We are taking a look at several Best-in-Show, Double Gold and Gold Medal award winning wines of 2024.
First up is a great summertime wine! An off-dry non-vintage riesling from the Yadkin Valley AVA in North Carolina.
RIESLING from Rayson Winery & Vineyards in Mocksville, North Carolina.
Best-in-Show and Double Gold Medal award winner in the 2024 Great White – A National White Wine Competition!
What did the judges say?
Beautiful color, with a pronounced and developed nose, bright intense flavor notes bursting of citrus and delicate white flowers, pleasant lingering finish, well-made very enjoyable wine, a great riesling!
Indeed! We concur!
We recently delivered the Best-in-Show trophy to owner and winemaker J W Ray! He was very humbled and greatly excited to show off his trophy to the 200-person wine club party gathered that day!
We gladly opened another bottle for this review. This NV Riesling continues to develop complexity as it ages gracefully in the bottle.
Riesling is a varietal that is truly terroir driven. It is often made sweet to balance its higher acidity. However in our humble opinion, the best rieslings are fermented out dryer!
Last year up in the Finger Lakes, we totally fell in love with dry rieslings. Let it be known, this off-dry Riesling from Rayson totally raises the bar in the Southeast! The lingering notes of citrus titillate the palate, with just a touch of sweetness to balance its acidity. Bravo!
This best-in-show award-winning Riesling from Rayson Winery & Vineyards should continue to age gracefully in the bottle for the next 5 to 8 years! Cheers!
The following data is copied from the Rayson website.
Harvested: Various days in August and September 2022 and 2023
Bottled: February 7, 2024
Released On: February 7, 2024
Number of Bottles Produced: 6,050
Cooperage: Stainless Steel
ABV: 12.1%
Price per bottle: $27.00
Wine Competitions and Marketing! 