3rd: Palaia Vineyards 2002 Cabernet Franc

Best Type Design:

1st: Clinton Vineyards Embrace

2nd: Clinton Vineyards Cassis

3rd: Hudson-Chatham Winery Pomme Bullé

Most Recognizeable as a Hudson Valley Wine:

1st: Benmarl Winery 2006 Baco Noir

2nd: Hudson-Chatham Winery Hudson River Valley Red

3rd: Millbrook Vineyards 2008 Chardonnay

Most Unique Name:

1st: Cereghino-Smith Eaten by Bears

2nd: Tie between Pazdar Winery Hot Sin and Brookview Station Winery WhistleStop White

Most Memorable (overall):

1st: Benmarl Winery 2006 Baco Noir

2nd: Cereghino-Smith Rock ‘n Roll Red

3rd: Clinton Vineyards Embrace

The judging panel consisted of Gordon Kaye, editor and publisher of Graphic Design USA, the monthly trade magazine for graphic design professionals; Mark LaRocca, president of LaRoccaBranding & Advertising Inc. in Rhinebeck; Robert LaValva, founder and director of the NewAmsterdam Market, a public market and civic institution in New York City; and, Melissa Ifkovits, wine sales consultant for Southern Wine and Spirits.

“Brand identity is about creating a relationship between the client and the consumer,” LaRocca said. “The  consumer has to see some of themselves in the label and in the product. Some of these [labels] … are exciting … and will excite their clients and customers, too.”

The award-winning labels in all categories will be published in the Summer 2010 issue of Hudson Valley Wine Magazine, and a portfolio of the winning labels will be made available on the magazine’s website.

A “People’s Choice” label award winner will be decided in July by attendees of the Shawangunk WineTrail’s “Bounty of the Hudson Festival” at Warwick Valley Winery. Online voting also will be available prior to the event.