Cedar Ridge Vineyards, Winery & Distillery wins 25 awards

SWISHER -- Cedar Ridge Vineyards, Winery & Distillery received top honors for "Best Iowa-Grown Wine" for its LaCrescent Wine at the Fifth Annual Mid-American Wine Competition.  

The Swisher vineyards, winery and distillery took 25 awards at the event, including two sweepstakes awards, two additional gold medals, 12 silver medals and 10 bronze medals at the three-day competition. That was the highest number of awards received by any Iowa winery.

Wines from 14 Midwestern states competed at the Mid-American Wine Competition, which was judged by professional wine judges from all over the United States. More than 530 wines were entered by 82 different wineries.

Jeff Quint, founder of Cedar Ridge Vineyards, said the three-day competition spotlighted the great products grown in the region.

"We are humbled by the quality and quantity of our awards," Quint said. "We chose the site for our vines for the silty, loam soil and steep hills. We don't irrigate, and the terrain is difficult to cultivate.

"The land produces superior fruit, allowing us to create unique, handcrafted wines. These awards support this vision."

Cedar Ridge Vineyards began cultivating vines on a hillside in Swisher  nine years ago. The first wines were released in 2005.

"We continue to learn, grow and perfect our wines every year," said Kolin Brighton, Cedar Ridge winemaker. "My goal is to create local wines that drink as well as, some would say better than, nationally-branded wines."

To learn more about the Mid-American Wine Competition go to

www.midamericanwine.org.