News
Posted: September 28, 2010
Gray Ghost's 2009 Adieu took Gold at the Virginia Governor's Cup wine competition! The Governor's Cup is Virginia's premier wine competition, receiving two hundred white wine entries from across the state (red wines are judged in the winter). Gray Ghost's Adieu was one of only 16 Gold medals awarded!
Governor and Mrs. Robert F. McDonnell invited Al and Cheryl Kellert, Gray Ghost owners and winemakers, to attend a reception in Honor of the Virginia Wine Industry at The Executive Mansion in Richmond, Virginia the beginning of October. This invitation was extended to Gray Ghost in honor of the Gold medal-winning Adieu.
Posted: August 5, 2010
Al and Cheryl Kellert, owners and winemakers of Gray Ghost Vineyards and Winery in Amissville, Virginia will represent the Commonwealth of Virginia as speakers at the 43rd National Conference of the American Wine Society in Cincinnati, Ohio in November. This is the third year the Kellerts have represented Virginia in this national conference. This annual conference features prominent American and international speakers conducting seminars and lectures on all aspects of wine appreciation, wine production, grape growing and cuisine. Representing the most awarded winery in Virginia, the Kellerts will present the history of grape-growing and winemaking in the Commonwealth and then lead a tasting of Gray Ghost's internationally awarded wines.
The American Wine Society is a national, non-profit, consumer-oriented organization devoted to educating people on all aspects of wine. Its members include wine experts, novices, grape growers, amateur and professional winemakers, chefs, wine educators and restaurateurs. There are currently over 5,000 members from the United States, Canada and 11 other countries in more than 110 AWS chapters.
Posted: June 29, 2010
Gray Ghost's 2009 Adieu took Gold at the 30th Annual San Francisco International Wine Competition held June 18-20th. The largest and most influential international wine competition in America, this year's competition garnered over 3,500 entries. As a top medal winner, Gray Ghost's 2009 Adieu will be featured in the August issue of The Tasting Panel Magazine. Gray Ghost's 2008 Reserve Chardonnay took its fifteenth medal of the year by winning bronze at the San Francisco International.
This announcement comes on the heels of Gray Ghost sweeping both the Los Angeles Wine and Spirits Awards in California and the Lone Star International in Texas, taking a combined 12 medals on every wine entered in those competitions. Gray Ghost has won 52 medals to date in international wine competitions in 2010!
Posted: June 1, 2010
Gray Ghost's 2009 Adieu took Double Gold at the Amenti del Vino International Wine Competition held in Groton, Connecticut May 15! Only 7 wines took Double Gold from the 346 entries. A Double Gold medal is only awarded when every judge ranks the wine Gold. This is the second competition this year where Gray Ghost has received Double Gold status. Gray Ghost's 2008 Reserve Chardonnay, 2008 Chardonnay, 2009 Riesling and 2009 Vidal also medaled in the Amenti del Vino.
On the West Coast, Gray Ghost's 2009 Riesling struck Gold at the 2010 Riverside International Wine Competition in Temecula, California, May 5-7! Silver medals went to Gray Ghost's 2006 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and 2009 Adieu, while the 2009 Vidal Blanc took Bronze. This is the seventeenth medal for Gray Ghost's Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and the second consecutive California competition that Gray Ghost rated above blockbuster California producer Cakebread, which scored a Bronze on its $56 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon.
Gray Ghost was the only Virginia winery to medal in both the Riverside International and Amenti del Vino. These nine awards come on the heels of three additional medals at the National Women's Wine Competition in California, where every wine is judged solely by women in the wine industry.
Posted: May 14, 2010
Gray Ghost's 2009 Vidal Blanc struck Double Gold and the Merlot Gold at the 23rd Annual Tasters Guild International Wine Competition held April 28-May 1 in Grand Rapids, Michigan! Only 45 wines of 2,200 entries were designated "Double Gold" by the 30 member judging panel, meaning Gray Ghost's Vidal Blanc scored in the top 2% of entered wines. In order to receive double gold status, every judge had to rank the wine gold! The June edition of Tasters Guild Journal will include Gray Ghost's 2009 Vidal Blanc along with the judges' tasting notes.
The judging panel consisted of wine writers, retailers, winemakers, restaurateurs and experienced consumers. They evaluated wines from 10 countries and 32 states/provinces with 40% of the wines being randomly selected for reevaluation and verification of medal accuracy.
