Briar Valley, Cherry Valley garner Best of Show awards at 2010 Farm Show judging

Results are in from the 2010 Farm Show. Here's a list of the top winners off the state Wine & Wineries Web site, and a link to the list if you want to check out the wines receiving silver and bronze medals.

Gold Medals and "Best ofs"

Best of Show- Grape, Best Vinifera; Gold: Briar Valley Vineyards & Winery -- 2008 Gewürztraminer

Best of Show - Fruit: Cherry Valley Vineyard -- 2009 Raspberry Wine

Best Hybrid: Presque Isle Wine Cellars -- 2008 Vignoles

Best Dessert: Greendance Winery -- 2008 Late Harvest Vidal Blanc

Best Sparkling: Pinnacle Ridge Winery -- NV Blanc de Blanc

Best American: Allegheny Cellars Winery -- NV Big Bend Blush

Golds

Arrowhead Wine Cellars: Dry Riesling

Arrowhead Wine Cellars: Vignoles

Benignas Creek: 2007 Chambourcin

Briar Valley Vineyards & Winery: 2008 Riesling

Chaddsford Winery: 2007 Pinot Noir

Clover Hill: Vignoles

Franklin Hill: 2008 Apple

Manatawny Creek Winery: 2007 Merlot

Mazza Vineyards: 2009 Riesling

Naylor Wine Cellars, Inc: Topaz

Naylor Wine Cellars, Inc: Essence

Nissley Vineyards: 2008 Chambourcin

Nissley Vineyards: 2008 Fantasy

Pinnacle Ridge Winery: 2007 Veritas

Presque Isle Wine Cellars: 2008 Sauvignon Blanc

Rose Bank Winery: 2008 Vidal Blanc

Seven Mountains Wine Cellar: 2008 Traminette

Vynecrest Winery: 2008 Cherry Divyne

Waltz Vineyards Estate Winery: 2008 Baron Steigel Rose

Terrapin virtual tasting set up for Jan. 28

Couple of note from Terrapin Station Winery in Cecil County, Md., near Elkton. They have scheduled a wine dinner at Agro Dolca restaurant at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 20. Cost is $55 per person. It's a five-course Prix Fixe menu paired with five wines from Terrapin Station. For details, go to the Terrapin Web site.

Have written on several occasions about the plans for a virtual tasting, the first that I'm aware of in this region. It has been scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 28. And I'll steal the remainder of the commentary from the winery's latest e-letter.

"So what's a virtual wine tasting? Glad you asked!

Since our fans are located all over the state, we decided to steal an idea that Morris experienced once to enable people to try wines and talk about them online. This is how it will work:

1. You acquire the wine for the tasting at your local retail store so that you can taste along with the event. A complete listing of our stores can be found here. If your local store does not have the wine we plan to try, tell them to call us and we will make sure they have it for you. The wine we are tasting at this event will be our 2008 Cabernet Franc.

2. Before the tasting visit Talk Shoe. While it is not strictly necessary to set up a login account, it does make your experience better.

4. A few minutes before the show, login and join the show. During the show, we would taste and talk about a wine or wines while everyone online tried them along with us.

5. During the show you could ask or post questions or comments. If you use a telephone connection you will actually be able to speak and ask questions when the mic is open. Otherwise, you can always type your questions.

We ask in advance that you be patient as this is an experiment and frankly we'll be learning on the fly. A little genuine spontaneity isn't such a bad thing."

Wine Society to judge Sunday in Harrisburg

The Wine Society of Central Pennsylvania will hold its annual judging of Pennsylvania wines starting at 2:55 p.m Sunday at the Harrisburg Hilton. Cost is $35 per person for members and $45 for non-members.

Readers of this blog are familiar with Mark Chien and his insights into this state and its vineyards and wineries. Chien will be the guest speaker. Judges will pick a champion and runners-up from the following:

Allegro Bridge 2007
Allegro Cadenza 2007
Chaddsford Chambourcin 2007
Chaddsford Pinot Noir 2007
Galen Glenn Cabernet Franc 2007
Manatawny Creek Cabernet Franc 2007
Manatawny Creek Merlot 2007
Pinnacle Ridge Merlot 2007
Pinnacle Ridge Veritas 2007
Presque Isle Blaufrankish NV
Presque Isle Merlot 2007