The Petoskey Wine Region is proud to announce the winners of its highly anticipated annual wine competition, held on May 17th, 2024. This year’s event celebrated the remarkable craftsmanship of our local wineries, awarding a total of 66 medals, including 5 Bronze, 32 Silver, 20 Gold, seven prestigious Best of Class awards, and two Overall awards.
Highlighting the competition, Boyne Valley Vineyards earned the coveted Best of Class Sweet Red for their exquisite Foxhole Red. It also took home the prestigious Best Wine of the Competition award. The Cellars of Royal Farms were also awarded the Petoskey Wine Region Winery of the Year award amongst their best-of-class awards. This recognition underscores the exceptional quality and dedication of the winemakers in the Petoskey Wine Region.
The Best of Class awards were distributed as follows:
- Best of Class Sweet Red: Foxhole Red by Boyne Valley Vineyards (also Best Wine of the Competition)
- Best of Class Rosé: 2023 Estate Marquette Rosé by Rudbeckia Winery
- Best of Class Dry White: La Crescent by Cellar 1914
- Best of Class Dry Red: Homeschool by Cellar 1914
- Best of Class Sweet White: 2019 Select Harvest La Crescent by Mackinaw Trail Winery
- Best of Class Hard Cider: Hard Red by The Cellars of Royal Farms (also named Petoskey Wine Region Winery of the Year)
- Best of Class Other Category: Maple Blackberry by Maple Moon Sugarbush Winery
Jessica Youngblood, Owner of Youngblood Vineyard and a judge of the competition stated, “The Tip of the Mitt AVA is one of the newest official grape-growing regions in the United States. The unique cold climate grapes that primarily grow there have been spreading across the Midwest for many years and represent the future of wine. Of course, the only thing that really matters is whether or not they make great wine. As a wine judge at this recent competition, I can emphatically say the wine quality was amazing. I would tell any wine consumer not to overlook wine varieties you may not find in a big box store. Spread your wings and try something different and authentically Michigan. You won’t be sorry!”
Gordon Wenk, retired Executive Director of MDARD and judge of the competition, stated, “It was a privilege serving alongside a distinguished panel of judges at the Petoskey region wine competition. I was personally impressed by the outstanding quality of wines produced by the region’s obviously talented winemakers. I encourage everyone who visits the Petoskey region to explore and enjoy the region’s fantastic wines.”
The Petoskey Wine Region remains committed to fostering a spirit of excellence and community among its members. As we look to the future, we are excited to continue hosting this competition, providing a platform for our wineries to showcase their best offerings and gain well-deserved recognition. If you haven’t visited our esteemed wine region, we encourage you to plan a tour or attend one of our annual events! Explore how using our Wine Passport can save you in tasting fees as you hop from each of our 15 wineries; it never expires!
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