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June 25, 2008
San Francisco, California
Missouri winery Westphalia Vineyards wins a coveted Silver Medal at San Francisco International Wine Competition
The San Francisco International Wine Competition, the largest, most influential international wine competition in America, is judged by a prestigious panel of 45 nationally recognized wine experts. Judging is based on a blind, consensual procedure, ensuring that its rigor and integrity remain the nation’s most respected competition.
Westphalia Vineyards is one of only three Missouri wineries to medal in the entire competition (also medaling: Stone Hill, St. James). Over 1,150 wineries from 21 countries entered the competition. Westphalia Vineyards competed against Californian, French, Spanish, Italian, Australian, South American, and other internationally renowned wine regions in the Cabernet Franc category. It is the only 2007 Cabernet Franc vintage to medal. At $14 retail is the also the least expensive Cabernet Franc that medaled, with some wines retailing for as high as $96 in this category. Cabernet Franc is a smooth red wine, very popular in Bordeaux, France. |
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Westphalia Vineyards founder Terry Neuner, on this impressive recognition:
“We entered our 2007 Cabernet Franc only a few weeks after bottling. We expect it to be an outstanding wine, and thought it had a chance to compete with the big boys. The fact that we add no sulfites, ferment and age in only Missouri white oak barrels, and really try to make our wines in a European style certainly helps in making fresh and vigorous wines that are ready to drink almost immediately. Still, we are pleasantly surprised by the results.”
Click here to see who judged the 2008 SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL WINE COMPETITION |
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Westphalia Vineyards Announces 2007 Releases
We are proud to offer seven wines this year, all meticulously handcrafted and adding no sulfites to ensure fresh, vigorous wines. |
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2007 Norton Reserve––Due to a very small harvest caused by last year's devastating late frost, we will release only 100 cases for 2007. However, we expect this to rival our gold-medal winning 2006 Norton. This is a complex wine fermented and aged in Missouri oak barrels for 6 months.
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2007 Cabernet Franc––Learning from our first Cabernet Franc experience last year, we anticipate this to be an exceptional wine, well balanced and with big berry tones. Cabernet Franc is a smooth red wine and is very popular in Bordeaux, France.
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2007 Maries River Red––Our sweet table red is oak aged to impart a vanilla flavor. This year's MRR also has a hint of blackberry and cherry.
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2007 Prodigal Son––A delicious Norton/Cabernet Franc blend, taking the best characteristics of both wines. Like the biblical parable, this wine has thrown itself on the mercy of the father (our winemaker and Dad, Terry), who rather than asking repentance celebrates its membership in our family of wines. Suggested pairing: a fatted calf.
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2007 Riesling Sweet––Our first efforts at this noble varietal, our Riesling is indicative of our German heritage. True to the varietal, it has a flowery bouquet and lush peach and apple flavors.
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2007 Riesling Semidry––Similar to our sweet Riesling, but fermented to 1.5% residual sugar. A delicious counterpart to our family of Rieslings, for those who like a drier white.
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2007 Anna Rosé––A Riesling-based Rosé, sure to be a conversation piece.
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Recent Testimonial
"OK, after the fight with UPS I just had to see if the prize was worth it so I cracked open a bottle of the Westphalia Vineyards 2006 Norton Reserve. Oh what a treat (and no, I am not letting its origins cloud my judgment... come taste it for yourself). For those not familiar with the Norton grape (another American varietal, this time red), this wine makes me think that a Zinfandel and a Syrah had a child. The color is a beautiful deep purply-red and produces firm, thick legs in my Riedel. The nose delivers peppery spicy goodness complementing the currant and berry fruits which are transported into the mouth along with a hint of vanilla (interesting note, Westphalia uses Missouri Oak for its barrels making Westphalia Vineyards the closest I can do in "buying Missouri") where we have the flavors mixed with balanced tannins and acid and providing a medium-long finish. The mouthfeel is interesting... it starts off a little soft but firms up the farther it goes through its finish. The juicy fruit makes me smack my lips after each taste and for some reason I cannot stop "sniffing" the wine (it's triggering something from my childhood but I cannot quite tell what it is).
This is a fabulous wine. I wish I had a nice juicy grill-seared steak (I can definitely see this as an alternative to the typical Zinfandel served at cookouts). This is a pretty big wine, drinkable now but should be able to keep a few more years. If you like Zins and Syrahs this wine from a young winery definitely deserves a checking out."
Mike P.
San Diego, CA |
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