Governor’s Cup Wine Tour in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State

By Chilled Magazine

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Hosted by I LOVE NEW YORK, attendees will have the opportunity to wine down and experience three wineries in the Finger Lakes region of New York State during the Governor’s Cup Wine Tour on August 13, 2013. The day will include good wine, food and travel within the region to sample over 11 different wines.

GovCup3The elegant Governor’s Cup, a large silver chalice, recognizes the “Best of Show” or top prize of all 850 entries in the Classic, known as “The Oscars” of New York wine. Celebrating its 28th year, the Classic is organized by the New York Wine & Grape Foundation and is open to all 280 New York wineries from all regions.

The Finger Lakes is one of the country’s top wine producing regions and is known for its Rieslings, Gewurztraminer and Ice Wine. The wine trail which encompasses Seneca, Cayuga, Canandaigua and Keuka lakes, provides one of the exciting and varied wine and food experiences in the U.S. Say cheese! The region is also known for its’ “Cheese Trail” made up of 13 family farms with a full selection of artisanal cheeses.

Beyond discovering savory wines and tasty fare, the Finger Lakes is one of the most scenic regions with rolling hills, sparkling lakes and sprawling vineyards tucked into hillsides stretching to the horizon. Although it might be rural, the Finger Lakes is highly sophisticated with world-class museums, award-winning wines and rich history.

Highlighting the tour will be:

· Anthony Road Winery, Glenora Wine Cellars and Lakewood Vineyards

· Wine tastings, demonstrations, hors d’oeuvres at the wineries

· Presentation of the 2013 Governor’s Cup Award to New York State’s top wines at the elegant closing dinner and awards ceremony

For more information please visit newyorkwines.org

Additional Information about the New York Wine & Food Classic:

GovCup2The New York Wine & Food Classic, a professional wine competition open to all New York wineries, will be held from August 11-13 at the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel.

Sponsored and organized by the New York Wine & Grape Foundation, the festivities begin with a Welcome Dinner at Lakewood Vineyards for 20 judges and 15 backroom staff. Several of the judges and staff pitch in to cook the feast under the guidance of Baltimore chef Jerry Pellegrino, who is also one of the judges.

The first day of actual judging is on Monday, August 12, when panels of judges will evaluate more than 800 wines to determine whether they merit an award ranging from Bronze to Silver, Gold or Double Gold (requiring unanimity). Then, on the morning of August 13, all the Double Gold winners will be tasted by all the judges to determine the best Sparkling, White, Rose, Red, and Dessert wines, which are then tasted off to determine the ultimate prize, the Governor’s Cup. A “Winery of the Year” award is also given to the winery with the highest average scores. There are also special awards recognizing the best fruit wine, distilled spirit, and cider.

The judges are all wine professionals from different fields like wine educators, wine store managers, restaurant wine buyers, wine writers, and university enologists. This year’s judges are from England, France, California, Indiana, Ohio, Maryland, Missouri, Washington State, New York City, and other parts of New York State.

The Classic is open to all wineries in New York State, and also includes categories for distilled spirits and cider. The top winning wines routinely sell out within hours of the awards being announced.

Some wineries include: 

THE ANTHONY ROAD WINE COMPANY

John and Ann Martini first planted grapes at Martini Vineyards in 1973 and opened Anthony Road Winery in 1990. They have long been pioneers and leaders in the New York grape and wine industry, as well as nationally, and the recipients of many awards. This is truly a family farm: their son Peter is now President of Martini Vineyards, and their daughters Sarah and Liz are taking over the winery operation. www.anthonyroadwine.com

GLENORA WINE CELLARS

Glenora was the first farm winery in the Finger Lakes, created in 1977, a year after passage of the Farm Winery Act. Under the leadership of co-owner Gene Pierce, a Cornell graduate, Glenora has been on the cutting edge of the New York wine industry for decades in terms of unveiling new types of wines, establishing an on-premise restaurant, and opening a 30-room luxury Inn at Glenora on the property. www.glenora.com

LAKEWOOD VINEYARDS

There are now three generations of the Stamp family actively working at Lakewood Vineyards: Beverly; her sons Chris (winemaker) and Dave (vineyard manager) and daughter Teresa (tasting room); and Chris’s daughter Amelia (general). Most of the second and third generation “kids” e Cornell graduates. A long-respected grape grower, the late “Monty” Stamp and his family opened Lakewood Vineyards winery in 1988, whose motto is “On the cutting edge of tradition”. www.lakewoodvineyards.com

For more information please visit newyorkwines.org

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