Niagara Escarpment

Some More Icewine Recognition

The more I get out and see what some other wine regions sell as dessert wine, and specifically how much they charge, the more I realize just how precious the climate of the Niagara USA wine region really is. While they do get a lot of local press, it's great to see national recognition of these small wineries' icewines. Schulze Vineyards & Winery just received a gold medal for their 2008 Vidal Icewine at the Riverside Wine Competition in California. Ann and Martin Schulze were thrilled when they read the news on the NYWGF’s website. Last time I visited the winery, Ann greeted me with a “Did you hear? We got our gold!"

As recent as last April, Wine Enthusiast included a photo and review of Niagara Landing’s 2007 Vidal Icewine with a score of 86 points. Last year the same wine was awarded a gold at the New York Food & Wine Classic. Arrowhead Spring Vineyards & Winery also got rave reviews from Wine Spectator recently for their 2005 Vidal Icewine with a 90 point score, a rare achievement for a New York State winery.

With 2009 bringing the addition of some interesting varietals other than vidal for icewines, I hope the momentum keeps moving in this direction as the world outside of this small community realizes they don’t need to shell out the big bucks to drink Ontario dessert wine. They may just find comparable quality from Niagara USA’s wineries at half the price.

2008 New York Food & Wine Classic Results

The results are in for the NY Food and Wine Classic for 2008. The competition which has been called the "Oscars" of NY state wine is an all NY wine contest in which hundreds of wineries participate every year. The biggest prize, the Governor's Cup award was given to Swedish Hill Winery of the Finger Lakes for their 2007 Vidal Blanc still wine. They also picked up "winery of the year" based on number of awards given.

Niagara USA wines did well again this year as Niagara Landing, Schulze Vineyards & Winery and Honeymoon Trail Winery collectively scored eight medals. What I can only assume will be one of the next wineries to join the Niagara Wine Trail, Mayer's Lake Ontario Winery picked up two medals as well.

Here are the results for our local wineries:

Niagara Landing:
Gold- Vidal Blanc Ice Wine 2007
Gold- Chocolate Dream 2006
Bronze- Baco Noir NV

Honeymoon Trail Winery:
Bronze- Pink Catawba NV
Bronze- Frozen Niagara NV
Bronze- Full Moon NV

Schulze Vineyards & Winery:
Silver- Vidal Blanc Ice Wine 2008
Bronze- Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

As much as I think these awards go along way to bringing recognition to the Niagara Wine Trail, I also think that the way in which wine competitions are judged are generally flawed and that people shouldn't except results like these as an objective measure of quality. I would also like to add that more than half of the Niagara Wine Trail did not submit wines to this competition, so if your favorite winery didn't wine a medal they probably did not submit any wine. But those shiny medals sure look great hanging on those bottles in tasting rooms.

Finger Lakes International Wine Competition

The Finger Lakes International Wine Competition results are in for 2008!

Widely considered to be the the largest competition in the east, this event accepts entries from across the globe. The participation of dozens of New York State wineries makes this particular competition extremely relevant to those of us looking to expand our local palates.

Niagara USA Region wineries were in attendance again this year with several medals awarded to our young wineries. Here are some results.

Freedom Run Winery of Lockport, NY clinched three medals:
Silver Medal - Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Bronze Medal - Cabernet Franc 2005
Bronze Medal - Manning Manor Rose 2005

Schulze Vineyards and Winery of Burt, NY took home four medals.
Silver Medal - Thirty Mile Point Niagara 2006
Silver Medal - Cuvee Rose - Sparkling Rose 2006
Silver Medal - Vidal Blanc 2006
Bronze Medal - Siegfried 2007

Marjim Manor Winery of Appleton, NY claimed three medals.
Silver Medal - Heart of Gold NV Hargrand wine
Silver Medal - Sophia's Sunrise NV Blend
Silver Medal - Cherry Concerto NV Cherry wine

Honeymoon Trail Winery of Lockport, NY won a four medals.
Silver Medal - Pink Catawba 2007
Silver Medal - Frozen Niagara NV
Bronze Medal - Baco Noir NV
Bronze Medal - Full Moon 2006 Red Blend
Bronze Medal - While Lace 2006 White Blend

NY Food and Wine Classic Update

It seems that the NY Food and Wine Classic held in Napa, CA last week has updated the list of winners a few times in the past week. A few days ago I posted about two Niagara Wine Trail wineries that won medals. It seems like another local winery has bragging rights to three medals. Freedom Run Winery in Lockport, NY won medals for Merlot, Chardonnay, and their Manning Manor Rose Wine. The Merlot, apparently made from North Fork of Long Island grapes, took a silver medal with bronze medal awarded to the oak aged Chardonnay and a rose made from the not so well known Fredonia grape.

I'm not sure if that's the last update from the Uncork NY website, but I'm happy that another Niagara Winery has been recognized. Freedom Run Winery is interesting because while they are waiting for their first harvest from estate grown red wine grapes, they have sourced Long Island grapes for their Cab Franc, Cab Sauv, and Merlot. While the merlot is getting the praise, I personally enjoy the Cab Sauvignon most at the moment, but truth be told, they are all extremely young with the Cab Franc only having one month in bottle.

Niagara Wineries Win at NY Food & Wine Classic in Napa, CA

The New York Food and Wine Classic was held in Napa Valley last week and the results to this prestigious competition are in. The Niagara Wine Trail represented well as Schulze Vineyards and Winery and Honeymoon Trail Winery both took home three medals. The Governors Cup which can be considered the "best of show" award went to Thirsty Owl Company 2006 Dry Riesling and Red Barn Winery took home the "Winery of the Year" honor.

Schulze Vineyards and Winery which is still in its first summer since opening last spring took home bronze medals for their Dry Vidal, Semi-dry Vidal, and their Cabernet Sauvignon Rose. Honeymoon Trail Winery came away with a silver for their 2006 Pink Catawba and 2005 Baco Noir. They also won a bronze medal for their Honeymoon's Over wine. The results are posted here at the Uncork New York website. Congratulations to both wineries as they are extremely young and each has a bright future ahead of them.

Prestigious Double Gold for Niagara Winery

Honeymoon Trail Pink Catawba 2006
Niagara County, USA ($9)

The Finger Lakes International Wine Competition is no joke. Wines from all over the world are judged by several respected wine judges. Winning any medal there should be something a winery be can proud of and it's usually a great selling point. It's amazing that the youthful wineries of the Niagara region are being recognized for what they are...world class wines. In any wine competition a gold medal is coveted. A double gold...well that's just the holy grail of unanimous approval that a winery would be happy with one just once in its lifetime. For a young winery with only a couple years under its belt, this accolade can only indicate that the best is yet to come for the fledgling Niagara Wine Trail.

This is not Honeymoon Trail's first award and it sure isn't the only winery in the area to receive a double gold. I will make sure my readers will be kept up to date on all of them in the future, including past competitions. Since this is the most recent, and since this competition is one of the most prestigious in the country, I had to give a nod to this exciting Pink Catawba Wine. Interestingly enough the grapes for this wine were grown in the vineyards of Martin and Ann Schulze of Schulze Vineyards and Winery, the newest addition to the wine trail. The wine is delicate and slightly sweet. It's a great example of the wide variety of wine available in the area, from dry to sweet, red to white, still to sparkling. This wine is only $9 too, so cheers to that!