2008 New York Wine & Food Classic Winners

Boy, Bedell Cellars is having a good week. Their unreleased 2006 Musee won "Best Red Wine" at the 2008 New York Wine & Food Classic this week. Swedish Hill Winery was also named "Winery of the Year" for 2008, partly the result of their 2007 Vidal Blanc winning the Governor's Cup as the best wine overall, beating out 774 other wines.

The full list of class and category winners is below. Each class winner was eligible to win the Best of Category when the wines were re-tasted.

Best of Class Awards

• Best Native Sparkling Wine: Swedish Hill Winery NV Spumante Blush
• Best Dry Riesling Wine: Lakewood Vineyards 2007 Dry Riesling
• Best Semi-Dry Riesling Wine: Hosmer 2007 Riesling
• Best Semi-Sweet Riesling Wine: Paumanok Vineyards 2007 Semi-Dry Riesling
• Best Chardonnay Wine: Castello di Borghese 2006 Chardonnay
• Best Sauvignon Blanc Wine: Macari Vineyards 2007 Katherine's Field Sauvignon Blanc
• Best White Vinifera Blend: McGregor Vineyards 2007 Rkatsiteli-Sereksiya
• Best Traminette Wine: Whitecliff Vineyards 2007 Traminette
• Best Vidal Blanc Wine: Swedish Hill Winery 2007 Vidal Blanc
• Best White Hybrid Blend: Rooster Hill Vineyards 2007 Silver Pencil
• Best Other Native White Wine: Arbor Hill Grapery 2007 Vergennes
• Best Niagara Wine: Hickory Hollow Cellars Liquid Wisdom
• Best Blush or Rose Wine: Anthony Road Wine Company 2007 Dry Rose
• Best Concord Wine: Torrey Ridge Winery Blue Sapphire
• Best Baco Noir Wine: Barrington Cellars Baco Noir
• Best Red Hybrid Blend: Swedish Hill Winery Viking Red
• Best Cabernet Franc Wine: Red Newt Cellars 2005 Cabernet Franc
• Best Merlot Wine: Osprey's Dominion 2005 Reserve Merlot
• Best Cabernet Sauvignon Wine: Chateau Lafayette Reneau 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon
• Best Red Vinifera Blend: Bedell Cellars 2006 Musee
• Best Mead: Earle Estates Meadery Creamy Apricot
• Best Late Harvest Wine: Heron Hill 2006 Late Harvest Vidal Blanc
• Best Ice Wine: Casa Larga Vineyards 2005 Fiori Vidal Ice Wine

Best of Category Awards

• Best Sparkling Wine: Swedish Hill Winery NV Spumante Blush
• Best White Wine: Swedish Hill Winery 2007 Vidal Blanc
• Best Blush or Rose Wine: Anthony Road Wine Company 2007 Dry Rose
• Best Red Wine: Bedell Cellars 2006 Musee
• Best Specialty Wine: Earle Estates Meadery Creamy Apricot
• Best Dessert Wine: Casa Larga Vineyards 2005 Fiori Vidal Ice Wine

Full medal results will be posted on newyorkwines.org soon apparently, but they aren't up yet.

As always, some interesting results, but without knowing what wines were submitted (many of the state's top wineries don't submit wines to the competition), it's hard to offer much commentary. Congratulations to all of the winners.

Does it strike me as a little odd that a non-vinifera wine was named the best wine in the state? Sure. But, that's what the judges found with their own noses and tongues. Try it for yourself if you can get your hands on a bottle. I've had several delicious vidals in recent years.

Comments

[Bryan]

Is it that the bar for a good vidal is set really low compared to a good cabernet sauvignon? The "best" vidal I've ever had hasn't come close in my taste to the best cabernet I've had.

Being that that vidal was probably scored against what can be expected of vidal, I understand how one may get the highest score of that show.

Ever watch a dog show and wonder how a standard poodle could beat the golden retriever? lol