Geneva, Ohio’s Ferrante Winery earned a significant honor when its Grand River Valley Vidal Blanc Ice Wine was named a Sweepstake Winner for the Dessert/Specialty wine category at the 14th Annual San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition earlier this month.
The Sweepstakes Winner title was awarded to only seven wines out of over 5,000 entries and was a unanimous vote by all 65 judges in the competition.
“It is a huge honor to be recognized for winning the Sweepstake award for our Vidal Blanc Ice wine,” Ferrante’s winemaker, Nick Ferrante, said. “The bitterly cold winters that Ohio is commonly known for aren’t as bitter when you can produce an ice wine that is cherished and enjoyed by so many people.”
The award is a notable feather in the winery’s cap. According to winejudging.com, the home of the contest, the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition is the largest competition of American wines in the world.
The 2014 competition featured a record 5,825 entries from 25 states.
This year, judges from across the country gathered in Sonoma County to evaluate particular varietals in a range of specific retail price points.
To encourage a collaborative experience, judges are brought in from all areas of the wine industry including experts in the media, restaurant and hospitality, education, winemaking and retail outlets.
Ferrante’s 2012 Grand River Valley Vidal Blanc Ice Wine is priced at $28.99 per bottle.
Pictured above: Nick Ferrante at the 14th Annual San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Below, (L-R) Nick Ferrante with his award-winning wine and a shot from the competition . Photos courtesy of Nick Ferrante.
