Kansas City competition works to raise awareness of non-vinifera wines

I know that like minds will love this article - I sure did when I read it this morning!

The goal of the competition is to eliminate “grape racism,” the prejudice against other-than-California wines, Frost says. And although he has yet to win the war, he is winning battles. Thanks in part to the Jefferson Cup, which started in 1999, regional wines made from lesser-known grapes are winning critical acclaim and, ultimately, favor with wine drinkers.

Eliminating Grape-ism: Prestigious KC competition works to end prejudice against non-California wines

It doesn't surprise me that a Late harvest Vignoles was one of the top award winners. Alan Wolfe's vertical at '05 NiagaraCOOL was truly impressive.

Very true, Howie. Heck - I liked all of Alan's wines, including the most enjoyable sparkling Chambourcin. If a winery in Ontario made a sparkling red hybrid I would definitely champion the wine and serve it often at my dinner table. I also greatly enjoyed Alan's Chambourcins and Nortons.

There's just one detail that I have to pick bones with (and I feel I must do this for the sake of consistency, though in this case it's simply the consistency of my own observations over the years): the part near the end that states ...

•Chambourcin: A red wine hybrid that makes a richly colored wine, Chambourcin reminds some of a great Merlot.

It may remind some of Merlot, but in my frank assessment, Chambourcin is much, much more along the lines of a Northern Italian red with its crisp acidity and cherry/smoke aromas (of course, much depends on the oak regimen used). The same is true of the other mainline red hybrids: I can't think of any that I'd compare to plush, soft, velvety Merlot. Uh-uh. The acidity and wildness make the groups too different.

Paul B...have to agree with your Chambourcin comments!