Governor Andrew M. Cuomo congratulated the winners of the New York State Fair’s annual commercial wine competition. One of these winners was Woodbury Vineyards of Fredonia, which won Best Blush Wine for its Seaport Blush.

Awards were given to 330 commercial wines and spirits after judging that took place recently at the State Fairgrounds in Syracuse. Professional judges from throughout the East Coast judged 43 entries to have earned the highest designation, double gold. That number is nearly triple the 15 wines and spirits that earned double gold last year.

Twenty-five percent of entries this year earned either double gold or gold medal status, up from 15 percent last year.

“These results confirm what we have been hearing from wine enthusiasts everywhere: New York wines are among the very best, and they’re getting better every year,” Governor Cuomo said. “Our administration has been working alongside New York winemakers to support the continued growth of this industry, and we’ve already begun to see the results. I congratulate this year’s winners – businesses and vintners who support jobs and economic opportunities from Long Island to the Finger Lakes – and encourage all of our great winemakers to prepare for next year’s competition.”

Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards of Hector earned one of the top two honors, Best of Show, for its 2012 Solera Sherry, which won in the Best Dessert – Fortified category. Swedish Hill Winery earned the other major honor, Best Winery, as the company’s products won 19 awards, including five double golds.

The winners in the other categories are:

Best Fruit Wine: The Winery at Marjim Manor of Appleton for its Katapalooza

Best White Wine: Glenora Wine Cellars of Dundee for its 2013 Riesling

Best Spirits: Sherwood House Vineyards of Jamesport for its XO Brandy – Chardonnay

Best Mead: Earle Estates Meadery of Penn Yan for its Wort Hog Porky’s Pleasure Hard Cherry Cider

Best Dessert Wine – Non-Fortified: Glenora Wine Cellars for its Vidal Blanc Ice Wine

Best Sparkling Wine: Chateau Frank of Hammondsport for its 2008 Blanc de Blancs

Best Red Wine: Glenora Wine Cellars for its 2012 Meritage

Harvey Reissig, chairman of the competition, said, “In talking with our judges, they mentioned the overall outstanding quality of wines in this year’s competition. It’s not just one or two wineries. Many are making rapid growth and raising the benchmark for New York wines. And I’m pleased that our top winners reflect not only a diversity of types of wine but also come from diverse regions of the state.”

One hundred and fifty-five wines earned silver medals, while 91 earned bronze. The winners, along with those who won in the amateur winemaking competition, will be honored at a ceremony during the Great New York State Fair. Full results from the competition are available on the Fair’s competition results website, at www.nysfair.org/competitions/results.

Richard A. Ball, Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Markets, said, “We are constantly looking for more ways to highlight the great products of New York’s vineyards. The Fair is the state’s largest showcase for the high quality of its agriculture and we are determined to bring New Yorkers ever closer to the people who make their food and drink. It’s good for our health; it’s good for our economy, and, at the Fair, it’s fun! I encourage everyone who enjoys a glass of wine to visit the Fair and go home with new favorites.”

For more information about New York’s wine industry, visit www.taste.ny.gov.