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RALEIGH, NC – In a time when many industries are struggling to survive, the 10th Annual North Carolina State Fair Wine Competition proves that even the economic downturn cannot thwart the efforts of North Carolina’s winegrowers. In fact, this year showed a remarkable increase in participation, with 416 wines submitted by North Carolina’s commercial wineries, along with 116 wines entered by amateur winemakers.
Gaining top honors at this year’s competition was Childress Vineyards, receiving the N.C. Winegrowers Cup and Best of Show honors for their 2006 Cabernet Franc. The winery, based in Lexington, NC, received 23 total medals for their 2009 submissions. Other than the 2006 Cabernet Franc, the 2007 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon won Double-Gold, while Gold medals were awarded to the 2006 Reserve Merlot and the 2006 Signature Meritage.
“This year’s competition was our largest ever, with 45 of the state’s 90 wineries entering their wines,” stated Margo Knight Metzger, NC Wine and Grape Council Executive Director.“Many returning judges commented about the marked improvement in the quality and consistency of our wines over the past several years. The number of NC wineries has quadrupled since 2001, and there is no sign of a slow-down. I fully expect that we will have 100 wineries by the end of the decade.”
“It is an honor to receive this prestigious award for the second year in a row,” Childress Vineyards Winemaker Mark Friszolowski added. “The North Carolina wine industry is growing by leaps and bounds, and Childress Vineyards is proud to be in the company of so many commendable wineries.”
To see a complete list of N.C. State Fair Wine Competition honorees, visit The North Carolina Department of Commerce website at www.nccommerce.com/wine.
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