The winners of the second annual ARTEVÏNO County Wine Competition Awards were announced at Huff Estates Winery in Prince Edward County on Thursday, May 24, 2007.  The gold, silver and bronze medalists plus other wines from the wineries in Prince Edward County, Ontario, will be poured June 8 and 9^th at ARTEVÏNO, sponsored by the Quinte Arts Council.

On May 14, 2007 a panel of seven judges led by David Lawrason, founder of the Canadian Wine Awards and wine columnist for Toronto Life, gathered at Capers Wine Bar and Brasserie in Belleville to blind taste dozens of entries. Others on the panel included Konrad Ejbich, wine broadcaster with CBC Radio and author of the Pocket Guide to Ontario Wines; Michael Vaughan, wine critic for the National Post and Vintage Assessments;  Elia Gallo of Harvest Table magazine;  Billy Munnelly of  Billy’s Best Bottles; Jill Unhola, an LCBO Product Consultant in Kingston; and Michelle McCarthy, a sensory evaluation instructor at George Brown College School of Hospitality in Toronto.

All wines entered had to be made by wineries in Prince Edward County, whether from grapes grown in the County or elsewhere in Ontario. This year 13 of the 23 medal winners were from 100% County-grown grapes. “The ratio of County wines entered, and their success, means the County is really starting to demonstrate the potential that has lured twelve wineries and dozens of growers to the area since the first grapes were planted in the late 90s,” said Mr. Lawrason.

TOP WHITE AND RED
The top scoring County White this year was Rosehall Run Vineyards 2005 Chardonnay RRV, while Huff Estates 2005 South Bay, a cabernet-merlot blend, took the trophy for top County Red.  The winery that demonstrated the best ratio of medals won against wines entered will receive the Jonathan Welsh Award, to be announced during ARTEVÏNO.

Wines were entered in seven categories:

In the Lighter Unoaked White category The Grange of Prince Edward won bronze for their 2006 Trumpour’s Mill Sauvignon Blanc, and  Black Prince Winery won a bronze medal for their 2006 Chardonnay.

In Aromatic White class a Gold medal was awarded to Sandbanks Estate Winery a 2006 Riesling, a silver to Black Prince Winery Non-vintage Vidal, and a Bronze to Waupoos Estates 2005 Geisenheim.

In Oaked Whites: Rosehall Run Vineyards 2005 Chardonnay RRV took gold, with bronze medals going to a Waupoos Estates Winery 2006 Trutina (Seyval Blanc); to Black Prince Winery 2005 Chardonnay Reserve and to The Grange of Prince Edward for their 2005 Victoria Block Chardonnay.

In the new Rosé category Gold was awarded to Huff Estates 2006 Rosé,  and Silver to Black Prince Winery 2005 Pinot Noir Rosé.

In Light Reds a Silver medal went to Rosehall Run Vineyards 2005 Pinot Noir, a Bronze to Huff Estates 2005  Gamay, to Rosehall Run Vineyards 2005 Buckthorn Red (Zweigelt), and to Black Prince Winery 2006  Cabernet Franc.

In the strong Fuller Reds category two wines struck gold:  Huff Estates 2005 South Bay and The Grange of Prince Edward 2004 Trumpour’s Mill Cabernet. Silver medals were awarded to The Grange of Prince Edward 2005 – Trumpour’s Mill Cabernet, their 2005 Trumpour’s Mill Cabernet Merlot, and to Rosehall Run Vineyards 2005 Cabernet Franc. Sandbanks Estate Winery won bronze for their 2006 Marechal Foch.

Few County wineries are yet producing dessert wines and icewines, but two wines entered showed very well with Gold medals awarded to Huff Estates 2005 Vidal Icewine and to Black Prince Winery 1999 Vidal Icewine.

The winner of the Jonathan Welsh Award will be announced on Friday, June 8 at a media and trade tasting event to be held at the Ritchie Room, 270 Front St, Belleville. The winery who was the most consistent medal winner overall will take home a beautiful crystal award etched with Jonathan’s image designed by they integrated will be presented to the winery at ARTEVÏNO’s Gold Medal Dinner on June 9, 2007.

As well, each winery who won an award at the ARTEVÏNO County wine Competition will be presented with a beautiful medallion and framed certificate designed by they integrated inc. and produced by Marshmann Jewellers at the media and trade tasting event on the Friday.

The wines with the highest score in each category will be paired at the ARTEVÏNO Gold medal tasting dinner on June 9, 2007 at 6 p.m. in the Ritchie Room where accomplished chefs from, Sweet Basil, Capers Brasserie, Paulo’s Trattoria and Dinkel’s Restaurant and Courtyard, Twist Resto Grille and Earl and Angelo’s will create dishes to complement the character of each award-winning wine.  The event also includes an art and wine auction by Stephen Ranger, President of Richies Auction House in Toronto featuring art pieces from many of the regions leading artists, unique and collectible special format bottles of wine and a fabulous trip to Spain