Sparkling Pointe Vineyards and Winery won the “Winery of the Year” award at the 2017 New York Wine and Food Classic competition. The Southold winery shares the honor with CK Cellars/Torrey Ridge Winery of Penn Yan, New York.
The “Winery of the Year” award is presented to the winery with the best overall showing based on the level and number of awards in relation to entries. Sparkling Pointe and CK Cellars/Torrey Ridge Winery tied for first place.
Sparkling Pointe won Best Vinifera Sparkling White, Best Vinifera Sparkling Pink and Best Sparkling on their way to the Winery of the Year award.
The Southold winery is owned by Cynthia and Tom Rosicki, who bought the land for their vineyard in 2001. Sparkling Pointe’s winemaker is Gilles Martin.
The Governor’s Cup award, which recognizes the “Best of Show” or top prize of all entries went to a 2016 Riesling from Buttonwood Grove Winery in the Fingerlakes Region.
The annual competition, now in its 32nd year, is organized the New York Wine and Grape Foundation and is open to all 420 New York wineries from all regions. In 2017, a total of 81 Double Gold, 88 Gold, 454 Silver and 241 Bronze medals were awarded. In addition, “Best of Category” and “Best of Class” designations were awarded to wines rated as the finest in various areas. Double Gold medals require unanimity among a panel’s judges that a wine deserves a Gold medal, whereas Gold medals require a majority vote.
Other local wineries that took home “Best of Class” or “Best of Category” awards from the competition:
Martha Clara Vineyards won Best Unoaked Chardonnay, 2014 Chardonnay and Best Pinot Noir, 2015 Estate Reserve Pinot Noir;
Wölffer Estate Vineyard won Best Late Harvest, 2014 Diosa Late Harvest;
Paumanok Vineyards won Best Sauvignon Blanc, 2016 Sauvignon Blanc;
Kontokosta Winery, won Best Other Vinifera White Varietal, 2016 Viognier;
Bedell Cellars won Best Vinifera White Blend, 2016 Taste White;
Clovis Point Vineyard & Winery won Best Syrah, 2014 Syrah;
This year’s competition included 915 New York wines, 27 hard ciders and 16 craft spirits from several regions across New York State including Long Island, Hudson Valley, Finger Lakes, Niagara Escarpment and Lake Erie.
The awards were based on blind tastings by 21 judges from across the country. Judges included prominent wine writers, restaurateurs, retailers, and wine educators, according to a press release issued yesterday by the New York Wine and Grape Foundation.
Complete results will be available online at www.newyorkwines.org.
