By Christopher Matthews

Following up on its stellar performance at the 2016 Hudson Valley Wine & Spirits Competition, where it swept most of the top awards, Fjord Vineyards, located in Marlboro, NY, recently won the “Best Cabernet Franc” at the 2017 New York Wine and Food Classic, which is considered the “Oscars” of New York State’s wine industry (click here for full results).

Fjord’s 2015 Cabernet Franc (Hudson River Region) scored a Double Gold at this year’s Classic, and beat out 11 other Gold and Double Gold winners in the Cab Franc category to take the “Best Cabernet Franc” of New York accolade.

Not only is this a win for Fjord; it’s also a victory for the Hudson River Region (HRR), where Cabernet Franc is widely considered the Valley’s signature red vinifera grape (owing to its winter hardiness, ability to ripen in a highly variable climate and compelling, cool-climate expressions).

Other  estimable HRR wineries also placed well with Cab Franc at the Classic, with Glorie Farm Winery (its 2015 Cabernet Franc) taking a Gold medal, and Benmarl Winery (2015 Cabernet Franc), Millbrook Vineyards and Winery (2014 Cabernet Franc Proprietor’s Special Reserve) and Whitecliff Vineyard (2015 Cabernet Franc) taking Silvers.

I look forward to judging these HRR Cab Franc wines – and others, too, of course! – at the upcoming 2017 Hudson Valley Wine & Spirits Competition on 9 September 2017 .

A toast to Hudson Valley Cab Franc!