Black Star Farms Earns 2 Best of Class titles at national wine competition

The 13^th American Fine Wine Competition is in the books and the Best of Class list includes not one, but two entries from Black Star Farms out of Suttons Bay. The winery’s 2017 Arcturos Sauvignon Blanc captured top honors, and its 2017 Semi Dry Riesling maintained the top spot for the second year in a row.

Black Star Farms opened in 1998 with an expansive property on the gorgeous Leelanau Peninsula. Once a 160-acre equestrian facility, the tourist destination is now also home to a luxury inn, farm-to-table café, distillery, hiking and cross-country ski trails, and of course an award-winning winery and tasting room. If you can’t make it for a taste in person, wines may also be purchased online.

Black Star captured medals in several other categories as well. Fellow Leelanau favorites Brengman Brothers, Bel Lago, and Mawby also sparkled in the competition. Brys Estate represented Old Mission impressively, with a variety of medals, and the state’s oldest winery, St Julian, came up big for the Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail. A full breakdown of the honorees from Michigan is below.

REDS

Cabernet Franc
Double Gold – 2017 Reserve by Brys Estate ($50)
Cabernet Sauvignon
Silver – 2017 Mountain Road Estate, Braganini Reserve by St. Julian ($40)
Red Bordeaux Style Blend
Gold – 2017 Left Bank by Brengman Brothers ($65)
Gold – 2016 Leorie Vineyard by Black Star Farms ($50)
Pinot Noir
Silver – 2017 Artist Series, Crain Hill Vineyard by Brengman Brothers ($45)
Merlot
Gold – 2016 Artisan by Brys Estate ($50)
Other Red Blend
Double Gold – 2017 Reserve, Signature Red by Brys Estate ($55)
Double Gold – 2016 Tempesta by Bel Lago ($42)
Silver – 2017 Winemaker Series Reserve by St Julian ($30)
Other Red Single Variety
Silver – 2017 Chambourcin, Braganini Vineyard by St Julian ($23)

WHITES

Chardonnay
Gold – 2016 Reserve by Bel Lago ($30)
Silver – 2017 Artist Series, Crain Hill Vineyard by Brengman Brothers ($45)
Sauvignon Blanc
BOC – 2017 Arcturos by Black Star Farms ($17)
Gold – 2017 Braganini Reserve, Mountain Road Estate by St. Julian ($22)
Riesling
BOC – 2017 Semi Dry Riesling by Black Star Farms ($14)
Double Gold – 2017 Riesling by Brys Estate ($20)
Double Gold – 2017 Arcturos by Black Star Farms ($22)
Gold – 2017 Reserve (off dry) by Brys Estate ($18)
Silver – 2017 Riesling by Bel Lago ($22)
Silver – 2018 Riesling (off dry) by St Julian ($22)
Other White Single Varietal
Double Gold – 2018 Gewurztraminer, Arcturos by Black Star Farms ($20)
Double Gold – 2018 Pinot Gris, Crain Hill Vineyard by Brengman Brothers ($25)
Gold – 2017 Pinot Blanc by Brys Estate ($20)
Gold – 2018 Traminette, Baroda Vineyard, Braganini Reserve by St Julian ($21)
Gold – 2017 Auxerrois, Moreno Block by Bel Lago ($18)
Silver – 2017 Oxley Est Braganini Reserve Gruner Veltliner by St Julian ($22)
Silver – 2018 Pinot Grigio by Bel Lago ($17)
Silver – 2018 Pinot Grigio Reserve by Brys Estate ($22)
Silver – 2018 Albariño, Braganini Reserve by St. Julian ($22)
Sparkling
Gold – Blanc by Mawby ($25)
Silver – Talis, Estate Field Blend by Mawby ($39)
Silver – Ca. 2012 by Mawby ($55)
Sweet Wines
Double Gold – 2017 Arcturos, Winter Harvest Riesling by Black Star Farms ($53)
Double Gold – 2017 Ice Wine, Riesling by Bregman Brothers ($85)

The annual American Fine Wine Competition takes place over a three-day period each January at Florida International University Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management. The goal of the event is to show the world that the wines produced in the U.S. are some of the finest in the world.

Next up for the nonprofit is the Rosé Competition being held on April 24, 2020. For wineries interested in participating, the deadline for registration is March 30. Wines must arrive by April 10. Each entry requires four bottles, one of which will be used for charity, and should be signed by the winemaker or vintner.