Entries pour into State Fair wine contest

By CHRIS SHERMAN

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 21, 2001

The Florida State Fair wine competition drew a record 824 entries this year, and 15 judges needed most of three days to pick the best.

Wines came from six countries and 13 states, including well-known labels from California, Washington and Oregon as well as lesser-known wines from Michigan to Florida.

Most were made from grapes of the noble varieties, but some used grapes from hybrids to native muscadines, and a few were based on fruits from peaches to Surinam cherries.

In the competition hosted by the Florida Grape Growers Association, judges gave Best of Show ribbons in four categories:

WHITE: 1999 Chardonnay, La Crema, California.

RED: 1998 100-Year-Old Vine Zinfandel, Cedolini Family Vineyard, De Rose Vineyards, California.

DESSERT: 1999 Vidal Icewine, Pelee Island Winery, Ontario.

SPARKLING: Blanc de noirs, Gloria Ferrer, California, and Golden Spumante, Goose Watch, New York.

Among home-grown wines, judges honored the following as Best of Show from Florida:

WHITE: 1999 Blanc du Bois, Lakespring, Clermont.

RED: Vintner's Red, San Sebastian Winery, St. Augustine.

DESSERT: Florida Carlos Sweet White Wine, Three Oaks, Vernon.

SPARKLING: 1999 Crescendo, Lakeridge, Clermont.

A complete list of medal winners is posted at the organization's Web site, http://www.fgga.org.

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