Peconic Bay Winery Merlot Named Best in State; Winery Takes Multiple Gold Medals at New York Wine and Food Classic.

CUTCHOGUE, New York -- Long Island's Peconic Bay Winery won four medals, including best Merlot in New York State, at the New York Wine and Food Classic August 14 through 16 at the Inn on the Lake in Canandaigua. Every wine entered by Peconic Bay Winery earned a medal, including a double gold and Best in Class for the 2001 Merlot, a double gold for the winery's 2004 La Barrique Chardonnay, a silver medal for the recently released 2005 Riesling, and bronze medals for both the 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon and the 2004 Steel Fermented Chardonnay.

"We are particularly thrilled to have our Merlot recognized along with the terrific acknowledgement that our white wines have received to date," said Peconic Bay's owner, Paul Lowerre. "These medals highlight the great pains we have taken in the vineyards and in the cellar to ensure our wines meet the standards of New York City, one of the most demanding wine markets in the world."

The Wine and Food Classic is New York State's most prestigious wine competition, recognized by the wine industry and influential wine periodicals as the broadest, most representative index of the quality and styles of New York's expanding wine industry. It is organized by Teresa Knapp of the New York Wine & Grape Foundation, a nonprofit statewide trade association based at the New York Wine and Culinary Center in Canandaigua.

This year's event attracted the largest field in its 21-year history. More than 700 wines were submitted by 102 wineries from Long Island, the Hudson Valley, the Finger Lakes, Niagara Escarpment, Lake Erie, and other regions. (As measured by total wineries, New York's industry is the fourth largest in the United States, after California, Washington, and Oregon.) The 24 judges included prominent wine writers, restaurateurs, retailers, and wine educators; most came from out of state, including a large contingent from California.

Since its release, Peconic Bay Winery's 2001 Merlot has earned gold medals in nearly a dozen competitions, including a concordance (unanimous) gold at The L.A. County Fair and double gold at the highly respected Indy International Wine Competition (suggested retail price, $24). The winery's Chardonnays won Best in Class awards at the New York Wine and Food Classic in 2000 and 2004.

Peconic Bay Winery, located in New York on Long Island's North Fork, is owned by Ursula and Paul Lowerre. The estate winery sits on a turn-of-the-century farmstead on 50 acres in Cutchogue on Rt. 25, and is open for visitors seven days a week. The winery cultivates additional premium vinifera grape varietals on 150 acres on Oregon Rd., also in Cutchogue. Greg Gove is Winemaker and Charlie Hargrave is Vineyard Manager. Peconic Bay wines are distributed in New York by Frederick Wildman & Sons, and are available at fine wine shops throughout New York, as well as by contacting the winery at 631-734-7361 or online at www.peconicbaywinery.com.