Submitted Photo Pictured are the Double Gold or Best of Class Awards from the 2019 Finger Lakes Wine Competition.

Eight local wineries went up against over 650 competing wineries from all over the world and came away with a disproportionate share of the top honors.

There were over 2,800 wines entered in the 19th Finger Lakes International Wine Competition held on April 13 and 14 in Rochester. This event has become the largest charitable wine competition in North America, as each of the entries contributed over $50 to Camp Good Days and Special Times, a camp dedicated to bringing smiles and memories to children with cancer.  Of the 64 top honors awarded (Best of Class or Double Golds), 12 were won by the over 100 New York and Pennsylvania wineries entering the competition. Of those 12 Best of Class or Double Gold awards presented, four of them — or one third — were earned by Lake Erie Wine Country wineries!

In addition, the eight LEWC wineries who submitted wines to this competition also earned seven gold medals and multiple silver and bronze recognitions as follows. Complete results available at https://fliwc-cgd.com/winners-2019.asp.

Summary of Awards Earned by Lake Erie Wine Country Wineries:

21 Brix (Portland): Best of Class, Sparkling — 2017 Bruttella

Gold — Ella’s White Niagara

7 silver and bronze medals

Johnson Estate Winery (Westfield): Double Gold — 2017 Freelings Creek Semi-Dry Riesling

Gold — 2017 Freelings Creek Sweet Riesling

Gold — 2017 Maple Liqueur

Gold — 2017 Solstice Sangria

7 silver and bronze medals

Presque Isle Winery (North East, PA): Double Gold — Eskimo Kisses (dessert wine)

5 silver and bronze medals

Yori Cellars Winery (North East, PA): Double Gold — Famiglia (red wine)

12 silver and bronze medals

Arrowhead Wine Cellars (North East, PA)

Gold — “Midnight Proposal”

3 silver and bronze medals

Lakeview Wine Cellars (North East PA)

Gold — 2017 Traminette

4 silver and bronze medals

Liberty Vineyards & Winery (Sheridan, NY)

Gold — “Lucy in the Sky Sweet Rose”

5 silver and bronze medals

Heritage Wine Cellars (North East, PA)

10 silver and bronze medals

Lake Erie Wine Country (LEWC) is a marketing association of 23 wineries located along the shores of Lake Erie in western New York and Pennsylvania amidst 30,000 scenic acres of juice and wine grape vineyards. Additional information found on the LEWC website, www.LakeErieWineCountry.org.