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St. Julian Lays In a Nice Cadre of Jefferson Cup International Medals

Winemakers love to score victories in the Jefferson Cup International competition because they recognize it as registering literally “the best of the best.” St. Julian Winery is certainly pleased with their performance in last month’s competition at Kansas City, Missouri, emerging with a number of medals for their outstanding line of wines from Michigan’s Great Southwest.

St. Julian Winery was recently presented with several medals during the 18th Annual Jefferson Cup International—the only competition that honors the “best of the best” among wineries from all of America’s wine regions. In all, 750 wines were judged on November 16-17.

The two-day competition culminated with the awarding of 16 Jefferson Cup Trophies including one for St. Julian’s 2016 Braganini Reserve Grüner Veltliner in the White Vinifera category. This is the fourth year in a row that the southwest Michigan winery has been awarded Jefferson Cup honors. In 2015 and 2016, top recognition was presented for both Sweet Nancie and Solera Cream Sherry; in 2014, three Cups were given for the 2013 St. Julian Reserve Riesling, 2014 Braganini Reserve Pinot Noir and Solera Cream Sherry.

This year, St. Julian’s 2016 Braganini Reserve Albariño was also a Jefferson Cup nominee and was awarded one of the only 62 Double Gold medals, along with two Gold, seven Silver and six Bronze medals.

Nancie Oxley is Vice President and Winemaker for St. Julian. She says, “We were delighted to receive a Jefferson Cup for our first ever vintage of Grüner Veltliner.” She adds, “After hearing great things about this varietal, we planted three acres with Grower Ed Oxley in 2015. We knew this grape had the potential for characteristics like Sauvignon blanc, something we both love, yet different! We continue the winemaking tradition of being creative and innovative, not just in winemaking styles, but with new varietals at the winery as well.”

Regarded as the “Olympics” of wine competitions, the Jefferson Cup was founded in 1999 in honor of Thomas Jefferson, who not only fathered the U.S. Constitution, but helped champion the international concept of human rights and was a seminal figure in America’s culture, culinary (including wine) and agricultural history.

The family-owned St. Julian, Michigan’s oldest and longest-operating winery, was founded in 1921. In addition to the winery in downtown Paw Paw—where they produce award-winning wines, sparkling juices, spirits and cider—St. Julian operates tasting rooms in Dundee, Frankenmuth and Union Pier.

These were St. Julian’s Jefferson Cup International 2017 Awards:

Jefferson Cup – White Vinifera Wine