Saint Paul, Minnesota, AUGUST 24, 2010 - Saint Croix Vineyards 2009 La Crescent Dessert Wine from Stillwater, MN won the coveted "Minnesota Governor's Cup" trophy at the 2010 International Cold Climate Wine Competition "ICCWC", held on August 24 at the University of Minnesota's Conference Center in Saint Paul, MN.
The Minnesota Governor's Cup, a lovely large silver ice bucket, recognizes the "Best of Show" or top prize of all Minnesota gold winning wines. This is just the second awarding of the impressive traveling trophy.
"Best of Show" awards went to:
- Lincoln Peak Vineyard, VT, 2009 La Crescent for Best White;
- Indian Island Winery, MN, 2009 Marquette for Best Red;
- Morgan Creek Vineyards, MN, 2009 Black Ice, for Best Specialty Wine & Fortified Wine.
This year's competition included 331 Cold Climate wines from commercial wineries in 17 states including, Vermont, Pennsylvania, New York, New Hampshire, Maine and Connecticut in the east, Nebraska and Nevada in the west, and the Midwestern states of Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Ohio, South Dakota and host state Minnesota with 19 participating wineries.
Awards were based on blind tastings by 21 expert judges from Minnesota and several other states. Judges included prominent wine writers, restaurateurs, retailers, and wine educators. Three-judge panels determined the initial awards, with the top-scoring Best of Show wines evaluated by seven- judge panels and all 21 judges for the Minnesota Governor's Cup award.
The ICCWC is a three way partnership between the Minnesota Grape Growers Association, the Minnesota State Fair and the University of Minnesota, the latter of which developed several of the cold-hardy grapes used to make the wines in the competition. It is coordinated by Gordon Rouse, AWS Certified Judge, of the Minnesota Grape Growers Association, "MGGA".
The competition is open to commercial wineries meeting the criteria for cold-hardy grape or fruit content. In 2010, a total of 7 Double Gold, 32 Gold, 72 Silver, and 81 Bronze medals were awarded. In addition, "Best of Show" designations were awarded to wines rated as the finest in various areas. Double Gold medals require unanimity among a panel's judges that a wine deserves a Gold medal, whereas Gold medals require a majority vote.
The following wines were awarded Double Gold medals:
- Fieldstone Vineyard, Frontenac Rosé;
- Parallel 44 Vineyard, 2009 Glacial White;
- Elfs Farm Winery & Cider Mill, Applelation Trail;
- 5 Trails Winery, Raspberry Dessert Wine;
- Winehaven Winery and Vineyard, Cranberry Wine;
- Sandhill Crane Vineyards, Crimson & Clover;
- Sandhill Crane Vineyard, Miel Amour.
The following wines were awarded Gold medals:
- Woodland Hill Winery, Marquette;
- Indian Island Winery, Marquette;
- Winehaven Winery and Vineyard, Red Grape, other hybrids;
- Cannon River Winery, Red Grape, Blush/Rosé blend;
- Cannon River Winery, Red Grape, Blush/Rosé blend;
- Wollersheim Winery, Red Grape, Blush/Rosé blend;
- Indian Island Winery, Red Grape, Blush/Rose blend;
- Fresh Tracks Farm Vineyard & Winery, Red Grape, Blush/Rosé blend;
- Parley Lake Winery, Red Grape, Blush/Rosé blend; Vernon Vineyards, Red Grape, Blush/Rosé blend;
- Glacial Till Vineyard and Wine, Edelweiss;
- Eagle's Landing Vineyard & Winery, Edelweiss;
- Fieldstone Vineyards, La Crescent;
- Lincoln Peak Vineyard, LaCrescent; Mac's Creek Winery & Vineyards, LaCrosse;
- Parley Lake Winery, White Grape, other hybrids;
- Wollersheim Winery, White Grape, white blends;
- Stone Pillar Vineyard & Winery, White Grape, white blends;
- Lincoln Peak Vineyard, Specialty & Fortified, late harvest;
- Saint Croix Vineyards, Specialty & Fortified, late harvest;
- Rose Bank Winery, Specialty & Fortified, other Dessert;
- Morgan Creek Vineyards, Specialty & Fortified, other Dessert;
- Eagle's Landing Vineyard & Winery, Specialty & Fortified, other Dessert;
- August Hill Winery, Sparkling, Grape, dry/semi-dry;
- Orchard Country Winery, Sparkling, Fruit, dry/semi-dry & sweet;
- Forestedge Winery, Non-grape, Apple & Pear;
- Prairie Berry Winery, Non-grape, Apple & Pear;
- Elfs Farm Winery & Cider Mill, Non-grape, Apple & Pear;
- Forestedge Winery, Non-grape, Berry;
- Rose Bank Winery, Non-grape, Berry; Winehaven Winery and Vineyard, Non-grape, Mead & Mead/Fruit blends;
-
Tassel Ridge Winery, 100% Cold Hardy Grape, White.
The winning wines will be on display at the MGGA booth at the 2010 Minnesota State Fair August 26 through September 6.
Complete results of the 2010 ICCWC will be posted at www.iccwc.org.
Links: Courtesy of Lisa Smiley MN Field Editor
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