A Kutztown wine maker won Double Gold and Best Vinifera at the Pennsylvania Farm Show recently. Brad Knapp of Pinnacle Ridge Winery entered six wines at the Farm Show and all six won awards. “I love wine so obviously I love making it and it’s satisfying to do that, especially when you come up with something that was Double Gold or was particularly good,” said Knapp.
The 2010 Late Harvest Vidal won Gold, the 2008 Veritas won Silver, the 2010 Chardonnay won Silver, the 2010 Riesling won Bronze and the 2010 Traminette won Bronze. The 2010 Pinot Noir won Double Gold and Best Vinifera. “I picked wines that I thought would do well, and they did,” said Knapp. “It feels good to win.”
Winning medals means that his palette is still in tune, he said. Knapp explained that a good wine has no flaws, that it has good balance between acidity, sweetness and alcohol. A good wine should also have a depth of flavors and length.
“It should last long on the palette and it just has to taste good,” he said. “It should put a smile on your face when you drink it.” He believes it takes some training to understand the varying nuances for different styles and varietals, “that the wine is exuding the personality of the grape the way it should.”