Nassau Valley strikes gold in 2013 California wine competition

Delaware’s premier award-winning winery, Nassau Valley Vineyards in Lewes, started off 2013 by striking gold, silver and bronze in 2013 international wine competitions.

“We are so very pleased with our talented winemaker’s passion for winemaking and his fine attention to detail when it comes to commercial production of our award-winning Nassau Valley varietals,” said NVV co-owners Peggy Raley-Ward and Suzette Hopkins. “This year’s award-winning wines add to over 160 others for Nassau Valley Vineyards celebrating 20 years of winemaking in Delaware, and over four dozen medals for our winemaker, Mike Reese.”

“We struck our first gold medals for this year at the 13th annual San Francisco International Wine Competition. The San Fran International is the most influential international wine competition in America, with a prestigious panel of 52 nationally recognized judges who tasted 4,539 wines from 1,400 wineries in 30 countries and 29 states,” said Raley-Ward. “All wines are judged on a blind, consensual procedure, ensuring competitive integrity, and we are pleased to announce that Cape Rosé and Laurel’s Red were awarded gold medals, while Nassau Valley Vineyards' Peach Ambrosia brought home bronze to the first farm winery in the First State.”

In Santa Rosa, Calif., the 37th Annual International Eastern Wine Competition and Riesling Championship judged more than 1,150 wines that were entered in this year’s competition. Although the spotlight of this competition is generally on wines from the Eastern and Midwestern regions of the United States and Eastern Canada, this year, the competition was opened up to all international wine-producing regions.

At this year’s IEWC, Nassau Valley Vineyards’ Cape Rosé, Meadows Edge and Indian River Red won silver medals; NVV’s True Blue Blueberry was awarded a bronze medal at this year’s IEWC competition.

“This year’s 2013 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition broke a lot of records, with 3,505 wines judged by 70 pros from around the world. Participation in this year’s competition included wines form all 50 U.S. states, 20 countries and four Canadian provinces. Nassau Valley Vineyards recently received confirmation that Cape Rosé and Meadows Edge won silver medals, while our 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, Delaware White and Laurel’s Red wine won bronze,” said Mike Reese, NVV winemaker.

Next month in conjunction with the winery’s 20th anniversary year, Reese, Raley-Ward and Hopkins will release the winery’s first Naked Chardonnay. Wine enthusiasts are invited to taste Nassau Valley Vineyards wines from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m., Sunday.  Nassau Valley Vineyards is at 32165 Winery Way in Lewes and is open year round for tours and tastings. For more information, visit www.nassauvalley.com or call the winery at 302-645-9463.