Medina, N.Y.- Leonard Oakes, a winery along the Niagara Wine Trail was among the top award winners Tuesday, at the annual New York State Wine and Food Classic.

The picturesque Leonard Oakes Winery, which opened its doors just three years ago has won best dessert wine for its 2008 Vidal Ice Wine at the annual New York State Wine and Food Classic.

The winery also took home honors for best ice wine and earned double gold medals for ithe Vidal Ice Wine and its Steampunk Cidre. The competition was open to all 307 wineries in New York State. In addition to the awards named, the ice wine earned one of five "Best of Category" awards.

The event was sponsored by the New York Wine and Grape Foundation and 21 expert judges--four from California, nine from New York, six from other states and two from the United Kingdom decided on the winners. Judges included prominent wine writers, restaurateurs, retailers, and wine educators.  Three-judge panels determined the initial awards, with top-scoring wines evaluated by all 21 judges for Best of Category and Governor's Cup awards. This year's competition included 726 New York wines from the Finger Lakes, Long Island, Hudson Valley, Niagara Escarpment, Lake Erie, and other portions of New York State.

"These top awards are very significant for the wineries and they're good for the New York wine industry," said Jim Trezise, president of the New York Wine and Grape Foundation.

In its 26 year, the Wine and Food Classic is open to all 307 New York wineries from all regions.  In 2011, a total of 51 Double Gold, 66 Gold, 237 Silver, and 234 Bronze medals were awarded.  In addition, "Best of Category" and "Best of Class" designations were awarded to wines rated as the finest in various areas.  Double Gold medals require consensus among a panel's judges that a wine deserves a Gold medal, while a Gold medal require a majority vote.

For more information on the Niagara Wine Trail visit: www.niagarawinetrail.org

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