Thursday, August 12, 2010

Kentucky wineries strike gold at Indiana, Iowa competitions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
For more information contact:
Bill Clary
(502) 564-1137


FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky wineries brought home 32 medals, including two double golds and five golds, at the Indy International Wine Competition Aug. 4-6 in West Lafayette, Ind.

“Throughout the country, wine lovers are discovering what we already know: Kentucky’s wine industry is back,” Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer said.

Acres of Land Winery of Richmond earned double gold and Best of Class for its Concord wine (the second year in a row its Concord won Best of Class at Indy) along with a silver medal. Jean Farris Winery of Lexington picked up gold medals for its Petite Sirah (which also was Best of Class) and Cabernet Sauvignon as well as three bronze medals. Wight-Meyer Vineyard and Winery won double gold in the French-American Blush/Rosé class for its Diamond/Concord wine. Its Diamond wine earned a gold medal and Best of Class in the Diamond and American Late Harvest categories, and its Concord was a gold medal winner. The Shepherdsville winery also brought home four silver medals.

Other Kentucky wineries that won medals at Indy International were Black Barn Winery of Lexington, Black Oak Vineyard of Princeton, Chrisman Mill Vineyards and Winery of Nicholasville, Equus Run Vineyards of Midway, Horseshoe Bend Vineyards and Winery of Willisburg, Lovers Leap Vineyards and Winery of Lawrenceburg, Purple Toad Winery of Paducah, River Valley Winery of Carrollton, StoneBrook Winery of Camp Springs, Talon Winery and Vineyard of Lexington, and Wildside Winery of Versailles.

More than 50 judges evaluated commercial wines from 39 states and 12 countries at the Indy International competition, the largest scientifically organized and independent competition in the United States. A complete list of results is available at www.indyinternational.org/competition/2010/.

In July, three Kentucky wineries brought home 12 medals, including four golds, from the 2010 Mid-American Wine Competition in Ankeny, Iowa.

Harkness Edwards Vineyards of Winchester won three medals, including gold medals for its Vat 32 Viognier wine and for the wine’s label in the Most Unique category. Wight-Meyer won gold for its Diamond wine and earned five medals in all, the most among Kentucky wineries. Elk Creek Vineyards of Owenton won a gold medal for the Best Series label on its Orchard Creek Series and three bronze medals.

The fourth annual Mid-American Wine Competition on July 9-11 was open only to commercial wineries in Kentucky and 15 other states across the Midwest. Proceeds from the competition support the Enology International Internship program at Des Moines Area Community College, which hosted the event. Results of the 2010 competition are available at www.midamericanwine.org/.

To find out more about Kentucky’s growing wine industry, go to www.kentuckywine.com.

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