FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ALBERTA WINERY WINS “WINERY OF DISTINCTION” AWARD.

Three gold medals have been awarded to Field Stone Fruit Wines of Strathmore, Alberta, giving it the prestigious “Winery of Distinction” designation.

Alberta Beverage Awards chooses Field Stone for Best In Class.

STRATHMORE, ALBERTA (July 31, 2015)

Alberta-based fruit winery Field Stone Fruit Wines is celebrating several new medals and distinctions that were awarded at three prestigious competitions recently: The All Canadian Wine Championships based out of Prince Edward County, Ontario, The Northwest Wine Summit, held in Hood River, Oregon and Calgary’s own The Alberta Beverage Awards.

Established in 1981 and billed as the oldest and largest competition for Canadian wines in the country, The All Canadian Wine Championships had a record 1356 wines from 237 wineries entered this year and awarded a Silver Medal for Field Stone’s Strawberry Dessert Wine in the Soft Fruit Dessert Wine category.

And at the The North West Wine Summit in Port Hood, Oregon, where 1221 wines were judged – Field Stone received its best showing ever. The awards included:

Bronze Medal: Cherry Fruit Wine

Silver Medals: Black Currant Fruit Wine, Bumbleberry Fruit Wine, Strawberry Dessert Wine and Wild Black Cherry Dessert Wine.

Gold Medals: Raspberry Fruit Wine, Raspberry Dessert Wine, Black Currant Dessert Wine.

Field Stone also received four additional recognitions from the Summit:
– “The Superlative Award” for best of region (i.e. Best Wine of Alberta) for its Raspberry Fruit Wine;
– a “Winery of Distinction Award” as one of only 14 wineries to win at least three Gold Medals;
– a coveted “Crystal Rose Award” for best fortified wine in the competition (which included grape wines) for its Raspberry Dessert Wine; and
– for the first time, a “Best Value Award”, again for its Raspberry Fruit Wine.

Finally, right here in Alberta, the Alberta Beverage Awards competition has awarded Field Stone the “Best In Class” distinction (Best Fruit Wine in the competition), for its Strawberry-Rhubarb Fruit Wine. In addition, Black Currant Fruit Wine was awarded the Judge’s Selection as a top performer in the Fruit Wine category.

“It’s always very exciting to win awards,” says Field Stone co-founder Elaine Gill. “But this is the first time we have won three gold medals at a single competition, so it’s extra-special this year.”

Although Elaine and Marvin Gill’s Bumbleberry Orchards outside Strathmore has seen its share of weather damage in the last few years, the fruit raised there has still managed to produce quality wines.

“Fruit growing in Alberta is always risky business, but with more and more hardy varieties available, we are able to make some great wines on the prairies,” says Marvin.

In 2005 Field Stone Fruit Wines was the first business to be granted a license under the Government of Alberta’s new cottage winery regulations, allowing fruit growers to manufacture and sell fruit wines. Since then, they have gone on to win more than sixty awards across all 10 of its fruit and dessert wines and have grown from farm-gate sales, to farmers markets, to now being available in over 100 retail stores across Alberta.

“Many Albertans are just discovering non-grape wines for the first time,” explains Elaine. Our customers seem interested in thinking “outside the box” when it comes to tasting new wines or any new beverage products.”

“People are interested in how to use our wines,” adds Marvin. “Our off-dry and medium-dry wines are easy to pair with everyday meals, but our dessert wines can be used in so many great ways – cocktails, lemonades, martinis. You just have to use your imagination.”

This season Field Stone has taken to social media and farmers markets to talk to customers about fruit wine, how to drink them, and how to mix them up into some great recipes.

“Our customers are always so encouraging,” says Elaine. “Especially at the winery and farmers markets, people love to support local, 100% Alberta, agribusiness. We feel the love every day!”

For more information about Field Stone’s wines and where to buy them, including direct from its website, visit: www.fieldstonefruitwines.com/find-us.

ABOUT FIELD STONE FRUIT WINES

In 2005 Field Stone Fruit Wines was the first business to be granted a license under the Government of Alberta’s new cottage winery regulations, allowing fruit growers to manufacture and sell fruit wines. Since July 1st, 2005, Field Stone has been a popular destination drawing visitors and customers from around Alberta, Canada, and beyond.
All Field Stone wines are vinified from 100-percent Alberta-grown fruit, 80-percent of which is grown on the Gill family’s Bumbleberry Orchard. Field Stone’s winemaker is Dominic Rivard, a noted world expert in fruit wines. Since 2006, the winery has been distinguished with more than sixty awards and medals across its 10 varieties of fruit and dessert wines. Field Stone wines are available at selected Farmers Markets, direct from the winery, year round on its website, and at retailers across Alberta in Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, Banff, and more. At this time, the wines are only available in Alberta.

For more information visit www.fieldstonefruitwines.com

ABOUT NORTH WEST WINE SUMMIT

The North West Wine Summit held in Oregon, USA, is one of the region’s oldest and most popular contests. Six panels, including 20 judges from all over North America, gathered this spring at the Timberline Lodge in Mt. Hood, Oregon to judge 1221 wines from the Northwest, including Oregon, Washington, Idaho, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Montana.

The twenty judges included winery owners, wholesale buyers and sellers, restaurant and wine shop owners, wine writers and others connected to wine drinking, serving, making and selling. Judged on a 13-point scale, the only requirement of each entry is that it be made from grapes or fruit grown in the Pacific Northwest and commercially available for purchase. The purpose of the festival is to raise awareness nationally and internationally of the quality of the wine from this region of the world.

For more information visit www.northwestwinesummit.com

ABOUT ALL CANADIAN WINE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Established in 1981, The All Canadian Wine Championships remain the oldest and largest competition for Canadian wines. Wines are critiques by a panel of writers, Sommeliers and wine educators from across Canada. Awards are delivered in Gold, Silver, and Bronze categories for the top 10% in the flight, as well as ”Double Gold” for Best of Category. All manner of wines are judged including grape wines, soft and tree fruit, ciders, and meads. Open to all commercial Canadian wineries, whose wines are 100% Canadian content and produced. The competition is held in Prince Edward County Ontario. After judging, there is a public walk-about featuring the wines from entries submitted.
For more information visit www.canadianwinetrail.com

ABOUT ALBERTA BEVERAGE AWARDS

This competition was launched in 2013 to help identify the very best wines, beers and spirits available in the dynamic Alberta beverage marketplace.
Beverages are judged in Calgary by some of Alberta’s finest palates including buyers, sommeliers, retailers and educators. The competition takes place in July with results appearing online and in Culinaire Magazine’s fall issues.
Prior to the judging, every product is placed into a category and assigned to a flight with like products. The entries are evaluated blind by dedicated wine, beer, or spirits panels moderated by an experienced panel captain. Beverages deemed superior in the preliminary rounds proceed to the final rounds where the very best are awarded a “Best in Class”. The top performing products in a category may earn a “Judges Selection” and post-competition, the editors of Culinaire Magazine may assign a “Top Value” to a winning wine showcasing its high performance that over delivers on value. Overall, only about 1/3 of total entries will earn an award at the Alberta Beverage Awards ensuring that results are meaningful and that only the best will be listed in the featured in the results.
For more information visit www.culinairemagazine.ca/aba.

FIELD STONE FRUIT WINES
Box 19 Site 6 RR 1
Strathmore, AB
T1P 1J6