Dan's Papers - August 24, 2007 - Long Island Wines Shine in Napa

Several Long Island wineries successfully strutted there stuff at this years New York Food & Wine Classic competition held on August 7 & 8 at Copia-The American Center for Wine, Food & The Arts in Napa, California. Four in particular-Pindar Vineyards, Bedell Cellars, Peconic Bay Winery and Osprey's Dominion Vineyards- shined, bringing home "best of" awards for their wines.

This year's competition included 790 New York wines from Long Island, the Hudson Valley, the Finger Lakes, Niagara Escarpment, Lake Erie, and other regions of New York State. And while Long Island was shut out for the "Governor's Cup"-going to the winery who makes the wine deemed best overall by a panel of judges, and "Winery of the Year" competitions, Long Island was well represented. Thirsty Owl Wine Company won the "Governor's Cup" and Red Barn Winery rated "Winery of the Year"

Pindar Vineyards, Long Island's largest and most well-known producer won "Best Red" and "Best Cabernet Franc" for its recently released 2005 Cabernet Franc.

Bedell Cellars, was awarded "Best Merlot" for its 2005 Reserve Merlot, a ripe, big wine that will only get better with another few years time in bottle.

Peconic Bay Winery, makers of one of my favorite steel-fermented chardonnays, won "Best Oaked Chardonnay" for its 2005 La Barrique Chardonnay.

Osprey's Dominion Vineyards, took home awards for two different wines, winning "Best Vinifera Sparkling" for its 2002 Blanc de Noirs and "Best Vinifera Red Blend" for the 2002 Flight Meritage-definitely a fine choice.

In all, Long Island wineries won 121 of the 513 medals awarded at the Classic. The awards were based on blind tastings by 24 expert judges-10 from California, 6 from New York, 6 from other states, and 2 from other countries. Judges included prominent wine writers, restaurateurs, retailers, and wine educators.

Those local wines winning Double Gold, meaning every judge gave them a gold, are Bedell Cellars 2005 Taste Red, Osprey's Dominion Vineyards 2002 Rosé De Noir, Osprey's Dominion Vineyards 2002 Reserve Merlot, Peconic Bay Winery 2005 La Barrique Chardonnay, Pellegrini Vineyards 2002 Cabernet Franc, Pindar Vineyards 2005 Cabernet Franc, and Wölffer Estate 2003 Estate Merlot

Winning Gold medals were Bedell Cellars 2005 Merlot, Lieb Family Cellars 2003 Blanc de Blanc, Macari Vineyards & Winery 2004 Merlot Reserve, Osprey's Dominion Vineyards 2004 Cabernet Franc, Osprey's Dominion Vineyards 2002 Flight Meritage, Paumanok Vineyards 2006 Semi-Dry Riesling, Paumanok Vineyards 2004 Cabernet Franc, Pindar Vineyards 2003 Merlot Reserve, Pindar Vineyards 2005 Johannisberg Riesling Ice Wine, and Roanoke Vineyards 2006 Chardonnay.

To see complete for Long Island, visit the Long Island Wine Council's website (liwines.com) and for the event's results in their entirety, visit newyorkwine.org and go to Hot Topics under Information Station in the main navigation.