Wine producers and wine purveyors in Cazenovia have a history of receiving recognition and awards for their high quality products — and the trend shows no signs of stopping. In recent weeks, Cazenovia’s only winery received three medals at the 2014 New York State Fair and two village restaurants were recognized by Wine Spectator magazine for the quality of their wine lists.
Even though the state fair has not opened its gates to the public yet, the judging of its various annual competitions already has begun. The fair announced in July — and Cazenovia’s Owera Vineyards announced last week via its Facebook page — that the winery has received three medals in this year’s commercial wine competition at the fair. Owera received a bronze medal for its 2012 Owahgena Red and 2012 Frontenac Gris, and a gold medal for its 2012 Chardonnay.
“Owera continues to make great wines and they are only getting better, thanks to our winemaker, Amy Heiderich!” said owner Nancy Muserlian.
The state fair medals are only the latest in a long list of medals and awards for Owera’s wines, the most recent of which were two silver medals for its 2012 Frontenac Gris and its 2012 Chardonnay at the 2014 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition in February. Owera now boasts more than one dozen medals and two dozen total awards for its products.
Also recognized by the 2014 state fair was Adirondack Distilling Company, of Utica, which has a weekly tent at the Cazenovia Farmers market, and which won double gold for its 1,000 Stills White Whiskey and silver for its ADK Adirondack Gin, also in the commercial wine competition.
Adirondack Distilling Company officials were unavailable for comment as of press time.
Also announced recently was the annual Wine Spectator magazine awards for restaurants that offer outstanding wine lists. That awards list included two Cazenovia village restaurants: The Brewster Inn and The Lincklaen House. The Brewster Inn received a “two glass” Best of Award of Excellence while the Lincklaen House received a “single glass” Award of Excellence.
The annual Wine Spectator ranking of dining venues with excellent wine list rates lists for depth and quality. This year, 3,748 restaurants around the world, representing all 50 states and 81 other countries and territories, earned Restaurant Awards, and thousands more entered the competition. Of the winning entries, 2,791 restaurants earned the program’s entry-level Award of Excellence, which recognizes a wine list of approximately 90 or more quality wine selections that thematically matches a restaurant’s cuisine. Another 883 restaurants earned the program’s mid-tier Best of Award of Excellence for offering a wine list of typically 350 or more selections with significant vintage depth or superior breadth in one or more major wine regions.
The Wine Spectator award winners are listed in the Aug. 31 issue, as well as on the magazine online Restaurant Search database at winespectator.com/restaurants.
Jason Emerson is editor of the Cazenovia Republican. He can be reached at editor@cazenoviarepiublican.
