The 2018 Ohio Wine Competition held in early May in Geneva-on-the-Lake bestowed its “Best of Show” award to a non-vintage Riesling produced by Maize Valley Winery.
“This is great news for us,” Maize Valley Winery winemaker Todd Vaughn, a member of the family that operates the Hartville, Ohio winery, told TheWineBuzz magazine after learning of the award. “Being a rural winery, this gives us something to talk about, something to hang our hat on for the whole year.”
Ferrante Winery & Ristorante was the only winery to earn two best-in-category awards, for best white wine (2017 Signature Series Pinot Grigio, Grand River Valley) and best dessert wine (2016 Vidal Blanc Ice Wine, Grand River Valley).
Fulton Grove Winery captured top honors for “Best Red Wine” for its 2015 Syrah; Vinoklet Winery, Restaurant, & Vineyard captured the top prize for “Fruit/Specialty Wines” for its “Sweet Jackie” Blackberry wine; and Meier’s Wine Cellars earned top honors in the Sparkling Wine category for its Reiem Spumante. In the Blush/Rosé category, Doughty Glen Winery snagged the top ranking for its non-vintage Laughing Blush.
The competition drew 285 entries of wines bottled and produced by Ohio-based wineries. Sixteen were awarded concordance-gold medals, meaning that all judges on a four-person panel designated that wine as a gold-medal winner. There were 27 other gold medals, 93 silver and 83 bronze medals awarded.
Also in May, Ohio Agriculture Director David T. Daniels announced the winners of the Director’s Choice wine awards at an event held at the Ohio Statehouse for retailers, distributors, restaurateurs and winery owners. About 20 Ohio wines were evaluated by a panel of judges on behalf of the agriculture director.
The 2018 award recipients were: Best White Wine, 2016 Riesling Reserve from Debonné Vineyards; Best Red Wine, 2015 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon from
Meranda-Nixon Winery and 2014 Vin de Rouge from Henke Winery (tie); Best Dessert Wine, 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Ice Wine from Kosicek Vineyards.
