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White Wines

St. Julian Won 6 Awards at the American Fine Wine Competition

Awards Include a Double Gold, 3 Gold, and 2 Silver

(PAW PAW, Mich) — Michigan’s largest and longest operating winery, St. Julian Winery, has added six new medals to its portfolio with the release of competition results from the 14th Annual American Fine Wine Competition including one Double Gold, three Gold and two Silver honors. Only five wineries from Michigan participated in the competition, with St. Julian being the only one from the Lake Michigan Shore AVA (American Viticultural Area). 

“Being invited to participate in an esteemed wine competition is an honor, especially for a second year,” says Nancie Oxley, Vice President of Winemaking at St. Julian. “We were asked to submit six wines this year and each one of them earned a medal of silver or higher. We are proud to represent our southwest Michigan grape and wine region and hope that opportunities such as this continue to allow us to showcase the quality winemaking taking place in the heart of the Great Lakes.”

Judging took place over Memorial Weekend at the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University, Biscayne Bay Campus. More than 550 wines from 125 wineries vied for top honors at this invitation-only event. The Judging - conducted by a 28-member blue ribbon panel from across the wine industry, included educators, restaurateurs, retailers, journalists, and top sommeliers from across the country.

DOUBLE GOLD:

  • 2019 Braganini Reserve LaCrescent

GOLD:

  • 2020 Braganini Reserve Mountain Road Estate Riesling
  • 2020 Winemaker Series LaCrescent/Traminette
  • 2019 Braganini Reserve Traminette

SILVER:

  • 2020 Braganini Reserve Sauvignon Blanc
  • 2020 Braganini Reserve Albariño

“We look for the very best wines the country has to offer, and so they must be vetted before being invited,” says Shari Gherman, Co-founder and President at AFWC. “Our acquisition team of wine professionals spends a great deal of time several months each year visiting with winemakers and vintners, and tasting numerous wines from across the USA, identifying wineries they deem to be crafting the best wines in North America to invite to this competition.”

Earlier this year, St. Julian was presented with 15 medals at the 2021 International Women’s Wine Competition; 8 medals at the 2021 Experience Rosé Wine Competition, and 13 medals – including two “Best of Class” Gold Medals – at the International Eastern Wine Competition.

About St. Julian: For 100 years, the iconic St. Julian Winery & Distillery has been making wine, cider, and spirits in a range of styles to meet every customer’s taste. Now helmed by third and fourth generation Braganini family members, the company is committed to making authentic wine from the Lake Michigan Shore. As the largest and best-known winery in Michigan, St. Julian has led the local industry in both innovation and quality from the very beginning. From its wildly popular Sweet Revenge and Envy wines to the Braganini Family Reserve Wines, to its growing line of distilled spirits, ciders and sparkling juices, St. Julian has something for everyone.

St. Julian, which is distributed in five states outside of Michigan, currently operates six tasting rooms within the state – Paw Paw, Dundee, Frankenmuth, Troy, Rockford, and Union Pier.