Yadkin Valley Wineries Sweep Top Awards

11/20/2008

     The winners of this year’s Mid-Atlantic Southeastern Wine Competition were released this week and Yadkin Valley Vintners swept the top awards. The competition, held each year in conjunction with the Dixie Classic fair, is open to all wineries across the mid-Atlantic and Southeastern states. According to Jim Collins, wine coordinator for the event, judging panels taste and score all wines blind within their respective categories and medals are awarded based on the cumulative scores of the judges. After the initial medal winners are determined all gold medal winners are once again tasted against one another by class to determine the Best in Class, and Best in Show Awards.”The judging was intense and difficult as wines from the East Coast continue to improve each year”, Collins lamented.
     Shelton Vineyards received both the Best White Wine and Best in Show Awards for its 2005 Family Reserve Chardonnay. This is the second consecutive year that a wine from Shelton has received the top award. Round Peak Vineyards 2007 Sangiovese was this year’s Best Red Wine and Shelton’s 2004 Yadkin Valley Port was named Best Dessert Wine. Desarosa Cellars 2007 Chocolate Raspberry Port took the Best In Show award in the amateur division.
     George Denka, President of Shelton Vineyards, said “we are always honored to receive recognition for our wines. I am most pleased that our 20 entries garnered a total of 22 awards in this year’s competition. Our vineyard team and wine maker, Murphy Moore, continue to raise the bar and produce wines of distinction right here in North Carolina. It is very gratifying that so many Yadkin Valley wineries showed well in this judging.”
     In all Yadkin Valley wineries received 119 (45%) of the 263medals awarded in the commercial wine competition. For a complete list of winning wines go to www.dcfair.com and click on fair winners.

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