Romulus’s Swedish Hill Winery, with its satellite tasting rooms in Saratoga Springs and Lake Placid, won three gold medals at the recent San Francisco International Wine Competition, including a top honor of Best Red Hybrid Varietal.

The winning wines included the sparkling Spumante Blush, which was awarded a Double Gold medal, its third gold medal so far. The 2010 Late Harvest Vignoles won a gold medal, the latest of its impressive 13 gold medals. The 2011 Maréchal Foch was honored with Best Red Hybrid Varietal, beginning what could be a very successful run at upcoming wine competitions, according to the winery.

"The 2012 Maréchal Foch is a harbinger of things to come for the 2012 vintage," said Swedish Hill winemaker Derek Wilber, who has been anticipating the release of 2012 vintages after last year's strange but ideal weather conditions for the vineyards. "Foch is the first red released from what is shaping up to be a stellar vintage for Finger Lakes Reds.”

A superb growing season resulted in all the reds being picked at optimum maturity, he said. The deep color and intense fruit of the stainless-steel-produced Foch speaks volumes for all the 2012 reds. The rest of the dry reds are currently aging in barrels and will be released starting in 2014.

The San Francisco International Wine Competition is regarded as the largest, most influential and most respected wine competitions in the country. This was the competition's 33rd year, and more than 4,500 different wines from around the nation were judged.

Swedish Hill Winery is known as one of the most award-winning wineries in the Finger Lakes, attaining 61 golds in 2012, in addition to being named Winery of the Year at California's Riverside International Wine Competition. As more 2012 vintages are being entered in upcoming competitions, Swedish Hill is confident that its winery will continue to maintain its successful reputation.

Owned and operated by the Peterson Family, Swedish Hill Winery is located at 4565 State Rte. 414 on the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail. For a complete listing of the winery’s awards, visit www.SwedishHill.com/awards-and-medals. 

--Jennie