Stone Hill Winery, Hermann, took top honors at the 2017 Missouri Wine Competition held July 18-19 in Columbia.

Stone Hill Winery’s 2015 Norton won the prestigious Missouri Governor’s Cup, the highest honor awarded at the competition, and the C.V. Riley Best Norton and Best of Class Dry Red awards.

This is the third time Stone Hill Winery has brought home the trifecta win. The winery won the same three honors in 2013 and 2014, with its 2011 Estate Bottled Norton and 2012 Cross J Vineyard Norton.

The Missouri Wine Competition is the premier competition designed to recognize and promote high quality wines made in the state.

Judges awarded 26 gold medals, 117 silver medals and 112 bronze medals at this year’s wine competition. More gold and silver medals were awarded this year in comparison to last year.

“This competition truly showcases the top wines in Missouri,” said Jim Anderson, executive director of the Missouri Wine and Grape Board. “More than 250 medals were awarded at this year’s competition which is a direct reflection of the quality of wines Missouri is producing.”

The Missouri Governor’s Cup recognizes the best wine in the state and was determined by a panel of seven judges from across the U.S and one industry judge.

During the course of the two-day competition, the judges blind tasted 308 wines before awarding the Missouri Governor’s Cup to Stone Hill Winery’s 2015 Norton.

“What an awesome honor to be awarded the Missouri Governor’s Cup as well as the C.V. Riley Award again,” said Shaun Turnbull, a Stone Hill winemaker for the past 12 years. “It’s an amazing reward when all the hard work growing the grapes and making the wine is recognized like this.”

Turnbull acknowledged it takes a great team to make award-winning wine.

“As they say, great wine is made in the vineyard,” he said. “Nick Pehlé and the vineyard crew did a fantastic job taking care of the 2015 Norton crop. We really focus on balance, consistency and drinkability with our Norton, and I can confidently say that our track record speaks for itself. Achievements like these really motivate us even more to keep improving the quality of our wines.”

Stone Hill Winery, established in 1847, is the oldest and most awarded winery in Missouri. The winery boasts many awards over the years, including multiple past Missouri Governor’s Cup awards. Stone Hill Winery continues to rank among the nation’s top award winners.

Best of Class

The Missouri Governor’s Cup winner was selected from the nine Best of Class honorees:

• Dry White — Adam Puchta Winery Dry Vignoles.

• Semi-dry White — St. James Winery Friendship School White.

• Sweet White — Augusta Winery 2016 Vignoles Estate Bottled.

• Rosé — Stone Hill Winery Rosé Montaigne.

• Dry Red — Stone Hill Winery 2015 Norton.

• Sweet Red — Noboleis Vineyards 2015 Ridgeview.

• Fruit — Pirtle Winery Blackberry Mead.

• Dessert — Stone Hill Winery Cream Sherry.

• Late Harvest — Stone Hill Winery 2013 Late Harvest Vignoles.

The C.V. Riley Award is granted to the best Norton produced in the state of Missouri.

The award is named in honor of C.V. Riley, Missouri’s first state appointed entomologist who is credited with salvaging the French wine industry with his discovery of the state’s pest resistant rootstock.

Norton is a native American grape and Missouri’s premier red varietal, accounting for 20 percent of all grapes grown in the state. Norton, the state’s official grape, produces a rich, spicy, full-bodied red wine.

The winning wines will be on display at the 2017 Missouri State Fair from Aug. 10-20 in Sedalia. Many of the wines will be available to taste and purchase in the Missouri Wines Tent on the fairgrounds near the grandstand.

Read More at source: Emissourian