Baltimore, MD- Big Cork Vineyards’ 2014 Chardonnay was awarded the “Best in Show” award at the 2015 Winemasters Choice Competition, held in Timonium on May 19, 2015, Maryland Wineries Association Executive Director Kevin Atticks announced today. In addition, nine wines from across the state were named “Best in Class” in their respective categories.
Dave Collins, the vitner at Big Cork Vineyards (BCV) said, “Having won best in show and 4 gold medals it is truly a testimony to our hard work we are doing in Washington County.”
BCV, nestled in Maryland’s Pleasant Valley, is home to 13 different varietals that span over 24 acres of land. The vineyard, owned by Randy Thompson, brought in Collins who had established a winemaking career in Virginia.
“Although I am happy about our whites I am also very excited about our upcoming reds this summer and fall we have been holding of on them until the right time,” says Collins.
In January BCV completed construction on their new tasting room, where guests can sample the wines that BCV has to offer and enjoy delicious food, all while taking in a breathtaking view of the winery. The vineyard works hard to keep everything local, including 90% of their menu offerings that are sourced from local produce and are served along side of BCV favorites like the 2014 Governor’s Cup Competition gold medal winning Russian Kiss.
2015 “Best in Class” Winners are:
BEST WHITE: Big Cork Vineyards •Washington County• Chardonnay 2014
BEST WHITE BLEND: Old Westminster Winery •Carroll County• Greenstone 2014
BEST ROSÉ: Boordy Vineyards • Baltimore County• Dry Rosé 2014
BEST OFF-DRY: Turkey Point Vineyard •Cecil County• Vidal Blanc 2014
BEST RED: Catoctin Breeze Vineyard •Frederick County• Adagio 2013
BEST DESSERT: Linganore Winecellars •Frederick County• Indulgence 2012
BEST CIDER: Great Shoals Winery •Montgomery County• Hard Pear Draft 2014
BEST FRUIT: Linganore Winecellars •Frederick County• Blackberry
BEST MEAD: Orchid Cellar Meadery and Winery • Frederick County• Cobbler
The annual Winemasters Choice Competition is directed by Al Spoler, host of WYPR’s Cellar Notes, and brings together wine makers from across the state for the opportunity to taste and evaluate each other’s wine. The competition is blind– judges only know the composition of the wine, not the label, price, intended market or any other details. Panels of five judges are given a flight of wine spanning a single category, and then are asked to evaluate the wines within the category.
For more information, please visit marylandwine.com.