Finger Lakes wineries took home the top awards in the 40th Annual New York Wine Classic, which celebrates the best of New York’s wine industry.
The Governor’s Cup, which recognizes the best wine in the competition, was awarded to Ryan William Vineyard for its 2025 Pinot Blanc. This was the first Governor’s Cup win for the winery, which has been a category winner in the past.
Owner and winemaker Ryan Bossert said the pinot blanc grapevines, which can challenging vine to grow, were planted on the estate 20 years ago. The vines’ placement on the farm gives him the opportunity to make a wine with complex flavors, he said during the online awards ceremony. The pinot blanc was also named best white wine.
Ryan William Vineyard is in the Town of Hector, on the southeast side of Seneca Lake. Only estate-grown fruits are used in its wine; it grows chardonnay, gewürztraminer, grüner veltliner, pinot blanc, riesling, sauvignon blanc, cabernet franc, merlot, pinot noir and syrah. Its tasting room is an eye-catching blue barn originally built between 1865 and 1870 and given a modern restoration.
Weis Vineyards named Winery of the Year
Weis Vineyards was named Winery of the Year for the third consecutive year — and the fourth time overall — which represents the best overall showing based on the level and number of awards in relation to entries. Weis also was named Winery of the Year in 2022, 2024 and 2025.
Weis Vineyards, on the east side of Keuka Lake, is owned by Hans Peter Weis, a winemaker who is a native of Zell, Germany, along with his wife, Ashlee Weis, a native of Hammondsport. Since it opened in 2017, the winery has expanded several times.
Weis Vineyards was also recognized for best sweet riesling; best sauvignon blanc; best pink wine for its 2025 Zwiegelt dry rose; and best dessert wine for its 2024 riesling ice wine, made from grapes frozen on the vine.
Category winners
The other best in category winners were:
This year’s competition saw more than 100 wineries submit over 700 wines, with medals awarded across platinum, gold, silver and bronze. In total, 14 platinum, 282 gold, 296 silver and 106 bronze medals were awarded.
The competition was judged by a panel of sommeliers, beverage directors, educators, and industry leaders from the Beverage Testing Institute (BevTest). The 2026 winners were announced in an online ceremony on Aug. 10. It was hosted by Wanda Mann, East Coast Editor of The SOMM Journal and founder of Wine With Wanda.
Find a complete list of winners at newyorkwines.org.
Food and drink reporter Tracy Schuhmacher has a level 3 award in wines from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET). Send story ideas to tracys@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Finger Lakes wineries take top honors at New York Wine Classic 2026
Reporting by Tracy Schuhmacher, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Tracy Schuhmacher, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle | USA TODAY Network
