The 2020 Maryland Governor’s Cup, delayed until February due to covid-19, has announced the top winners in the competition. Boordy Vineyards has won the state Governor’s Cup for its 2015 Landmark Reserve, while Port of Leonardtown Winery won the Jack Aellen Cup for its McIntosh Run apple wine. McIntosh Run first earned a gold medal and the “Best in Class” distinction for fruit wine, then secured victory in a final taste-off of fruit wines, meads, and ciders.
“For the second year in a row, a Bordeaux blend has taken top honors,” says Kevin Atticks, Executive Director of the Maryland Wineries Association. “The Landmark Reserve further illustrates that serious red blends have become the benchmark.” The Bordeaux-style blend was produced from grapes grown on the winery’s South Mountain Vineyard in Frederick County.
“We are honored and humbled to win the 2020 Maryland Governor’s Cup Best in Show with our 2015 Landmark Reserve, particularly because it coincides with Boordy’s 75th anniversary,” says Rob Deford, proprietor at Boordy Vineyards. “The Landmark Reserve is an elegant, beautifully-structured Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend made exclusively with grapes from our South Mountain Vineyard – an exceptional vineyard site that has now produced 3 Governor’s Cup winners in the past 9 years.”
Other 2020 Maryland Wine Governor’s Cup Results
Best in Class
Sparkling: Linganore Winecellars • Brut Albariño 2019
White: Port of Leonardtown Winery • Sauvignon Blanc 2020
White Blend: Big Cork Vineyards • Viognier/Chenin 2020
Rosé: Linganore Winecellars • Seventh 2020
Red: Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard • Cabernet Franc 2019
Red Blend: Boordy Vineyards • Landmark Reserve 2015
Sweet: Dove Valley Winery • Mr. Bentley’s Choice 2019
Dessert: Robin Hill Farm and Vineyards • Home Sweet Home
Fruit: Port of Leonardtown Winery • McIntosh Run 2019
Mead: Loew Vineyards • Honey & Grape
Port: Harford Vineyard & Winery • Ruby Reserve 2015
Double Gold
Big Cork Vineyards • Viognier/Chenin 2020
Boordy Vineyards • Landmark Reserve 2015
Dove Valley Winery • Perky Peaches
Harford Vineyard & Winery • Ruby Reserve 2015
Linganore Winecellars • Brut Albariño 2019
Linganore Winecellars • Saperavi 2019
Links Bridge Vineyards • Chardonnay 2019
Port of Leonardtown Winery • Sauvignon Blanc 2020
Robin Hill Farm and Vineyards • Home Sweet Home
Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard • Cabernet Franc 2019
Windridge Vineyards • Seneca 2017
See the entire list of medalists on MarylandWine.com.