The Indy International Wine Competition is one of the largest and most prestigious competitions in the country, and when the winners were announced at the Indiana State Fairgrounds on August 1st, The Ridge Winery of Switzerland County was once again called to the medals platform.
The Ridge Winery, owned and operated by Tom and Mary Jane Demaree of near Moorefield, earned three medals in this year’s competition. There were more than 3,300 wines from 17 countries at this year’s Indy International Wine Competition, with more than 70 judges reviewed about 120 different wines each day, during the three-day competition.
Judges review wines back on appearance, aroma, taste, and aftertaste; and following the judging each wine is awarded a gold, silver, or bronze medal - or judges can decide not to award a medal at all.
The very best of the best wines are awarded “Concordance Gold” medals by the judges, and this year The Ridge Winery’s “Wild Cherry Wine” earned that prestigious honor.
Out of all of the wines entered into the competition, the judges chose to only award 116 Concordance Gold medals; with only seven of those going to wines produced in Indiana – so The Ridge Winery’s achievement ranks its Wild Cherry Wine as one of the best produced in the entire state.
The Ridge Winery also finished third in its category for the Governor’s Trophy, which judges wineries on their overall quality of all wines entered into the competition.
The Ridge Winery earned a silver medal for its “Country Red” wine in the Concord Division; and also earned a bronze medal for its “Sweet Harvest” wine in the Niagara Division.
With its honors in hand from the international competition, The Ridge Winery will again be a part of the wine tasting pavilion at this year’s Swiss Wine Festival, which this year is expected to feature 12 Indiana wineries.