Many wine contest can boast with something. The largest number of samples, the oldest, the most female buyers in the jury, etc. However, Finger Lakes International Wine Competition can boast with something more noble: it is one of the largest charity wine contest – they help children with cancer. “All proceeds from the competition and subsequent events benefit Camp Good Days and Special Times, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for children and families all over the world, whose lives have been touched by cancer and sickle cell anemia.”

The most European wines came from Hungary

At the 21st edition of Finger Lakes contest the selected experts tasted over 1750 wines and spirits. It is a competition for the US market, therefore more than 90% of the samples arrived from the US and Canada. A few wines came from South America and Australia, one from Italy and one from Spain. And 11 grape wines from Hungary (plus 2 fruit wines). For some reason our little country’s winemakers like this competition – the charity cause must play a part – and receive shine medals from year to year.

Gold winner Garamvári wines

Garamvári Vineyard is situated on the south shore of Lake Balaton, in a region ideal for black grapes. Merlot ripens here fully, the gold medal for Garamvári Merlot 2017 proves it nicely.

Garamvári Lellei Cserszegi Fűszeres 2020 is a white wine made of an indigenous white grape (see our Grape Dictionary) – again rewarded by gold medal. The message is that we should take these aromatic varieties more seriously, we are good at it and there is a market for them. Garamvári makes méthode traditionelle sparkling wines as well, the third gold medal went to Garamvári Extra Dry NV.

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Silver winner Koch wines

Csaba Koch, Winemaker of the Year 2019 grows grapes according to his own “happy grape” concept. Happy grapes give happy wines, which bring shiny silver medals for the estate. Csaba Koch’s main estate is in Hajós–Baja wine region, but he has vineyards in Villány as well. This year his Koch Villányi Franc 2017 received silver medal along with his multi award winner Csanád Cuvée 2015.

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Bronze winner Tűzkő and Sebestyén wines

Tűzkő estate is situated in Tolna wine region and belongs to Italian Marchese Piero Antinori. The estate is a frequent player at FLIWC, this year they received 3 bronze medals: Tűzkő Grüner Veltliner 2020, Tűzkő Pinot Grigio 2020 and Tűzkő Riesling 2020.

Sebestyén Winery is located in Szekszárd wine region and famous for its fruity, elegant red wines. The small estate received 3 bronze medals as well: Gradus Cuvée 2017, Szekszárdi Bikavér 2018 and Iván-völgyi Bikavér 2018.

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