On March 24, the CT Specialty Food Association held their annual CT Product Awards Competition, which included Connecticut wine. All wines were required to be made from 100% Connecticut grown fruit. I was pleased to put together an expert panel of wine judges, including several newcomers this year. We spent several hours in each other’s company contemplating 34 Connecticut wines, and engaging in a few lively debates. When the dust settled, some clear winners emerged. Sunset Meadow Vineyards in Goshen had a very strong showing, placing first in 4 categories, and competition newcomer Preston Ridge Vineyard in Preston secured a second place finish in the Dry White category.

L to R: Roger Collinge, CSW, Doug Croll, CSW, Renée Allen, CSW, FWS, Ken Turcotte, CSW, WSET Adv. Brad Haywood, WSET Adv.

And the winners are…

2015 Wine Product of the Year

Sunset Meadow Vineyard, Goshen, CT   Blustery Blend, 2014

Wine – Blush

1^st Place           Sunset Meadow Vineyards, Goshen, CT   Sunset Blush, 2013

Wine – Dessert

1^st Place           Hopkins Vineyard, New Preston, CT   Ice Wine, 2013

*This wine received high enough marks from all of the judges to be placed in the Exceptional category, the highest category in which a wine could place.

2^nd Place          Sunset Meadow Vineyards, Goshen, CT   Midnight Ice, 2013

3^rd Place           Jones Winery, Shelton, CT   Seven Generations, NV

Wine – Dry Red

1^st Place           Jones Winery, Shelton, CT   Cabernet Franc, 2012

2^nd Place          Sunset Meadow Vineyards, Goshen, CT   New Dawn, 2012

3^rd Place           Hopkins Vineyard, New Preston, CT   Lemberger, 2012

Wine – Dry White

1^st Place           Sunset Meadow Vineyards, Goshen, CT   Cayuga White, 2013

2^nd Place          Preston Ridge Vineyard, Preston, CT   Estate Vidal Blanc, 2013

3^rd Place           Hopkins Vineyard, New Preston, CT   Vineyard Reserve, 2013

Wine – Fruit

1^st Place           Bishop’s Orchards Winery, Guilford, CT   Celebration, NV

2^nd Place          Jones Winery, Shelton, CT   Harvest Time, NV

3^rd Place           TIE

Bishop’s Orchards Winery, Guilford, CT   Apple Raspberry Blush, NV

Sunset Meadow Vineyards, Goshen, CT   Enchanted Apple, 2013

Wine – Fruit/Sparkling

1^st Place           Bishop’s Orchards Winery, Guilford, CT   Rubus Nightfall, NV

*This wine received high enough marks from all of the judges to be placed in the Exceptional category, the highest category in which a wine could place.

2^nd Place          Holmberg Orchards & Winery, Gales Ferry, CT   Macintosh Hard Cider, 2013

Wine – Other White

1^st Place           Sunset Meadow Vineyards, Goshen, CT   Blustery Blend, 2014

*This wine received high enough marks from all of the judges to be placed in the Exceptional category, the highest category in which a wine could place.

2^nd Place          Sunset Meadow Vineyards, Goshen, CT   Vidal Blanc, 2013

3^rd Place           Hopkins Vineyard, New Preston, CT   Westwind, 2013

Wine – Rosé

1^st Place           Sunset Meadow Vineyards, Goshen, CT   Rosé, 2013

Wine – Sparkling

1^st Place           Hopkins Vineyard, New Preston, CT   Gold Label Sparkling Wine, NV

2^nd Place          Holmberg Orchards & Winery, Gales Ferry, CT   Bubbly Blanc, 2013