New York State Fair Promoting NY Wines

This is from the state Department of Agriculture and Markets:

The New York State Fair is putting some new initiatives into effect this year to promote New York wines.

State Agriculture Commissioner Darrel J. Aubertine today announced the annual competition for New York’s amateur and professional wine makers, along with free public wine tastings in the International Building both highlight an exciting effort to display the vitality of one of New York’s signature industries.

“There is no better place to market New York state agricultural products than the 12-day Great New York State Fair,” said Aubertine. “Where else but the Fair can New York State businesses mass market their products to a million people? This is an exciting time to be in the wine business and the Fair is proud of its role in helping this growing New York industry market itself as a world class enterprise for fairgoers.”  

New York’s wineries provide both quantity and quality.  The state is the third largest producer of wine and grape juices. At the same time, New York wines are winning more fans and more gold medals at competitions around the world.

The fair’s effort to promote New York wines is visible in the twin annual competitions for professional wineries and amateur winemakers. Commercial wines will be judged on July 13 and amateur wines on July 16. Wines must be received by July 5 for the commercial wine competition and by July 10 for the amateur competition. 

In 2012, 61 professional wineries submitted 365 bottles of their best creations for judging. In the amateur competition, 144 exhibitors turned in bottles of 494 wines in various categories.

Go to http://www.nysfair.org/competitions/how-to-enter for full details on how to enter both competitions.

Fairgoers can judge the quality of professional wines for themselves in the International Building, where the winemakers man a booth that provides free samples of the wines submitted to the competition  The winemakers use the booth to reach new customers and provide education to people about the different types and tastes of wine.

The State Fair hosts 49 competitions covering everything from crops and flowers to animals, classic cars and talent.  Participants do not need to win a local competition in order to enter a State Fair competition.