August 17, 2012
Stonehaus Farms Vineyard & Winery awarded 2012 Governor's Cup
The 2012 Missouri Governor's Cup top honors were awarded to Stonehaus Farms Vineyard & Winery for their Strother Ridge Vignoles. The presentation of the Governor's Cup culminated the 2012 Missouri Wine Competition, a premier competition designed to recognize and promote quality wines. The award recognizes the best wine in the state and was determined by a panel of eight national judges from across the U.S and one industry judge. During the course of the two-day competition, which wrapped up last week, the judges tasted 297 wines before awarding the Governor's Cup honors to Stonehaus.
"This competition showcases the top wines in Missouri," said Director of Agriculture Dr. Jon Hagler. "This year, more wines were entered and more medals were awarded than ever before, a direct reflection of the quality of the wines Missouri is producing."
Stonehaus Farms is located in Lee's Summit, just 20 minutes southeast of downtown Kansas City. The family owned winery opened in 1997 and provides a country setting where visitors can enjoy award-winning wines and a panoramic view of the vineyard and berry farm. Vingoles is one of Missouri's most versatile white grapes and can produce wines that range from dry to sweet.
Brett Euritt of Stonehaus was shocked when he learned that his 2011 Vignoles had won. "I had to read the email three times. Honestly," he said.
Euritt attributes the wine's success to the grape itself and to Stonehaus' grape grower, who he says is "phenomenal."
"A great wine comes from great fruit," he said. "You can't say the winemaker did it. There are lots of people who contributed to it. And they're all on their A-game."
Euritt also hopes this award will help put wineries on the west side of Missouri on the map. "It's a huge, huge deal for this side of the state and a huge deal for us," he said.
Judges also handed out the second annual C.V. Riley Award for Best Norton to Montelle Winery for their 2009 Norton. C.V. Riley was Missouri's first state appointed entomologist and is credited for salvaging the French wine industry with his Phylloxera resistant rootstock.
The Governor's Cup winner was selected from the 11 Best of Class honorees:
- Dry White: Augusta Winery 2010 Vignoles Estate
- Sweet White: Stonehaus Farms Vineyard & Winery Strother Ridge Vignoles
- Semi-Dry White: Noboleis Vineyards, 2011 Traminette
- Dry Red (tie): Montelle Winery 2009 Norton/ Stone Hill Winery Chambourcin 2010
- Semi-Dry Red: Windy Wine Company Good News Red
- Sweet Red: Adam Puchta Winery Riefenstahler
- Rose: Stone Hill Winery Pink Catawba
- Fruit Wine: Pirtle Winery Pirtle Raspberry Mead
- Late Harvest/Ice: Stone Hill Winery 2011 Late Harvest Vignoles
- Dessert/Fortified: Stone Hill Winery Cream Sherry
- Distilled Product: Montelle Winery Peach Eau de Vie
Judges determined the awards through the process of blind tastings. Throughout the course of the competition, they passed out 47 gold medals, 87 silver medals and 82 bronze medals. Thirty-eight Missouri wineries participated in this year's competition.
The winning wines will be on display throughout the 2012 Missouri State Fair, held in Sedalia Aug. 9-19. Many will also be available in the Missouri Wines tent on the fairgrounds.
A complete list of winners is posted online at missouriwine.org, and more information on the Missouri Department of Agriculture and its programs, is available at mda.mo.gov.