As a frontrunner in New England agriculture, Eastern States Exposition (ESE) of West Springfield, Mass., was pleased to host the annual Northeast Gold Medal Wine Competition and Northeast Gold Medal Cider and Perry Competition in June.

The Gold Medal Wine Competition highlights the finest wines from New England, New York and beyond. This year, as the competition continued to grow, exhibitors from Pennsylvania and New Jersey were welcome for the first time. On June 6, entries were judged by industry experts in a blind tasting format to ensure fairness and integrity. Winning wines earn prestige and recognition, as well as the opportunity for promotion and sales at the Eastern States Farmers Market during North America’s fourth largest fair, The Big E. The potential reach for products sold at the farmers market is an audience of 3.1 millions visitors to ESE each year.

With minimal entry requirements and a focus on quality, this competition is a valuable opportunity for wineries to showcase their best work and elevate their brand. Entries are judged using a point-based scoring system, so multiple products may earn Gold, Silver or Bronze medals if they meet the scoring thresholds. There are also Best of Division and Best of State winners for each participating state. After judging, all Gold products are considered for Best of Division awards. This year, there were 126 entries in the wine competition.

Judges included Melissa Bartlet of Haymarket, Va.; Jeanne Boothe and Leigh Boothe of Madison, Ala.; Carole Hackett of Frankfort, Ky.; Sharyn Kervyn of Marlton, N.J.; Paula Laurita of Athens, Ala.; Scott Montgomery of Chattanooga, Tenn.; Ronald Natalie of Catawaba, N.C.; Kevin Ostrowski of Beaver, Penn.; Walter Rachele of Lovettsilla, Va.; Rick Schofield of Glenmont, N.Y.; Barry J. St. Pierre of Burlington, Conn.; Jeffrey Stabins and Nancy Stabins of Webster, N.Y.; and Vincent D. Williams of Belleville, Ill.

The full list of Gold, Silver and Bronze medalists can be found at TheBigE.com, but the Best of Division winners are as follows:

Best Vinifera White

Aaronap Cellars: Riesling, Mass.

Best Hybrid White

Thousand Islands Winery: Frontenac Gris, N.Y.

Best Native Red, Best Native White, Best of New Hampshire

Sweet Baby Vineryard: Niagara, N.H.

Best Special Select

Pazdar Winery: Orange Dreamsickle, N.Y.

Best of Maine

Hidden Spring Winery: Honeyberry, Maine

Best of New York

Pazdar Winery: Attitude III, N.Y.

Best of Vermont

High Rows Vineyards: Goshen White 2024, Verm.

Best Vinifera Red, Best of Pennsylvania

John Robert Cellars: Cabernet Sauvignon, Penn.

Best Hybrid Red

High Rows Vineyards: Mountain Red 2023, Verm.

Best Fruit

Sweet Baby Vineyard: Sweet Cherry Wine, N.H.

Best of Connecticut

Jones Winery: Blueberry Bliss, Conn.

Best of Massachusetts

Broken Creek Vineyard: Traminette, Mass.

Best of Rhode Island

Greenvale Vineyards: Greenvale Chardonnay, R.I.

The Northeast Gold Medal Cider and Perry Competition is also a premier opportunity to showcase products and gain industry recognition, both among experts and general consumers, including at The Big E. The competition saw 48 entries across divisions, which were blind judged by sommeliers, enologists, cider makers, winemakers, educators, retailers and consultants from the East Coast.

Judges included Maxwell H. Finnance of Ledyard, Conn.; Charlie Olchowski of Greenfield, Mass.; Michelle Pagano of Manhasset, N.Y.; Damin Sawyer of Gouverneur, N.Y.; and Michael S. Wilson of Harahan, La.

Results for Gold, Silver and Bronze medalists can be found at TheBigE.com, but the Best of Division winners are as follows:

Best Cider, Best of Connecticut

Bishops Orchards Winery: Burton Hard Cider, Conn.

Best Mead, Best of Maine

Run Amok Mead: Plum Currant, Maine

Best of Massachusetts

High Limb Cider: The OG, Mass.

Best of New York

Wölffer Estate Vineyard: Wölffer No. 139 Peach Cider, N.Y.

Best of Rhode Island

Newport Vineyards & Winery: Rhody Coyote Hard Cider, R.I.

Best of Vermont

Champlain Orchards: Citra, Verm.