The annual Jefferson Cup Wine Invitational Competition winners have been announced after a rigorous and competitive blind tasting of over 600 wines. The Jefferson Cup is unique in that it sets the table for wines from the U.S. to be judged, not just bottlings from the West Coast; thus it is a celebration of the best American wines, something pioneer grape grower Thomas Jefferson would have appreciated.
Founder and competition director, Doug Frost MS/MW, invites wines that have proven their excellence to be part of the judging. Now in its 12th year, the 2011 Jefferson Cup had entries from 22 states. All the wines were grouped together in like flights and tasted blind. From the over 600 wines, just under 300 were chosen to receive the "Medal of American Merit," that is wines that were considered representative of their regions and varieties, comparable to a Silver Medal. The judges also selected 152 wines they believed to be great wines, announcing them as "American Examples of Greatness," equivalent to a Gold Medal. Finally, 63 wines were chosen as Jefferson Cup nominees, by the five tasting panels, to be considered for the highest honor, the Jefferson Cup.
From those wines, the judges collectively chose 22 wines as the best of the best for the Jefferson Cup. California led the way with five Jefferson Cups, New York had four as did Missouri; Arizona had two. Quite a diversity of states had one Jefferson Cup each: Ohio, Colorado, Washington, Texas, Virginia, Georgia and Michigan. In all, 11 states received the highest competition honor, surprisingly Kansas was not among them. Another surprise was that were no awards at all in the red non-vinifera wine category, which would include grapes like Norton and Chambourcin (though a special award was given for first timer My Three Sons Norton 2008 from Platte County, Mo.) or the red hybrid category.
The Winners:
Sparkling Wine: Gloria Ferrer Royal Cuvee 2004 Carneros CA, Bel Lago Brillante NV Leelenau Peninsula Michigan.
White Vinifera Wine: Chateau Lafayette Reneau Dry Riesling 2010 Finger Lakes NY, Tiger Mountain Vineyards Petit Manseng 2010 Georgia, Jefferson Vineyards Viognier 2010 Monticello Virginia.
White Non-Vinifera Wine: Augusta Seyval Blanc 2010 Missouri, Stonehaus Strother Ridge Vignoles 2009 Missouri, Hazlitt's 1852 Vineyards White Cat NV Finger Lakes NY, Hazlitt's 1852 Vineyards White Stag NV Finger Lakes NY.
Red Vinifera Wine: Davis Bynum Pinot Noir 2010 Russian River Valley CA, Wente Vineyards Pinot Noir Reliz Creek 2008 Arroyo Seco CA, Page Springs Mourvedre Colibri Vineyards 2010 Cochise County Arizona, Michael David 6th Sense Syrah 2009 Lodi CA, Michael David Petite Petit 2009 Lodi CA, Canyon Wind Petit Verdot 2009 Grand Valley Colorado, Red Caboose Tempranillo-Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Texas, Page Springs El Serrano 2010 Cochise County Arizona, Walla Walla Vintners Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Walla Walla Valley WA.
Dessert Wine: Swedish Hill Winery Vignoles Late Harvest 2010 Finger Lakes NY, Chalet Debonne Vineyard Vidal Ice Wine Express 2010 Grand River Valley Ohio, Crown Valley Norton Fine Old Vintage Museum Collection 2004 Missouri.
Special Honorary Jefferson Cup: My Three Sons Norton 2008 Missouri.
Interestingly, New York's Hazlitt 1852 Vineyard took home two Cups, both for different types of white wines; Arizona's Page Springs won two Cups for its red wines and California's Michael David also took home two Cups, with the previous version of Michael David's 6th Sense Syrah also winning last year. Holyfield Vineyards and Winery, who won two Cups last year, struck out this year, although three of its wines were nominees.
By selecting both vinifera and non-vinifera (native) wines for the competition each year,The Jefferson Cup respects the diversity of American viticulture, patterned after Thomas Jefferson's own acceptance of native grape varieties and hybrids.
(Disclaimer: I was a judge at the Jefferson Cup Invitational Wine Competition in 2011, 2010 and 2009).
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