Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the winners of the 37th Annual New York Wine Classic, a nationally recognized competition highlighting the best of New York’s wine industry. The competition’s 2023 Governor’s Cup was presented to Paumanok Vineyards 2019 Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc from Long Island. In addition, Paumanok Vineyards was also honored with the Winery of the Year award.
“The New York Wine Classic celebrates the very best of the state’s wine and grape industry, and highlights our incredible, locally grown wine selections,” Governor Hochul said. “Congratulations to Paumanok Vineyards on receiving this reputable award. The wine industry in the State of New York is a crucial part of our agricultural economy, and I am proud to support the innovation, growth and success of our local farmers and wineries.”
Organized by the New York Wine & Grape Foundation (NYWGF), the New York Wine Classic, celebrates a diverse selection of world-class wines made from producers in the State. The Governor’s Cup is the competition’s most esteemed award, recognizing the “Best of Show” in the New York Wine Classic, while the Winery of the Year award is presented to the winery with the best overall showing based on the level and number of awards in relation to entries.
For the third year, NYWGF partnered with the Beverage Testing Institute (BTI) to judge the competition. BTI’s trained panel includes beverage directors, sommeliers, top bartenders, retail buyers, and educators.
In addition to winning the Governor’s Cup and Winery of the Year, Paumanok Vineyards also won the following awards: 2019 Late Harvest, Sauvignon Blanc – 97, Platinum – 2019 Cabernet Franc – 93, Gold Medal – 2021 Barrel Fermented, Chardonnay – 93, Gold Medal – 2022 Dry Rosé – 93, Gold Medal – 2014 Tuthills Lane Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon – 93, Gold Medal – 2022 Semi Dry Riesling – 91, Gold Medal – 2019 Merlot – 89, Silver Medal
Samuel Filler, Executive Director of the New York Wine & Grape Foundation, said, “I look forward to this event every year as it is a great celebration of our industry and the all the fantastic wines being produced across the state from our own New York terroir.” Kareem Massoud, Winemaker, Paumanok Vineyards said, “We are thrilled and honored to receive both the 2023 Governor’s Cup and Winery of the Year Awards from the New York Wine Classic. This recognition means a lot to us. It validates our long-time dedication to producing high quality wines. We thank the New York Wine & Grape Foundation for this honor. Above all, we thank our entire hard-working team at Paumanok Vineyards for their commitment to producing outstanding, delicious wines. We congratulate all of our colleagues for their awards.”
These awards are especially significant for Paumanok Vineyards as, this summer, Long Island Wine Country celebrates its 50th Anniversary of producing premium New York wines with a sense of place. Those interested in visiting the region and celebrating its history can learn more here.
The New York Wine Classic “Best in Category” winners were also announced : Best White Wine: Boundary Breaks 2022 Gewurztraminer, Finger Lakes – Best Sparkling Wine : Jason’s Vineyard 2021 Bubbly Rosé, North Fork of Long Island – Best Red Wine : Keuka Spring Vineyards 2021 Blaufrankisch, Finger Lakes – est Dessert Wine: Paumanok Vineyards 2019 Late Harvest, Sauvignon Blanc, North Fork of Long Island – Best Pink Wine : Wölffer Estate Vineyard 2022 Estate Rosé, Long Island – Best Specialty Wine : Middleburgh Winery 2022 Blackberry Wine, Hudson River Region – “Best of Class” winners of the New York Wine Classic can be found here.
The New York Wine Classic included 749 entries from 108 wineries from across the state. A total of 10 Platinum, 320 Gold, 294 Silver, and 81 Bronze medals were awarded.
Since taking office, Governor Hochul has supported efforts to grow New York’s craft beverage industry and pave the way for unprecedented growth through regulatory reform and groundbreaking initiatives. Today, there are 496 licensed wineries across the State, including 394 farm wineries.
Photo Credit: Rinda Brendamour