Cheers to the Winning Wines of the Hudson Valley Wine Comopetition

Terrapin Restaurant in Rhinebeck New York was the setting Saturday April 25^th for the 5^th Annual Hudson Valley Wine Competition. This competition highlights the Hudson Valley Regions wines and the growing interest the public has for them. The competition was open to all commercial wineries in the Hudson Valley AVA using New York State fruit, but more exclusively, Hudson Valley fruit.

The wines were judged by a panel of distinguished wine experts that included Lenn Thompson – founder of Lenndevours.com; Chris Gerling – Cornell’s Extension Associate for Enology for New York State;, Steven Carrizzo – Mid Valley Wines and the winephilosopher.com ; Bill Rattner – Sommelier & Wine Director for Xaviar’s Restaurant Group; Jennifer Redmond; Ned Towle, Founder and Director of the Westchester Wine School; Bill Miller- Arlington Wines & Liquors; W.R. Tish Founder Wine For All; Liz Johnson, Food Editor of the Journal News and LoHud.com; Christopher Matthews – Independent Wine Writer and wine and spirits columnist for the New York Law Journal Magazine; Brian Simpson – Assistant Food & Beverage Manager, Roger Smith Hotel, NYC. More info on the judges can be found at here.

The Hudson Valley Wine & Grape Association will hold a Hudson Valley Wine & Culinary Food Pairing - A Celebration of Hudson Valley Wines on June 12, 2009, 7pm at Terrapin Catering at the Dinsmore Golf Course, Rt 9, Staatsburg NY. The winners of the 5 major categories wines will be paired with haut cuisine prepared by the Chef Josh Kroner. Tickets for this dinner are $85 per person and can be purchased at http://hudsonvalleywineandgrapeassociation.ticketleap.com

Eighty wines made in the Hudson Valley were entered in the competition. Wines were judged based on the American Wine Society evaluation criteria. Overall the wines from the 15 wineries that entered scored higher than in the past four competitions, suggesting to all present, a continuing improvement in winemaking for the area.

The Best Sparkling was awarded to Whitecliff Vineyards & Winery for their 2007 Sparkling Wine

The Best White Wine was award to Benmarl Winery for their 2008 Riesling

The Best Red Wine was awarded to Millbrook Winery for their 2007 Block 5 East Pinot Noir

Best Tree Fruit was awarded to Adair Vineyards for their 2008 Peche

Best Dessert Wine was awarded to Warwick Valley Winery for their American Fruits Strawberry.

Best in Show is awarded to the highest scoring wine and goes to Adair Vineyards for their 2008 Peche

Best Hudson Valley Wine, which had to be made with 100% fruit from the Hudson Valley goes to Millbrook Winery for their 2007 Block 5 East Pinot Noir.

A complete list of winners can be found by clicking here

View pictures from the competition here