Wollersheim Winery was awarded Best Wisconsin Wine for their 2010 Eagle White at the inaugural 2011 Wisconsin State Fair Professional Wine Competition in West Allis. The competition evaluated over 100 wines from 24 Wisconsin wineries.
“The wines were great” said Paul Gospodarczyk, lead judge. “They were not great by ‘Wisconsin’ standards or ‘Midwest’ standards, but legitimately good by any standard.”
Gospodarczyk, a Certified Sommelier, was one of three judges in the competition. He was accompanied by Thomas Payette who is a consulting winemaker based in Virginia and a columnist for Vineyard and Winery Management Magazine. The final team member was Sonoma vineyard owner Dr. Valery Uhl who is the Director for the ‘North of the Gate’ Wine Competition, CA, and an avid fan of the Midwest wine industry. She states:
“West Coast wineries beware! The Wisconsin State Fair Wine Competition not only has stunning wines but is one of the best run wine competitions I have ever had the pleasure of judging. The grape growers of Wisconsin know which cold hardy grape varietals grow well here and cultivate outstanding fruit, and the winemakers transform the fruit into high quality wines that pair well with food or are delicious on their own.”
The backroom coordinator for the event was Wisconsin native Becky Rochester who also works as the Grape Marketing Coordinator for the Wisconsin Grape Growers Association. She says, “The Wisconsin wine industry is booming. The state has over 70 wineries and there are quite a few who are in the process of opening up in the next year or two. This competition is the perfect addition to the current cheese, butter and meat competitions that the Wisconsin State Fair currently runs.”
For more information on award winning wines please visit www.wistatefair.com/pdfs/competitions/judging_results/Miscellaneous/Prof_Wine_by_Medal.pdf or attend the 2011 Wisconsin State Fair August 4-14th presented by US Cellular where the award-winning wines will be on display.
Contacts:
Brian Bolon, Agricultural Director
Wisconsin State Fair
414.266.7050
Brian.Bolon@wisconsin.gov
Becky Rochester, Wine Competition Coordinator
Wisconsin State Fair
503.428.6331
