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Vino Salida wins several awards

Vino Salida Wine Cellars racked up nine awards at this year’s Governor’s Cup Wine Competition.

It was the fifth such competition, hosted by the Colorado Wine Industry Development Board, with 37 wineries submitting 241 entries for judging.

Steve Flynn, owner of Vino Salida, said the competition is judged sternly, with a panel of judges made up of sommeliers, winemakers, writers and other wine experts.

The wine board has other competitions, Flynn said, but this is the major one.

The competition is the only one in the state for commercial wineries, Flynn added, so of the 120 commercial wineries in Colorado, it draws a lot of entries.

“I think the wines show great balance and wonderful winemaking skills,” said Warren Winiarski, a judge at the competition.

Nine of Vino Salida’s wines won awards in the competition. Its 2013 Cuvee Rouge was awarded a silver medal. And its 2012 Chardonnay, 2012 Pinot Noir, 2012 Tenderfoot Stomp, 2012 Cuvee Rouge, Cabernet Franc from 2012 and 2013, 2013 Vino Dulce and Semi-sweet Bee Vino, a mead, all won bronze awards.

It was the third time Vino Salida has won awards at the Governor’s Cup – taking three medals each year in 2012 and 2013 – but never has the winery won so many, said Flynn.

“Each year, the judges continue to note the rise in quality of Colorado wine, and this year was no exception,” said Doug Caskey, executive director of the wine board. “We couldn’t have been more pleased with the wines that were submitted this year as well as the excellent group of judges that put in so much effort and thought to choose the winners.”

This year was also the first time the Governor’s Cup brought in judges who specialized in meads, ciders and perry, rather than just using wine judges as in years past.

And that suited Vino Salida’s Bee Vino mead as it took a bronze medal in the category.

Flynn said he’s “stoked that the quality of our product is increasing.” He said the awards show his company is going in the right direction.