PENGUIN BAY 2007 GEWURZTRAMINER is poised for a triple crown after this week’s Indy International judging where it was rated “Best White Wine” out of about 1,000 from around the world—matching a similar feat at the LA International Wine & Spirits Competition last month. Indy and LA are among the country’s largest competitions, and in both cases about 80 judges selected this wine as the best white of any type in the entire competition. All wines are “blind-tasted”, with the judges not knowing their geographic origin or brand, first by panels of five which select wines worthy of the “sweepstakes” round, when the top wines are tasted by all judges for the grand prize. This is a huge accomplishment—two Best of Show ratings at two major competitions in two different places with different judges—and reflects the superb quality and varietal character of the wine. Penguin Bay also received a Double Gold for its Percussion blend, Golds for its 2007 Riesling and 2007 Chamourcin Rosé, and four Silver medals. Sister wineries Goose Watch and Swedish Hill also showed strongly, with the three wineries winning a total of 32 medals—4 Double Gold, 9 Gold, 11 Silver and 8 Bronze. Goose Watch’s top awards were Golds for Golden Spumante, 2007 Traminette, and 2007 Viogner. Swedish Hill’s Double Golds were for Svenska White and 2007 Riesling, with Golds for Svenska Red, 2007 Cayuga White, Blue Waters Riesling and 2007 Dry Riesling. The Peterson family which owns these wineries has always been proactive about entering wine competitions, and their consistent winnings over the years has shown that New York can produce great wines from a wide range of grape varieties. They’ve helped elevate the quality image that New York enjoys today. The next major competition is Dan Berger’s Long Beach Grand Cru in a few weeks: Will the Penguin Bay Gewurz triumph again…?
NEW YORK GOLD came racing home from Indy for many other wineries as well, with New York wineries winning a total of 229 medals (9 Double Gold, 29 Gold, 91 Silver, and 99 Bronze). Besides those cited above, other Double Golds went to Torrey Ridge Niagara and Traminette, Chateau Frank Celebre (Riesling sparkling wine), Dr. Frank 2007 Semi-Dry Riesling, and Long Point 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon. Other Gold medals were awarded to Lakewood 2007 Catawba, Torrey Ridge Diamond, Fulkerson Red Zeppelin, Lucas 2007 Cayuga White, Torrey Ridge Cayuga, Glenora Alpine White, Mazza Chautauqua Cellars 2006 Vidal Ice Wine, Brotherhood 2007 Riesling, Hazlitt 2007 Homestead Reserve Riesling, Pindar 2007 Riesling, Schwenk 2007 Riesling, Thirsty Owl 2007 Dry Riesling, White Springs 2005 Riesling, Anthony Road 2006 Cabernet Franc Rosé, Sheldrake Point 2007 Dry Rosé, Torrey Ridge Scarlet Red, Hazlitt Bramble Berry, Pindar 2003 Cabernet Port, Clinton 2007 Nuit (black raspberry), Pazdar Cerise Chocolat (cherry and chocolate) and Attitude III (blueberry port). Organized by Purdue’s Dr. Christian Butzke and Jill Blume, the Indy is truly an international competition, with wines from virtually every state, several predicable countries like Australia, Canada, France, Italy and New Zealand, but also this year from India (that’s right) and Israel. One of the most fascinating, and encouraging, results involves the number of states that are now making really great wines, confirming that wine is truly the all-American art form.
NEW YORK WINES also brought home heavy medal from other competitions including the Critics Challenge International with four “Platinum” medals (equivalent to “Double Gold” in many competitions) for Chateau Frank 2000 Blanc de Blanc, Lucas 2007 Dry Riesling, and Pindar 2006 Late Harvest Chardonnay along with Golds for Knapp 2006 Dry Riesling, Lakewood 2007 Dry Riesling, and Pindar 2006 Chardonnay Reserve. At the International Wine & Spirits Competition, Casa Larga 2005 Vidal Ice Wine won a gold and continued a streak of prestigious awards with this luscious dessert wine.
THOUSAND ISLANDS SEAWAY WINE TRAIL has great potential given its location but especially the people involved and the smart decisions they’re making. Defining New York State’s northeastern border with Canada, the St. Lawrence Seaway joins the Atlantic Ocean to Lake Ontario (and the other Great Lakes), and is also a fabulous vacationland with islands dotting the majestic river. This is truly “north country”, so in the winter it can get a bit chilly (like 40 below in some spots), but fortunately the growers and vintners in this region have done their homework and are planting cold-hardy “Minnesota varieties” like Frontenac, Frontenac Gris, Edelweiss, Marquette and Briana which can made some really nice wines. They’ve also concentrated on local business, creating awareness and generating support among nearby communities as a vital part of their marketing strategies. They also understand the importance of shaping the business climate through their elected officials in Albany and locally. And most important they recognize the power of unity—working together as a group to get things done. Steve Conaway of Thousand Islands Winery has been the driving force, joined recently by colleagues at Otter Creek and Yellow Barn wineries, with Coyote Moon Winery not far behind. Right now there are only three licensed wineries, but don’t be surprised to see that number multiply quickly, like it has along the Niagara Wine Trail, as more people realize that it CAN be done—and quite affordably, with tillable land for about $200 an acre. (Yes, that’s two hundred.)
AGING AND OBESITY may be fought by regular, moderate consumption of red wine, according to some recent studies. The key ingredient seems to be resveratrol, the naturally occurring fungicide produced by grapes to ward off plant disease which seems to do the same for humans. Red wines (but not white) contain resveratrol because of the prolonged skin contact during processing, which transfers both the pigment (color) and resveratrol into the wine. While a previous study suggested you’d have to drink 35 bottles a day to get the benefit (we don’t recommend that), a more recent study concluded that moderate daily consumption is beneficial in slowing the aging process. Meanwhile, a German study showed that resveratrol inhibits pre-fat cells from increasing in size and becoming mature fat cells, while also hindering fat storage. Resveratrol also reduced substances linked to the development of obesity-related disorders such as diabetes and clogged arteries. All sounds good to me…Cheers!
“Consuming wine in moderation daily will help people to die young as late as possible.”
--Dr. Philip Norrie
A Votre Santé To Your Health
Jim Trezise
JimTrezise@nywgf.org, email
http://www.newyorkwines.org/, web
http://www.healthyconcordgrapes.com/, web
