The first Best of New England Wine Competition took place on March 1st. Dozens of entries from all six New England states resulted in 63 medals; four Double Gold, five Gold, 31 Silver and 20 Bronze medals. The competition took place in Charlottesville, VA to ensure judges would not recognize the wines. Judges were: Christine Iezzi of Country Vintner, a distributor; Doug Hotz, a retailer; Dr. Joseph Fiola, an enologist; Maryann Costa, a wine consultant for a store in the Kroger grocery chain; Michael Fairbrother of Moonlight Meadery, and Neal Wavra, a sommelier and restaurateur.
Best of Category results were:
- Shelburne Vineyards of Vermont with Best White Wine, for their 2015 La Crescent;
- LaBelle Winery of New Hampshire with Best Red Wine, for their Amherst Vineyard Red 2015;
- Sharpe Hill Vineyards of Connecticut with Best Rosé for their Dry Summer Rosé 2015;
- Cellardoor Winery of Maine with Best Sparkling Wine for their “Vendage” 2012;
- Stowe Cider of Vermont with Best Cider for their Dry Hopped Cider;
- Copper Beech Winery of New Hampshire with Best Fruit Wine for their Country Crabapple;
- Hermit Woods Winery of New Hampshire with Best Mead for their Three Honey Gold:
- Carolyn’s Sakonnet Vineyard of Rhode Island with Best Dessert Style for their Amrita 2014;
- Aaronap Cellars of Massachusetts with Best Specialty Wine for their Forest Gold maple wine.
Best of State awards went to LaBelle Winery in New Hampshire, Stowe Cidery in Vermont, Sharpe Hill Vineyards in Connecticut, Savage Oakes Vineyard & Winery in Maine, Aaronap Cellars in Massachusetts, and Carolyn’s Sakonnet Vineyard in Rhode Island.
- Most Awarded Winery was Sunset Meadow Vineyards of Connecticut which won seven medals, one for each wine entered.
- New Hampshire was the state with the most Best of Category awards in the competition.
The Best of New England Wine Competition is dedicated to showcasing the best of 100% New England grape and fruit wines, mead, cider and eaux-de-vie, as being of high quality, diverse, food-friendly in the Old World style and worthy of pairing with fine New England-sourced cuisine. Complete competition results will be posted at www.bestofnewenglandwine.com;
Best of New England Wine Competition 2017 Medal Winners
Winery (by alpha order) | Product Name | Year | Medal | Best of | State Winner | |
Aaronap Cellars | Forest Gold | N.V. | Gold | Specialty | Best in MA | |
Alfalfa Farm Winery | Seyval Blanc | 2015 | Bronze | |||
Anthony Lee’s | Winery Blackberry NV Bronze | |||||
Appolo Vineyards | Red One | 2016 | Bronze | |||
Appolo Vineyards | Dragonfly White | 2015 | Silver | |||
Breakwater Vineyards | Bees Knees Mead | 2014 | Bronze | |||
Breakwater Vineyards | Black Cap Cider | 2014 | Bronze | |||
Carolyn’s Sakonnet Vineyard | Expedite Happiness | 2014 | Bronze | |||
Carolyn’s Sakonnet Vineyard | Amrita | 2014 | Gold | Dessert | Best in RI | |
Carolyn’s Sakonnet Vineyard | White Lotus | 2014 | Silver | |||
Carolyn’s Sakonnet Vineyard | Unexpected Miracles | 2014 | Silver | |||
Carolyn’s Sakonnet Vineyard | Prana | NV | Silver | |||
Cellardoor Winery | Maiden’s cliff | NV | Bronze | |||
Cellardoor Winery | Vendage | 2012 | Silver | Sparkling | ||
Cellardoor Winery | Treasure | Silver | ||||
Cellardoor Winery | Vendage | 2013 | Silver | |||
Cellardoor Winery | blanc de blancs | 2013 | Silver | |||
Copper Beech Winery | Country Crabapple | NV | Gold | Fruit | ||
Copper Beech Winery | Wild Blue | NV | Silver | |||
Fresh Tracks Farm Vineyard & Winery | maple wine | NV | Bronze | |||
Fresh Tracks Farm Vineyard & Winery | La Crescent | 2014 | Silver | |||
Fresh Tracks Farm Vineyard & Winery | apple wine | NV | Silver | |||
Gilmanton Winery & Vineyard | Blueberry surprise | NV | Silver | |||
Greenvale Vineyards | Cabernet Franc | 2012 | Bronze | |||
Greenvale Vineyards | Chardonnay | 2014 | Silver | |||
Greenvale Vineyards | Skipping Stone White | NV | Silver | |||
Hermit Woods Winery | petite blue | Bronze | ||||
Hermit Woods Winery | Three Honey Wine | Bronze | ||||
Hermit Woods Winery | Three Honey Gold | Silver | Mead | |||
Hermit Woods Winery | Hermits Hard cider | Silver | ||||
Hermit Woods Winery | Heirloom Crabapple | Silver | ||||
Hermit Woods Winery | Deep Blue | Silver | ||||
Labelle Winery | Amherst Vineyard Red | 2015 | Double Gold | Red Wine | Best in NH | |
Maquam | Pear | Silver | ||||
Maquam | Black Currant | Silver | ||||
Nashoba Valley Winery | Baldwin | NV | Bronze | |||
Nashoba Valley Winery | Estate Cabernet Franc | NV | Silver | |||
Nashoba Valley Winery | Northern Comfort | NV | Silver | |||
Nashoba Valley Winery | Northern Comfort | NV | Silver | |||
Prospect Hill Winery | Sabrevois | 2014 | Bronze | |||
Prospect Hill Winery | Prospect Hills Rose | 2015 | Gold | |||
Savage Oakes Vineyard & Winery | Barn Red | 2014 | Double Gold | Best in ME | ||
Sharpe Hill Vineyard | Dry Summer Rose | 2015 | Double Gold | Best Rose | Best in CT | |
Sharpe Hill Vineyard | Vineyard Reserve Chardonnay | 2014 | Silver | |||
Shelburne Vineyard | La Crescent | 2015 | Gold | White Wine | ||
Shelburne Vineyard | Marquette | 2015 | Silver | |||
Shelburne Vineyard | Marquette Untamed | 2015 | Silver | |||
Shelburne Vineyard | Crimson Sails | 2015 | Silver | |||
Stowe Cider
Sunset Meadow Vineyards |
Safety Meeting
Cayuga White |
N.V.
2015 |
Double Gold
|
Most Medals |
Best in VT
|
|
Sunset Meadow Vineyards | Blustery Blend | 2015 | Bronze | |||
Sunset Meadow Vineyards | St. Croix | 2014 | Bronze | |||
Sunset Meadow Vineyards | New Dawn | 2014 | Bronze | |||
Sunset Meadow Vineyards | Pyrrha’s Passion | 2011 | Bronze | |||
Sunset Meadow Vineyards | Root 63 | 2015 | Silver | |||
Sunset Meadow Vineyards | Vidal Blanc | 2015 | Silver | |||
Truro Vineyards of Cape Cod | Estate Cabernet Franc | 2013 | Bronze | |||
Truro Vineyards of Cape Cod | Estate Merlot | 2013 | Silver | |||
Winterport Winery | Blueberry wine | NV | Silver | |||
Winterport Winery | cranberry wine | NV | Silver | |||
Younity Winery & Vineyards, Inc. | Tickled Pink | 2016 | Bronze | |||
Younity Winery & Vineyards, Inc. | Over a Barrel | 2016 | Bronze |