St. Julian Winery Awarded Top Honors at 2017 Jefferson Cup

Dianna Stampfler December 7, 2017 award winning wine, great lakes, gruner veltliner, jefferson cup, lake michigan shore, michigan wine, pure michigan, st julian

St. Julian Winery was recently presented with several medals during the 18^th Annual Jefferson Cup International—the only competition that honors the “best of the best” among wineries from all of America’s wine regions. In all, 750 wines were judged November 16-17 in Kansas City, Missouri.

The two-day competition culminated with the awarding of 16 Jefferson Cup Trophies including one for St. Julian’s 2016 Braganini Reserve Grüner Veltliner in the White Vinifera category. This is the fourth year in a row that the southwest Michigan winery has been awarded Jefferson Cup honors. In 2015 and 2106, top recognition was presented for both Sweet Nancie and Solera Cream Sherry; in 2014, three Cups were given for the 2013 St. Julian Reserve Riesling, 2014 Braganini Reserve Pinot Noir and Solera Cream Sherry.

This year, St. Julian’s 2016 Braganini Reserve Albariño was also a Jefferson Cup nominee and was awarded one of the only 62 Double Gold medals, along with two Gold, seven Silver and six Bronze medals (see below for the complete list).

“We were delighted to receive a Jefferson Cup for our first ever vintage of Grüner Veltliner,” says Nancie Oxley, St. Julian Vice President and Winemaker. “After hearing great things about this varietal, we planted three acres with Grower Ed Oxley in 2015. We knew this grape had the potential for characteristics like Sauvignon blanc, something we both love, yet different! We continue the winemaking tradition of being creative and innovative, not just in winemaking styles, but with new varietals at the winery as well.”

Regarded as the “Olympics” of wine competitions, the Jefferson Cup was founded in 1999 in honor of Thomas Jefferson, who not only fathered the U.S. Constitution, but helped champion the international concept of human rights and was a seminal figure in America’s culture, culinary (including wine) and agricultural history.

The family-owned St. Julian, Michigan’s oldest and longest-operating winery, was founded in 1921. In addition to the winery in downtown Paw Paw—where they produce award-winning wines, sparkling juices, spirits and cider—St. Julian operates tasting rooms in Dundee, Frankenmuth and Union Pier.

St. Julian’s Jefferson Cup International 2017 Awards

Jefferson Cup – White Vinifera Wine

2016 Grüner Veltliner

Double Gold

2016 Braganini Reserve Albariño

Gold

2015 Braganini Reserve Chambourcin
Sweet Nancie

Silver

Sunset Michcato
2016 Bragnini Reserve Sauvignon Blanc
2016 Braganini Reserve Riesling
2016 Braganini Reserve Estate Mountain Road Riesling
2016 Braganini Reserve Late Harvest Riesling
2016 Braganini Reserve Traminette
Solera Cream Sherry

Bronze

2015 Braganini Reserve Cabernet Franc
2015 Braganini Reserive Chancellor
Sweet Revenge
2016 Pinto Grigio
2016 Braganini Reserve Chardonnay
Michcato