AMHERST – LaBelle Winery took home a top prize from an international wine competition recently, earning a gold medal for its newest wine variety.

The award, handed out at the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition, was given to the winery’s Americus wine, a blend of Cabernet Franc and Noiret grapes that was first released in September 2011. The winery also won two bronze medals at the competition, for its Halcyon and Gewurztraminer wines.

Winemaker Amy LaBelle said Wednesday that while the winery enters many competitions each year, winning an award at the Finger Lakes competition in Rochester, N.Y., is a particularly big honor.

“It’s one of the more difficult competitions, so we’re really excited about the gold,” she said.

A team of 64 judges participated in the competition to pick winners from 3,198 wines, entered by wineries in 49 states and 22 other countries, including Canada, Australia, England, Germany, Israel and France.

LaBelle said the Americus wine is not just an award-winner, however; it also fulfills a personal goal for the winemaker of creating a bold red wine with New England grapes.

Creating such a wine is difficult to do with this region’s grapes, she said, and creating the wine took a lot of trial and error. She finally settled on a 50-50 blend of two types of grapes to create a savory red with hints of spiciness.

“This blend worked out beautifully for me,” LaBelle said. “Now I can truly say that our portfolio is complete.”

And just in time, LaBelle said – the winery is opening a new event facility in September.

The center, which will be able to accomodate seated dinners for 250 people or up to 350 standing guests, will be available for weddings and other special events.

LaBelle said the winery also plans on hosting wine dinners and other events, like movie nights in the vineyard, once the event center is completed.

Join us as we celebrate the first annual Restaurant Week NH!  From May 18-25, a variety of restaurants from all corners of New Hampshire will offer prix fixe menus for lunch and dinner. We have partnered with our friends at the Black Forest Café to offer you a week of perfect pairings.  Their 3-course Prix Fixe menus for lunch and dinner will feature our Americus and Riesling at a per-glass discount.

On Friday, May 25th from 5-8PM we will be at the restaurant to toast the end of the week and to answer questions about wine, winemaking & LaBelle Winery! For Restaurant Week, Americus and Riesling will be featured at 50¢ off a luncheon-sized glass of wine, and $1 off on a dinner-sized glass of wine.

Here’s the Restaurant Week Menu at the Black Forest Café:

Lunch Menu
First Course: Side Garden Salad with choice of made from scratch dressings
Second Course: Coq au Vin Rouge
Third Course: Mixed Berry Crisp with French Vanilla Ice Cream

Dinner Menu
First Course: Mixed spring green with fresh herb vinaigrette and French bread croutes with sun dried tomato tapenade and Vermont goat cheese.
Second Course: Coq au Vin Rouge
Third Course: Mixed Berry Crisp with French Vanilla Ice Cream

To join us for this special event, make reservations by calling 603-672-0500.

photo courtesy the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition

Amherst, NH – New Hampshire’s own LaBelle Winery has once again made a great showing for our state in an international wine competition! LaBelle’s newest variety, Americus, was recently awarded a Gold Medal in the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition. LaBelle Winery Americus is big and bold, savory, with rich tannin structure and loads of pepper on the palate. Americus is a blend of Cabernet Franc and Noiret grapes and was first released in September 2011. LaBelle Winery also won two bronze medals for its Halcyon and Gewurztraminer wines in this competition.

This is the twelfth year of the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition. This year’s competition judged 3198 wines and included 64 judges, all with national and international credentials, from multiple markets in North America, Canada, South America, Australia and England, Germany, Israel, and France. Competition entries arrived from 22 countries, 49 states, and 6 provinces in Canada.

Participation in the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition benefits Camp Good Days & Special Times, a camp for terminally ill children with cancer.

Americus also earned a Silver Medal in the International Women’s Wine Competition in the Fall of 2011.

These awards are not the only plaudits LaBelle Winery has earned thus far in 2012. Earlier this Spring, LaBelle Winery won a Silver Medal at the International Eastern Wine Competition’s 2012 Riesling Championship. LaBelle Winery was the only winery from the New England states to place in the Semi-Dry (0.91 – 2.00% residual sugars) Riesling category.

With more than 150 exhibitors showcasing thousands of products and services, April 13, 14 and 15, you’re bound to be find something you’ll love.  You won’t believe what’s made in NH!

Tickets are available at the door. Prices are $9 for adults, $8 for Seniors With ID, and $3 for children.

Hours:
Friday April 13, 2012    1 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Saturday April 14, 2012    10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Sunday April 15, 2012    10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Location:
Radisson Hotel/Center of NH Expo Center
700 Elm Street
Manchester, NH
 
Visit the Made in NH Facebook page at:
http://www.facebook.com/MadeInNHExpo

If you’re serving Ham for your Easter feast, LaBelle Gewurztraminer is another ideal choice.  Don’t let the hard-to-pronounce name put you off!  An easy-to-drink, slightly sweet wine based in the German style, featuring notes of tropical fruit.  Off-dry, deeply flavored and complex, this wine will blow you away with spicy aromas of apricots and pineapple, with honeysuckle overtones.