Field Stone Fruit Wines receives ‘Winery of Distinction Award’

Justin Seward
Times Reporter

 

Strathmore’s Field Stone Fruit Wines were recognized for some quality wines they had produced in three separate prestigious competitions recently.
At the All Canadian Wine Championships in Prince Edward County, Ont. there was a record 1,356 entries from 237 wineries and Field Stone’s Strawberry Dessert Wine won in the Soft Fruit Dessert Wine category.
In the North West Wine Summit, Field Stone racked up the awards including a bronze medal for the Cherry Fruit Wine, silver medals for the Black Current Fruit Wine, Bumbleberry Fruit Wine, Strawberry Dessert Wine and Wild Black Cherry Dessert Wine. Then they took home gold for the Raspberry Fruit Wine, Raspberry Dessert Wine and the Black Currant Dessert Wine.
Additionally, they received ‘The Superlative Award’ for the best of region for its Raspberry Fruit Wine, a ‘Winery of Distinction Award’ as one of the only 14 wineries to win at least three gold medals, and a coveted ‘Crystal Rose Award’ for the best fortified wine in the competition for its Raspberry Dessert Wine; and for the first time a ‘Best Value Award’ for the Raspberry Fruit Wines.
Lastly, on a provincial scale, Fruit Stone received the ‘Best in Class’ distinction for its Strawberry-Rhubarb Fruit Wine.
Despite a limited fruit year due to hail, Fruit Stone partner Elaine Gill was pleased to have the winery recognized in short list for the distinction award.
“Only 14 wineries get this distinction here out of (all the) wineries,” said Gill. “It’s very gratifying and encouraging when some of these wine competitions give us gold medals and awards like this.”
Gill added that for wines to be noticed, they have to be balanced for the judges.
“You have to have a good flavour without being overpowering,” said Gill.
The wine’s tastes vary from year-to-year and Gill said that is because of the fruit changing every year and that you have to be adaptable at competitions such as these.