Gray Ghost's eight medals made it the most awarded Virginia winery in the competition. Additional Awards included silvers on the Adieu, Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and Ranger Reserve and bronze awards for the Reserve Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Gewurztraminer.
Posted: March 30, 2010
On the heels of Gray Ghost's Silver medal win in San Francisco, Gray Ghost took five more medals in California wine competitions! Gray Ghost's limited production 2006 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon was awarded Silver at the Grand Harvest Awards in Santa Rosa, California. In a competition dominated by California wineries, Gray Ghost's 2006 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($40) received the same ranking as blockbuster California producers: Cakebread 2006 Dancing Bear Ranch ($106), Trefethen 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon ($50) and Parallel Napa Valley Estate 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon ($125).
Gray Ghost then swept the Consumer Wine Awards at Lodi! Gray Ghost's 2009 Adieu took Silver, while the 2009 Riesling, 2009 Vidal Blanc and 2008 Reserve Chardonnay also medaled in the competition. The Consumer Wine Awards at Lodi is unique in that it is the only California-based wine competition that only utilizes consumers to evaluate entries. Gray Ghost was recognized for all wines entered.
"We are thrilled with these awards, as we use International competitions as the barometer for wine quality. To take a Silver in California with California judges for a 100% Virginia grown and produced Cabernet Sauvignon is a tremendous accomplishment and speaks volumes about the quality and value that can be found in Virginia," commented Al Kellert, owner and winemaker at Gray Ghost.
Posted: January 17, 2010
Gray Ghost Winery begins the 2010 competition season winning Silver on the 2008 Reserve Chardonnay at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition! Gray Ghost has won for the fifth consecutive year in a competition dominated by California wine entries.
Founded in 1983, the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition is the largest competition of American wines in the world. An elite panel of 63 judges representing trade, education, media, retail and restaurants judged a world-record breaking 4,913 wine entries, a number that maintains the competition's status as the largest competition of American wines in the world. The competition concluded on January 8 at the Cloverdale Citrus Fairgrounds in Sonoma County, California.
Posted: December 2, 2009
Gray Ghost took Gold medals on the Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and Adieu at the VinoChallenge International Wine Competition held September in Atlanta, Georgia! The Merlot, Ranger Reserve and Reserve Chardonnay took silvers and bronze. Gray Ghost also swept the American Wine Society competition taking medals on the Reserve Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. With these announcements, Gray Ghost finished the 2009 competition season having earned 102 medals -- 24 of which were top awards including "Best in Show", "Best in Class" and Golds!
Posted: October 16, 2009
Gray Ghost Vineyards received top billing as Best in Show and Best Dessert Wine for its 2008 Adieu, Late Harvest Vidal Blanc at the 2009 Mid-Atlantic Southeastern Wine Competition! This brings to 25 the total number of medals the Adieu has garnered in 2009 to date.
In addition to the Best in Show and Best Dessert Wine honors, Gray Ghost wines took five gold medal wins and three bronzes. In addition to the Adieu, Gray Ghost took gold medals on the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, 2007 Ranger Reserve and 2008 Chardonnay. The Reserve Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Franc all received bronzes.
In the six-state, mid-Atlantic southeastern region, 27 commercial and 21 amateur wineries selected their best contenders to be judged during the competition, which was held August 21-22 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. From those wineries, 482 wines were entered, representing the largest number of wine entries in the history of the competition.
Posted: August 4, 2009
Gray Ghost swept the Virginia Wine Lover Wine Classic competition taking medals on every wine entered, including one platinum, seven golds, one silver and one bronze! At ten medals, Gray Ghost was the most awarded Virginia winery at this competition sponsored by Virginia Wine Lover Magazine. Gray Ghost's 2006 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon took a coveted Platinum Award while the Reserve Chardonnay, Ranger Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon, Adieu, Gewurztraminer, Vidal and Seyval all took gold.
With this announcement, as well as another silver medal at the Long Beach Grand Cru competition in California and four medals at the Indy International, Gray Ghost wines have won 75 medals since the first of the year, including 13 Best of Class and golds.
Al Kellert, owner and winemaker at Gray Ghost said, "Although we have always considered National and International competitions as a barometer for determining wine quality, we do feel very honored that the Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon was recognized as one of the best of the best red wines produced in Virginia."
