By Evan Dawson, Managing Editor

Sheldrake Point Vineyard on Cayuga Lake has launched an event that winegrower Bob Madill hopes will become an annual tradition. Following the New York Wine & Food Classic, Sheldrake Point hosts the wineries that earned "Best Of" awards. The event has a limited public ticket release.

"This is our chance to taste wines from our colleagues that we might not otherwise taste over the course of the year," Madill explained to the crowd on a hot but gorgeous late-summer evening. "We're proud of what you're doing and we appreciate your wines and your hard work."

Jim Trezise, president of the Foundation, urged wineries to continue submitting their wines to this and other competitions. He praised the wines and said that competitions offer wineries a great opportunity. 

Simply Red Bistro provided the food, and chef Sam Izzo demonstrated that apple, fennel, and pulled pork should always go together. Always.

For me, the moment of the night came in meeting Ian Barry's father. Ian is the head winemaker at Swedish Hill on Cayuga Lake, and his wines have won the Governor's Cup in two of the past three years. His dad was humble and sweet, deservedly proud of his son. "Two times in three years is almost too much!" he told me. "It's just such an honor. I don't know how he does it. They have a great team."