The ninth annual Big E Northeast Gold Wine Competition showcased some of the best tasting wines of New England and New York! The 240 entries from 38 wineries were judged at Eastern States Exposition on June 14, 2014 by a panel of wine aficionados from across the country.
Judges evaluated the wines based on the 20 point UCAL Davis System and the medals awarded were Double Gold, Gold, Silver and Bronze. There were also awards given for each state and best of each category.
Bishop’s Orchards Winery, of Connecticut, was named Premier Exhibitor and received Double-Gold for their Rubus Nightfall. The variety was also awarded Best Fruit Wine, Best Connecticut Wine and Best Grown in State. Along with their impressive Gold medal wins, the Winery went home with 10 Silver medals and five Bronze.
The honors for the State of New York went to Dr. Konstantin Frank White Cellars. Their Semi-Dry Riesling received Best New York Wine, Best Grown in State and Best Grape. Additional wins included a Gold medal for their Pinot Noir as well as four Silver and two Bronze.
The rest of the state awards went as follows; Winterport Winery’s Raspberry Rain was awarded Best Maine Wine and Best Grown in State Wine for their Cranberry wine; Mineral Hills Winery received Best Massachusetts Wine for their Cayuga White and Best Grown in State Wine for their Frontenac variety; Jewell Towne Vineyards won Best New Hampshire Wine and Best Grown in State for Vignoles; Verde Vineyards received Best Rhode Island Wine and Best Grown in State for St. Croix; and Best Vermont Wine and Best Grown in State went to North Branch Vineyards for LaCrescent.
All of the above wines also received Gold in their respective categories. Additional Gold medal winners include; Arbor Hill Winery, of New York, for Speedster; LaBelle Winery, of New Hampshire, for Tempest; Candia Vineyards, of New Hampshire, for Noiret; Hopkins Vineyard, of Connecticut, for Westwind; Starkey’s Lookout, of New York, for Gewurztraminer; and Les Trois Emme Vineyard & Winery, LLC, of Massachusetts, for Stingy Jack’s Berkshire Red.
During The Big E, the winners of the competition will be on display inside the Wine and Cheese Barn for purchase and a selection of the participating wineries will provide samples for tasting. The Big E takes place Sept. 12-28 in West Springfield, Mass. For a complete listing from the competition, visit thebige.com/fair/agriculture/agriculture.asp.