Northern Kentucky wineries won three of the five Commissioner’s Cup awards in this year’s Kentucky Commercial Wine Competition on Nov. 5.
Brianza Gardens and Winery near Crittenden took home their third Commissioner’s Cup in the 10th year of the annual competition. Gunpowder Creek Vineyards in Boone County and Rose Hill Farm Winery in Pendleton County were presented with their first cups.
The 2022 Commissioner’s Cup winning wines were:
Best Red: Arandell from Gunpowder Creek Vineyards, Burlington.
Best White: Derby Hopeful from Brianza Gardens and Winery, Crittenden.
Best Rosé/Blush: Rambling Rose from Rose Hill Farm Winery, Butler.
To be eligible for the Commissioner’s Cup, a wine must be awarded a gold medal in the Commercial Wine Competition and be produced from a minimum of 75% Kentucky-grown fruit. The 117 wines from 18 wineries that entered the competition were judged blind based on individual merit by six wine professionals from Kentucky.
“I want to congratulate all of the Kentucky commercial wines that won medals, especially those that won the prestigious Commissioner’s Cups,” Commissioner of Agriculture Ryan Quarles said. “Kentucky was home to the first commercial vineyard in the nation, and today it boasts 77 wineries whose products are continuing to grow in both quality and appreciation.”
For a complete list of winners and medalists from this year’s Kentucky Commercial Wine Competition and Commissioner’s Cup, click here.