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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