JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Two wineries received top honors at the 2023 Missouri Governor’s Cup Wine Competition held July 12 and 13 in Columbia, Mo.
Stone Hill Winery’s 2020 Old Vine Reserve Norton earned the prestigious Missouri Governor’s Cup and the C.V. Riley Award for best Norton.
The new Husmann-Jaeger Award bestowed in honor of historic figures namesake George Husmann and Hermann Jaeger was given to St. James Winery’s 2022 Vignoles for best white varietal wine.
The Missouri Wine Competition is the premier competition designed to recognize and promote high quality wines made in the Show-Me state. Judges awarded 48 gold, 132 silver and 58 bronze medals at this year’s wine competition. Judges blind tasted 265 wines during the course of the two day competition.
“This competition exhibits Missouri’s top wines,” says Jim Anderson, Executive Director of the Missouri Wine and Grape Board. “More than 230 medals were awarded to wineries all over the state of Missouri.”
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.
Stone Hill Winery is located in Hermann, Missouri and has been producing wine for 176 years.
“It’s a great honor to be awarded the 2023 Governor’s Cup, C. V. Riley award and Best of Class Dry Red for our 2020 vintage Old Vine Reserve Norton,” says Owner and President, Jon Held. “This wine is extremely unique since it’s produced entirely from a pre-prohibition vineyard of Norton vines planted during the 1860’s. This tiny ¼ acre vineyard only yields two to three barrels of wine per year. This precious vineyard was the source of cutting wood for renewed plantings of Norton as the Missouri wine industry was restarting in the 1960’s. It is a special tribute to win with a wine from these old vines since we celebrated the 175th anniversary of Stone Hill Winery last year. As always, our success is due to all the members of our dedicated team whose efforts continue to produce stellar wines year after year.”
The C.V. Riley Award is bestowed upon 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 helping salvage the French wine industry with his discovery of the state’s pest resistant rootstock. Norton is the official Missouri state grape.
St. James Winery, located in St. James, Missouri, was awarded with the Husmann-Jaeger award. “We are honored to be recognized for the best white varietal in Missouri,” says Executive Winemaker, Andrew Meggitt. “Given the changes in our climate, our teams in the cellar and vineyard have been working hard to make adjustments to how we grow grapes and make wine. This award confirms that the changes we are making are increasing quality.”
The Husmann-Jaeger Award is presented to the best white varietal wine. The award is named after George Husmann and Hermann Jaeger. These two men were essential in the early development of the wine industry in Missouri. Additionally, Husmann and Jaeger contributed to the efforts to save the French wine country from Phylloxera. More information on this inaugural award can be found here.
The Missouri Governor’s Cup winner was selected from the 13 Best of Class honorees:
o Sparkling: Stone Hill Winery – Blanc de Blancs
o Dry White: St. James Winery – 2022 Vignoles
o Semi-Dry White: Jowler Creek Winery – 2022 Vignoles
o Sweet White: Stone Hill Winery – 2022 Vignoles
o Dry Red: Stone Hill Winery – 2020 Old Vine Reserve Norton
o Semi-Dry Red: Augusta Winery – 2019 Barrel Select Chambourcin Estate Bottled
o Sweet Red: Montelle Winery – Stone House Red
o Dry Rosé: Röbller Vineyard – St. Vincent Rosé
o Semi-Dry Rosé: St. James Winery – Friendship School Rosé
o Sweet Rosé: St. James Winery – Velvet Rosé
o Dessert: Adam Puchta Winery – 1855
o Late Harvest/Ice Wine: Stone Hill Winery – 2021 Late Harvest Vignoles
o Fruit: St. James Winery – Sparkling Blackberry
The winning wines will be on display at the 2023 Missouri State Fair from August 10-20 in Sedalia.
Local wineries:
Silver winners:
CAVE VINEYARD First Time Blush
CHAUMETTE VINEYARDS AND WINERY 2022 Unoaked Chardonel
Bronze winners:
CAVE VINEYARD Cave Rock Off Dry
Complete list of winners: