New York Wine & Food Classic in the Hudson Valley

Today 25 judges will blind taste 790 New York Wines over the course of three days at the Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz.

At the Governor’s Cup luncheon on Wednesday, the top-rated (Governor’s Cup) wine will be unveiled along with Winery of the Year, and the Best of Category winners for Sparkling, White, Rosé, Red, Dessert, and Specialty wines.

The judging panel consists of 7 from California, 7 from other states, and 11 from New York. Quite an impressive list of judges. The California contingent includes Dan Berger, wine journalist; Rene Chazottes, wine director of the Pacific Club; Mike Dunne, food and wine writer for the Sacramento Bee; Traci Dutton, Director of Education at the Culinary Institute of America-Greystone in the NapaValley; Ziggy Eschliman of Wine Country Radio; Ann Littlefield, Direct Wine Marketing Brand Champion in Napa; and Dr. Bob Small, Director of the Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition. Those from other states include Hudson Cattell, Co-publisher of Wine East (PA); Doug Frost, MW and MS, Wine Writer and Educator (KS); Ann Miller, Marketing Consultant for the Missouri Wine & Grape Board (MO); Jerry Pellegrino, Chef/Owner of Corks Restaurant (MD), Mike Riley, Wine Buyer for Wegmans (NJ); Coke Roth, Wine Consultant (WA); and Sandra Silfven, Wine Writer, Detroit News (MI). The New York contingent includes Molly Battenhouse, DWS, Wine Director & Educator at the International Wine Center; Shannon Brock, Wine Coordinator at the New York Wine & Culinary Center; Rory Callahan, President of Wine & Food Associates; Jim Clarke, Wine Writer and Director of Wine at MEGU restaurant; Lorraine Hems, CS, CWE, Lecturer of Wine Studies, Rochester Institute of Technology; Fred LeBrun, Columnist at the Albany Times-Union; Bill Mahoney, Wine Manager, Premium Wine & Spirits in Buffalo; Bert Miller, Food & Beverage Director of the Long Island Marriott; Jerry Shriver, Writer, USA Today; Eric White, Wine Consultant & Store Manager at The Winery in New York City; and Kevin Zraly, Wine Educator & Author.

I should have the result late Wednesday of the winners. I will let you know as soon as I find out. It should be an excitiing competition