Press Release – Thursday 04/13/17 8:00pm

Monticello Cup Winners Announced at Thursday Awards Ceremony Contact: Sarah Craun, Wine Trail [email protected] / 434-806-6991

The Monticello Cup Awards ceremony was held on Thursday, April 13, 2017 at the Jefferson Theater to celebrate the winning wines of the Monticello Cup, the competition of over 30 wineries from the Monticello American Viticultural Area (AVA). All wines were made with at least 85% fruit from vineyards in the Monticello AVA and also from wineries located within the AVA.

There were 14 gold (including the Top 3 Red, Top 3 White, and the overall Monticello Cup winner), 30 silver, and 15 bronze medals.

The Monticello Cup was presented to Cardinal Point Winery for their 2014 Union.

“We are honored to have our wine selected among so many outstanding wines produced in the Monticello AVA. This region is truly remarkable in both the quality of its terroir and depth of winemaking talent. We especially want to thank our awesome staff and invaluable vineyard crew, who make our jobs easier, and all of our wines possible,” said Cardinal Point Winery business manager Sarah Gorman.

The other two reds in the Top 3 Red category were Michael Shaps Wineworks’ 2014 Meritage, and Pollak Vineyards’ 2014 Reserve. The Top 3 Whites were First Colony Winery’s 2015 , Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards’ 2015 Reserve, and Stinson Vineyards’ 2014 Petit Manseng.

The judging was organized and coordinated by Matthew Brown CSW, WSET Advanced, and the judges were: Jay Youmans, MW, owner of Capital Wine School and Rock Creek Wine Merchants, and competition coordinator for the Governor’s Cup; Erin Scala – sommelier at Fleurie; Neal Wavra – sommelier, consultant and owner of Field & Main restaurant; Lindsey Parris, DipWSET, MW candidate, WSET Diploma course instructor, and frequent judge for the Virginia Governor’s Cup; Frank Morgan – wine writer and blogger; Chris Parker – New Horizon Wines; Dave Mcintyre – wine writer for the Washington Post; Swati Bose – Owner Flight Wine Bar; and Nick Stengel – DipWSET and MW candidate.

Frank Morgan of Drink What You Like – A Wine Blog was the evening’s host and introduced the presenter for the Monticello Cup, Megan Seibel.

“'I'm honored to be part of the 2017 Monticello Cup Awards that recognize local winemakers and their world-class wines. The history, viticultural diversity, wines, and people make the Monticello region one of the most exciting wine regions in the U.S.,” remarked Morgan.

Seibel currently serves as the Assistant Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, a role that enables her to promote two of the Commonwealth's largest private industries while addressing industry and community leadership.

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Monticello Wine Trail 2017 Monticello Cup Wine Competition Results

Medal Winery Name Vintage Wine GOLD Cardinal Point Vineyard 2014 Un-ion GOLD First Colony Winery 2015 Viognier GOLD Jefferson Vineyards 2015 Estate Reserve GOLD Jefferson Vineyards 2014 Meritage GOLD Keswick Vineyards 2014 GOLD Michael Shaps Wineworks 2015 Petit Manseng GOLD Michael Shaps Wineworks 2014 Cabernet Franc GOLD Michael Shaps Wineworks 2014 Meritage GOLD Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards 2015 Chardonnay Reserve GOLD Pollak Vineyards 2014 Petit Verdot GOLD Pollak Vineyards 2014 Cabernet Franc Reserve GOLD Stinson Vineyards 2014 Petit Manseng GOLD 2014 New World Reserve GOLD Veritas Vineyard & Winery 2015 Viognier SILVER Afton Mountain Vineyards 2016 Albarino SILVER Afton Mountain Vineyards 2013 Petit Verdot SILVER 2014 Octagon SILVER Barboursville Vineyards 2014 Cab Franc Reserve SILVER Barboursville Vineyards 2014 Petit Verdot Reserve SILVER Cardinal Point Vineyard 2015 A6 SILVER Chestnut Oak Vineyard 2014 Petit Manseng SILVER Chestnut Oak Vineyard 2014 SILVER Delfosse Vineyards 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon SILVER First Colony Winery 2015 Chardonnay Estate Reserve SILVER First Colony Winery 2016 Rose SILVER Flying Fox Vineyard 2014 SILVER Flying Fox Vineyard 2014 Petit Verdot SILVER Flying Fox Vineyard 2014 Trio SILVER Grace Estate Winery 2013 ODO SILVER Keswick Vineyards 2015 Viognier SILVER Keswick Vineyards 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon SILVER King Family Vineyards 2015 Viognier SILVER King Family Vineyards 2012 Meritage SILVER King Family Vineyards 2014 Petit Verdot SILVER Pippin Hill Farm 2015 SILVER Pippin Hill Farm 2014 Petit Verdot

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SILVER Pollak Vineyards 2014 Meritage SILVER Reynard Florence 2015 Chardonnay SILVER Stinson Vineyards 2015 Sauvignon Blanc SILVER Stinson Vineyards 2013 SILVER Trump Winery 2010 Blanc de Blanc SILVER Trump Winery 2009 Reserve SILVER Veritas Vineyard & Winery 2014 VR Vintner's Reserve SILVER Veritas Vineyard & Winery 2014 Petit Verdot (Paul Shaffer) BRONZE Afton Mountain Vineyards 2014 Festa di Bacco BRONZE Cardinal Point Vineyard 2015 Cab Franc + Vio BRONZE Delfosse Vineyards 2015 Viognier BRONZE Glass House Winery 2015 Viognier BRONZE Glass House Winery 2014 Barbera BRONZE Glass House Winery 2014 Barbera Audace BRONZE Grace Estate Winery 2015 Le Gras Cuve BRONZE Jefferson Vineyards 2012 Estate Reserve BRONZE Kilaurwen Winery 2014 Cabernet Franc BRONZE Reynard Florence Vineyard 2015 Merlot BRONZE Reynard Florence Vineyard 2014 Petit Verdot BRONZE Stone Mountain Vineyards 2015 Chardonnay Reserve BRONZE Stone Mountain Vineyards NV Twelve Barrels Meritage BRONZE White Hall Vineyards 2015 Chardonnay BRONZE Wisdom Oak Winery 2014 Rose Reserve "Rosewood"

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