Posted: July 1, 2009
The 70th Annual Los Angeles International Wine and Spirits Competition awarded Gray Ghost a "Best of Class" for the fourth consecutive year! Gray Ghost's 2008 Adieu took gold in both the limited production category and the main competition held in May, in addition to the "Best of Class" honors. Dubbed the Granddaddy of wine competitions and one of the country's five largest competitions, this year's competition received over 3,400 wines from around the world. Only 117 wines took "Best of Class" honors, and Gray Ghost was the only Virginia winery to receive multiple gold medals! Gray Ghost will offer free tastings of the Adieu throughout the month of July!
Posted: June 12, 2009
Gray Ghost's 2006 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon won gold at the Virginia State Fair Wine Competition held Monday, June 8 in Richmond! Produced from 100% Estate Grown grapes and aged three years in French oak, Gray Ghost only produces a Reserve Cabernet in exceptional years. This is only the ninth Reserve Cabernet to be produced in fifteen vintage years.
"We have always taken a great deal of pride in our Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, both in the exceptional quality of the grapes and making of that style of wine. We were thrilled for it to be recognized by a Virginia wine competition as one of the best of the best produced in Virginia," said Al Kellert, owner and winemaker at Gray Ghost.
The Virginia State Fair had a record number of entries this year, 239 submissions from 48 wineries. Only 55 wines medaled. Gray Ghost's 2006 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is in the running for the "Best in Show" award and will be on display at the State Fair of Virginia from September 24-October 4 at The Meadow Event Park.
Gray Ghost will release the 2006 Reserve Cabernet at a black-tie optional Gala Release Party Saturday, November 7, 2009. Tickets go on sale September 1.
Posted: June 10, 2009
Gray Ghost's Adieu won gold at the 16th Annual Amenti del Vino International Wine Competition held in Cromwell, Connecticut the end of May! Gray Ghost's Adieu was the only Virginia wine awarded Gold! Other medal winners were the Reserve Chardonnay, Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Vidal Blanc. Gray Ghost has medaled eleven consecutive years in this competition, including eight years with gold medal winners! Results from the Amenti del Vino are published in national wine industry publications such as the Wine Enthusiast!
Posted: May 29, 2009
Gray Ghost wines won 16 medals: two gold medals, seven silver and seven bronze, in six recent California wine competitions! Gray Ghost wines have medaled in each of the Pacific Rim International Wine Competition, the Riverside International Wine Competition and the San Diego International for eight years. Gray Ghost continues to be the most consistently awarded Virginia winery in International wine competitions.
Gray Ghost swept the Lodi International held in March taking gold on the Reserve Chardonnay and Adieu, and silver on the Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and Gewurztraminer. Gray Ghost also swept the San Diego International held in April, winning silver on the Adieu and Reserve Chardonnay.
With ten additional medals awarded in the Monterey International, Riverside International, National Women's Wine Competition and the Pacific Rim International, Gray Ghost continues to demonstrate that high quality wines can be produced in Virginia from Virginia fruit.
Posted: March 5, 2009
Gray Ghost Winery swept the San Francisco Chronicle wine competition for the fourth consecutive year, beginning the 2009 competition season as successful as 2008! In a competition dominated by California wine entries, Gray Ghost won on both wines entered! The 2007 Reserve Chardonnay and 2007 Adieu both took bronze. The San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition is the largest competition of American wines in the world. Founded in 1983, this year's competition garnered over 4,000 entries from 1500 wineries across the country.
Gray Ghost also medaled for the 10th consecutive year in California's Grand Harvest Awards. The Reserve Chardonnay and Ranger Reserve both took Bronze medals in categories containing stiff California competition with over 1600 entries. Medals are only awarded at the Grand Harvest with unanimous judge agreement. According to press material, " The Grand Harvest Awards has been, and continues to be, to identify the finest examples from each viticultural region."
Gray Ghost's Reserve Chardonnay and Adieu were the only Virginia wines awarded at the Florida State Fair International Wine Competition held in February. Virginia's Annual Governor's Cup Wine Competition awarded these two wines bronze medals as well.
"We use competitions to compare our wines against other top producers around the world. To have medaled in the first four competitions of the year speaks to our commitment to producing world class wines," said Al Kellert, owner and winemaker at Gray Ghost.