The Jefferson Cup Invitational Wine Competition

NOVEMBER 24, 2010 PRESS RELEASE

Kansas City, Missouri – The Jefferson Cup Invitational has celebrated its eleventh year as the only competition that honors the best of the best among wineries from all of America’s wine regions. Each year we select great wines from across America; the 2010 competition included wines from twenty-one states. At the end of the second day of this year's tasting, November 19th, wines from SIX different states had captured top honors. Just as the event’s namesake would have it, democracy reigned at this year’s Jefferson Cup Wine Competition.

      The two-day competition culminated with the awarding of TWENTY Jefferson Cup Awards. Jefferson Cups were awarded to wines made from both vinifera vines (a European species responsible for most famous wines such as Chardonnay and Cabernet) and non-vinifera vines, which flourish in the more extreme climates in the center portion of the U.S.

      These twenty prestigious Jefferson Cups were awarded this year to seven white wines, eight red wines and five dessert wines. “While many competitions insist upon selecting a pre-ordained number of sweepstakes winners, our judges are allowed to find the top wines, whether there are only one, two or three, or even NO winners in some categories, as happened this year,” says Jefferson Cup Invitational founder Doug Frost. “Indeed this year, there was no rose' or sparkling wine winner, though a number of those wines won awards. Best of all, there were once again great examples of wine, both from vinifera and non-vinifera grapes." Together with fifty other wines nominated for (but not awarded) the Jefferson Cup, these twenty wines represent some of the most compelling wines made in America.

      This year’s Jefferson Cup competition saw some very notable developments and successes. Two wineries, HolyField Winery (Kansas) and Chateau Lafayette Reneau (New York) won TWO Jefferson Cups each. And although many expect California to dominate the awards, multiple Jefferson Cups were won by four states: Ohio, Missouri, Kansas New York and California each won multiple Jefferson Cups for their wineries.  And Colorado won a Jefferson Cup for the second year in a row, with Bookcliff's Cabernet Franc out-dueling Cabernet Francs from Washington, California and other states. New York State nearly matched California, winning five Jefferson Cups to California's six Cups. 

      As in years past, the West Coast was well represented. Five reds and one white wine from California won; and in another remarkable victory, Mitch Cosentino won a Jefferson Cup for the third year in a row; that means he has won an astounding five Jefferson Cups in three years. Kansas had a very successful year: Somerset Ridge and Bluejacket Crossing Winery each won a Jefferson Cup while HolyField Winery won an impressive two Cups. Other notable winners included the Hess Collection's impressive 19 Block Cuvee (a Bordeaux style blend) 2006 and Michael-David Syrah 6th Sense, one more in a six year string of victories for that winery.

      “In the past years, the Jefferson Cup seems to have focused upon Syrah or Cabernet,” says Frost, “But this year, there was greater diversity of wines, though vinifera grapes dominated among the red wines. I am very pleased with the way the Jefferson Cup Invitational competition has developed,” Mr. Frost said.  “We had a representation of the best of what every quality wine producing region in the country is offering right now, including improved representation from Washington, Michigan, Virginia and Texas as well as some standout wines from California, New York and Oregon.  Colorado and Ohio wines rose to the top of the pack this year, but this was really New York State's big year for medals, based upon their fantastic Rieslings and some great dessert wines. And NY-based Sheldrake Point has won Cups for two years running.

      The Jefferson Cup Invitational is a eleven-year-old competition founded by Doug Frost, one of only three individuals in the world to have achieved the titles of Master Sommelier and Master of Wine. “In most other competitions there is ‘open’ seating,” says Frost, ”and California represents 90% of the entries. As a result it usually captures 90% of the honors,” he said.  “I can now foresee a time when that will not happen.  What we are doing is following Mr. Jefferson’s example and allowing every quality wine-producing region in America a place at our table. We look forward to continuing to grow our competition as the rest of the country continues to grow the quality of their products.”

      “While many may know him from his well-chronicled political role, most Americans have no idea just how influential Jefferson was in the way we eat and drink and live today”, Mr. Frost said.  “To call Mr. Jefferson ahead of his time where food and wine are concerned is the ultimate understatement,” Mr. Frost said.  “Mr. Jefferson was growing grapes that did not really come into vogue in this country until 20 years ago!”