Jones Winery Wins Multiple CSFA Awards

was honored five times over at the Connecticut Specialty Food Association's 11th Product Awards Competition, held March 8 at the Aqua Turf in Plantsville.

Of the 203 specialty food items from Connecticut-based manufacturers entered in the event, 35 percent were from Connecticut farms and farm wineries and nearly half of those Connecticut farm products were awarded honors, according to a press release sent out by the Dept. of Agriculture. (Full list of winners in .pdf format of media section).

The farm-made products were as diverse as the state's agriculture itself. Among them were aged cheeses, pestos, pickles, jams, relishes, fruit mustards, syrups, pies, and wines.

Jones Winery won for the following categories:

Wine: Dry Red
3rd Place: Cabernet Franc Vintner's Selection 2010

Wine: Dry White
1st Place: Pinot Gris Vintner's Selection 2010
3rd Place: Stonewall Chardonnay

Wine: Fruit
1st Place: Black Currant Bouquet

Wine: Rosé
3rd Place: Rosé of Cabernet Franc Vintner's Selection 2010

"Value-added products such as these are an important component of a diversified farm business," noted Connecticut Agriculture Commissioner Steven K. Reviczky. "We have seen an increase in on-farm commercial kitchens and bakeries over the last several years as consumer demand for locally grown products has continued to grow. It stands to reason that the freshest ingredients result in the best-tasting finished foods."

Entries were evaluated by a panel of 21 judges, consisting of chefs from the Connecticut Department of Agriculture's Farm-to-Chef Program, food writers, wine specialists, and local media personalities. They scored products on overall taste/flavor, consistency/texture, appeal, and color. Each judge was assigned to a subset of the 36 different categories and was responsible for evaluating an average of 35 products.