Regional wines win big awards on the state level.

In terms of sheer quantity, Lake Erie Wine Country is impressive. Located in the largest grape-growing region east of the Rockies, the 50-mile long trail is home to more than 20 wineries in Pennsylvania and New York.

Its quality is impressive, too. Just about every year, several wineries on the trail take home a slew of awards.

For wineries, both big and small, awards matter. They serve as a stamp of approval and offer validation. They’re also helpful when wineries look to market and promote their products.

“When you submit a wine that you think is very good, and then it is validated by judges, absolutely, it feels very good,” says Jennifer Johnson, co-owner of Johnson Estate Winery, 8419 Route 20 West, Westfield, New York. Her winery has won several awards throughout the years.

“That’s something we take a lot of pride in. The award list is very accessible and we have it at the winery. We make sure that the award list is updated, and make sure the staff knows about it, so that when they’re talking with customers, they can mention it,” she said.

Johnson Estate has already had an impressive 2020 with regard to awards. The winery’s Pinot Noir earned a gold medal in the 2020 International Eastern Wine Competition. Then, just last month, the winery earned a double gold medal for its 2018 Chambourcin at the 2020 Finger Lakes International Wine and Spirits Competition. It also received gold medals for its 2017 Ice Wine of Vidal Blanc and 2018 Vidal Blanc as well as 16 additional silver or bronze medals.

According to Johnson, one of the keys to the winery’s success with awards is the Lake Erie climate and how beneficial it is for growing grapes. The cold climate is ideal for Riesling grapes.

Also, the Johnson Estate team maximizes the flavor of the grapes grown at the vineyard by limiting the yield. That’s a smart strategy for any local winery looking to maximize the flavor in its offerings.

“We grow Concord as well as Chardonnay, Riesling and Pinot Noir. Concord can be grown to yield up to 15 tons per acre, but we never do ours more than seven, eight or nine tons per acre and the reason we do that is because it gives our grapes more flavor,” Johnson says.

Since opening in the fall of 2017, Yori Wine Cellars, 18 S. Lake St. in North East, has built a strong reputation as one of Lake Erie Wine Country’s rising stars. According to Michael Yori, co-owner of the winery, grapes are also the key to his wine’s success.

However, Yori Wine Cellars only grows a small portion of the grapes used in their wines, so the winery focuses on purchasing extremely high-quality grapes from area vineyards. So far, it’s paid off.

This past year, at the 2020 Pennsylvania Winery Association’s Competition, the winery won the Double Gold Best Dry Red in Competition for its 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon. Then, the winery earned silver medals at the 2020 Finger Lakes International Wine and Spirits Competition for its 2018 variants of Beach Glass White, Leon Millet and Isabella as well as an additional seven bronze medals.

The Double Gold Best Dry Red in Competition award was a gamechanger for the small winery in downtown North East.

“It was extremely shocking, and it was exhilarating for us,” Yori says. “We went up against a lot of great wineries, so to win that award was very shocking and surprising, but it felt spectacular.”

As the winery grows, awards like that could pay dividends.

“It does help us when we look at putting our product out in the market and into restaurants and bars or if we go into state stores and gas stations,” Yori says. “Hopefully, people will see it and say, ‘This little winery is doing great with awards, we should give their product a chance.’”

When it comes to wine awards, the be-all and end-all is the Wine Star Awards, given out through Wine Enthusiast Magazine. It can be expensive to enter wines in the competition, but as local wineries continue to rack up regional awards, a national competition like this can be enticing.

“So far, it’s not been in our strategy to seek out national awards like this as we’re a regional winery,” Johnson says. “But, you do say to yourself, ‘OK, if we can get a double gold medal, then maybe we need to be submitting that to Wine Enthusiast, so we can get that national attention.’ In the right circumstances, it is something we would consider.”

Other Lake Erie Wine Country wineries to receive medals at the 2020 Finger Lakes International Wine and Spirits Competition include:

Liberty Vineyards Winery: double gold medal for 2019 Dry Riesling; silver medals for 2018 Cabernet Franc, Diamond and 2019 Pinot Grigio plus one bronze medal.

Presque Isle Wine Cellars: gold medal for Riesling, silver medal for Touriga- Nationale Port and two bronze medals.

Sparkling Ponds Winery: silver medals for 2018 Riesling and 2018 Man Teaser plus two bronze medals.

Arrowhead Wine Cellars: silver medal for Rosso plus two bronze medals. LEL