Wineries take top state awards

    WATKINS GLEN—There were 726 wines entered in the 2011 New York State Wine & Food Classic competition held in Watkins Glen, Aug. 15 and 16, and many area wineries brought home some of the top awards.
    Winery of the Year went to Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars in Hector. Lamoreaux Landing also won the Best Overall Chardonnay award for the event. Owner Mark Wagner said, ”it’s a nice vindication of our hard work. All of us at Lamoreaux are very happy, very pleased.”
    The Specialty Wine Champion award, added in 2008 to recognize consistent quality among the increasing number of wines made from honey or fruits other than grapes, was awarded to Earle Estates Meadery for winning Best Honey Mead and Best Fruit Wine.  A Best Limited Production Wine award went to Fox Run Vineyards Fine Old Tawny Port. Best Red Wine went to Keuka Lake Vineyards for the 2010 Leon Millot, Estate Bottled. Keuka Spring Vineyards’ 2010 Vignoles claimed the “Best” award for that variety.
    In a combined effort, Best Dry Riesling went to Anthony Road Wine Company’s 2008 Tierce Riesling with Fox Run Vineyards and Red Newt Cellars. Fulkerson Winery’s 2009 variety took Best Lemberger. Best Late Harvest Wine went to Anthony Road Wine Company’s 2008 Riesling Trockenbeeren, Martini Reinhardt Selection.
    Double Gold medals were awarded to Anthony Road Wine Company 2008 Tierce Riesling and 2008 Riesling Trockenbeeren Martini Reinhardt Selection; Atwater Estate Vineyards 2009 Sweet Riesling, Sweet Chancellor and Stone Bridge White; Dr. Konstantin Frank Wine Cellars 2010 Dry Riesling; Earle Estates Meadery Apple Enchantment, Raspberry Reflections and Creamy Apricot; Fox Run Vineyards Fine Old Tawny Port; Fulkerson Winery 2010 William Vigne Juicy Sweet and 2010 Vidal Blanc Iced Wine; Glenora Wine Cellars 2010 Gewürztraminer and 2010 Vidal Blanc Iced; Heron Hill Winery 2008 Late Harvest Vidal Blanc; Keuka Lake Vineyards 2010 Leon Millot Estate Bottled; Keuka Spring Vineyards 2010 Riesling and 2010 Vignoles; McGregor Vineyard 2007 Rob Roy Red Estate Grown; Rooster Hill Vineyards 2010 Medium Sweet Riesling Estate Grown & Produced; Thirsty Owl Wine Company 2009 Dry Riesling; and Torrey Ridge Winery Niagara.
    Celebrating its 26th year, the competition is organized by Teresa Knapp of the New York Wine & Grape Foundation, and is open to all 307 New York wineries in all regions. The awards were based on blind tastings by 21 judges: four from California, nine from New York, six from other states, and two from the United Kingdom. Judges included prominent wine writers, restaurateurs, retailers, and wine educators. Three-judge panels determined the initial awards, with top-scoring wines evaluated by all 21 judges for Best of Category and Governor’s Cup awards.