2010 Grape and Gridiron Classic is History: Texas wines prevail
The Texas Department of Agriculture (www.gotexanwine.org) hosted the 2010 Grape and Gridiron Classic this monday evening at El Centro College Food & Hospitality Institute in Dallas, Texas. The background for this event that pitted a selection of Texas wines against wines from New York state were given on VintageTexas at:
https://vintagetexas.com/?p=2624
It was hard to lead the event and tweet tonight. Thankfully, I had help from many attendees who twittered and included the hashtag #GOTEXAN, while some used #TXwine and other #NYwine. The evening was fast paced and the tasting of the the top rated Texas and New York wine was fascinating since it is not often that an array of fine Texas and New York wines can be tasted side by side.
It was a full house of wine industry trade and media that evaluated the wines blind and chose the wines they preferred in each flight. The final score was 8 to 3 in favor of the Texas wines over the wines from New York. A summary of the results can be seen below from the scoring card from the 2010 Grape and Gridiron Classic.
Flight winners were:
Llano Estacado Unoaked Chardonnay 2009 (Texas)
Brennan Vineyard Viognier 2009 (Texas)
Dr. Konstantin Frank Semi-Dry Riesling 2009 (New York)
Haak Vineyards Blanc du Bois Semi-Dry 2010 (Texas)
McPherson Cellars Rose’ of Syrah 2009 (Texas)
Wagner Vineyards Cabernet Franc 2007 (New York)
Duchman Family Winery Dolcetto 2008 (Texas)
Lone Oak Winery Tempranillo Lost Draw Vineyards 2008 (Texas)
Inwood Estate Vineyards Magellan 2006 (Texas)
Dry Comal Creek Vineyards Black Spanish 2008 (Texas)
Wagner Vineyards Vidal Blanc Ice Wine 2008 (New York)
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Event participants voted the following wines the events MVP wines form Texas and New York:
McPherson Cellars Rose’ of Syrah 2009 (Texas)
Dr. Konstantin Frank Semi-Dry Riesling 2009 (New York)
— — — — —
Special Teams wines designated from Texas were:
Fall Creek Vineyards Meritus 2006
Homestead Winery la Bodega de Mitchell, Texas Cream Sherry (non-vintage/solera aged since 1973)
Driftwood Estate Winery Lone Star Cab 2006
Grape Creek Vineyards Viognier Lost Draw Vineyards 2009
Kiepersol Estate 2007 4You Merlot
Red Caboose Winery 2007 Tempranillo
I really wish I could have made it down for this like Jeff and I had planned. It would have been great to taste some of the best Texas juice. I hope to soon anyway!
I have to ask this — who picked the New York wines? It’s a little disappointing to see the relative quality of the NY entrants. Not that any of them are bad wines, but most are middle-of-the-road and the inclusion of things like Dr. Frank Merlot, but no merlot from Long Island (where it thrives) just seems odd. I’d love to hear how the wines were chosen and I’d like to offer my help should there ever be an opportunity to get some of NY’s best in your hands (and mouth).
I still prefer avoiding these emerging state vs. emerging state tastings though. The West Coast is the “enemy” (said lightly, not seriously) and we should stand together against them…not one another!