MADISON, Ohio — The wineries in Ohio’s Grand River Valley Wine Region are garnering top honors in many national and international wine competitions.
The most recent announcement came from the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition with both Debonne Vineyards and Ferrante Winery being awarded a Double Gold for their Riesling varietal wines.
One of the few
Double Gold is awarded to wines with classic varietal characters in which all the judges on the panel vote it to be a gold medal winner. Only a tiny percentage of wines are awarded this honor.
Ferrante’s 2007 Signature Series Riesling is a medium sweet, with a 3 percent residual sugar and has characteristics of peach, pear, and lime.
This wine has also received 91 points and Best Buy from the Beverage Tasting Institute Competition, and a Gold Medal in the Ohio Wine Competition.
Ferrante’s second Riesling, 2007 Golden Bunches Dry Riesling, received 90 points and Best Buy from the Beverage Tasting Institute Competition, a Gold Medal in the Ohio Wine Competition, and a Silver medal in the Riverside International Wine Competition, and the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition.
Largest winery
Debonne Vineyards, Ohio’s largest estate winery, produces several different Rieslings all that are gold medal recipients. The 2008 Riesling received the Double Gold in the Finger Lakes competition and a gold in the Pacific Rim International Wine Competition.
This Riesling has peach/apricot aromas and flavors with a hint of light spice. The 2008 Debonne Riesling Reserve, which is sweeter wine at 3 percent residual sugar, received a Gold for the Pacific Rim competition and numerous silver medals.
Gold sweeps
The 2007 Debonne- Riesling Lot 007, a special vintage, won Gold Sweeps in the San Diego International Wine Competition. Gold Sweeps means it was one of only three wines nominated for Best of Show in the Riesling Category.
The Grand River Valley Wine Region is one of the smallest wine regions with eight wineries, but a high concentration of the land being used for grape growing.
Other wineries include Grand River Cellars, Laurello Vineyards, and St. Joseph Vineyards, just to name a few. All the wineries have been awarded medals for their regional wines. Other noted varieties include Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Cabernet Franc, and Pinot Noir.
State awards
Maize Valley Winery claimed seven medals at the 2009 Ohio Wine Competition.
Family Reserve, a blended red wine of Cabernet, Syrah and Barbera, was recently awarded the titles of Concordance Gold (a unanimous decision from the panel of 10 judges) and Best Red Wine of 2009 at the Ohio Wine Competition.
Cherry Wine and newest wine release Traminette also claimed gold titles.
