September 4, 2013

The Missouri Wine and Grape board has selected the 2013 Best of Class honorees from local wine makers, including the 2013 Missouri Governor's Cup which was awarded to Stone Hill Winery for their 2011 Estate Bottled Norton. Stone Hill's 2011 Estate Bottled Norton also won the C.V. Riley Award and the Best of Class award for a Dry Red Wine. This is the first Missouri wine to have won the Governor's Cup, C.V. Riley and Best of Class awards in the same year.

"This competition truly showcases the top wines in Missouri," said Jim Anderson, Executive Director of the Missouri Wine and Grape Board. "This year, more wines were entered than ever before, which is a direct reflection of the quality of wines Missouri is producing."

The Missouri Wine Competition is a premier competition designed to recognize and promote quality wines made in the state. The Governor's Cup recognizes the best wine in Missouri and was determined by a panel of nine judges from across the U.S and one industry judge. During the course of the two-day competition, which wrapped up July 24, the judges tasted 306 wines before awarding the Governor's Cup and C.V. Riley honors to Stone Hill Winery.

Stone Hill Winery was established in 1847 and is the oldest winery in Missouri. Stone Hill boxed its two millionth case of wine this year. The winery, located in Hermann, has received many awards, including multiple past Governor's Cup awards.

Norton is a Native American grape and Missouri's premier red varietal. Norton grapes produce a rich, spicy, full-bodied red wine.

"It's a great honor to win the C.V. Riley and Governor's Cup awards," said Jon Held, Owner of Stone Hill Winery. "What makes it especially sweet is that we won the first ever C.V. Riley award, and now we are the first to win both for the same wine."

The C.V. Riley Award is for Best Norton, the official state grape of Missouri. The award is named in honor of C.V. Riley, Missouri's first state appointed entomologist who is credited with salvaging the French wine industry with his discovery of the state's Phylloxera resistant rootstock.

The Governor's Cup winner was selected from the 10 Best of Class honorees:

Sparkling: Noboleis Vineyards, Noblevescent Dry White: Montelle Winery, 2012 Chardonel Semi-Dry White: Adam Puchta Winery, Traminette Sweet White: Blumenhof Vineyards, 2012 Valvin Muscat Dry Red: Stone Hill Winery, 2011 Estate Bottled Norton Semi-Dry Red: Stone Hill Winery, 2012 Steinberg Red Sweet Red: Pirtle Winery, Mellow Red Fruit Wine: Ladoga Ridge Winery, Peach Late Harvest/Icewine: Montelle Winery, 2012 Vidal Icewine Distilled Product: Montelle Winery, Peach Brandy

Judges determined the awards through a series of blind tastings. Throughout the course of the competition, they granted 39 gold medals, 102 silver medals and 103 bronze medals. Thirty-seven Missouri wineries participated in this year's competition.

A complete list of winners is posted online at missouriwine.org, and for more information on the Missouri Department of Agriculture and its programs, visit mda.mo.gov.