The Vineyard at Grandview places three finalists in Pa. Wine Society competition
The Vineyard at Grandview places three finalists in Pa. Wine Society competition
By Paul Vigna | pvigna@pennlive.com
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on January 03, 2015 at 9:39 AM, updated January 03, 2015 at 9:40 AM
The Vineyard at Grandview will be the best-represented winery when the Pennsylvania Wine Society (PWA) holds its annual Wine Excellent XIII awards on Sunday, Jan. 18, at the Harrisburg Hilton.
It’s a competition that judges only Pennsylvania wines in what’s basically a contest of dry wines. For most of the first decade, this was largely a top 20 of red wines, but the criteria changed this year to include Traminette and Vidal in addition to Chambourcin and red grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
Wines were judged in November, with entries coming from 17 wineries throughout the state. All told, 86 were entered, more than half (45) of those whites. Judges selected 10 finalists and 10 runners-up. Those top 10 wines will be poured at the Jan. 18 event, with the winemakers and/or owners invited to talk about the wine, the vintage and the past growing season. A champion also will be announced.
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Even with the majority of the wines being white, the three finalists from The Vineyard at Grandview – a year-and-a-half-old winery in Lancaster County – were all red: its 2013 Cabernet Franc, 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2013 red blend called Crimson Quartette.
Here are the other finalists, in alphabetical order:
- Armstrong Valley Winery Armstrong Red
- Conneaut Cellars (Lake Erie area) Gewurztraminer
- Paradocx Vineyard Merlot 2012
- Paradocx Vineyard Pinot Blanc 2013
- Penns Woods Winery Bancroft Moscato 2013
- Seven Mountains Wine Cellars Vidal Blanc
- Waltz Vineyards and Winery Baron Red 2010
The honorable mention wines (six whites and four reds) are: Armstrong Valley Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, Crossing Vineyards and Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, Fero Vineyards and Winery Gruner Veltliner, Manatawny Creek Winery Meritage 2012, Nimble Hill Vineyard and Winery Pinot Grigio 2013, Penns Woods WineryCabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2009 and Chardonnay Reserve 2013, Seven Mountains Wine Cellars Traminette, Vynecrest Vineyards and Winery Traminette, and Waltz Vineyards and Winery Sauvignon Blanc 2013.
Tickets remain for the event, which usually runs about two hours and includes snacks in addition to the wines.