Media contact:
Misti Preston
Phone: (573) 751-8596
Misti.Preston@mda.mo.gov

For Immediate Release: October 10, 2006

Augusta Winery Awarded Missouri Governor’s Cup

(JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.)–Augusta Winery’s 2004 Vignoles was recently named the winner of the 2006 Missouri Governor’s Cup recognizing their product as the best wine in the state. Augusta’s 2004 Vignoles was selected from the nine Missouri wines that earned top honors as the “Best of the Bunch” at the 2006 Missouri Wine Competition. This win marks Augusta Winery’s third time to take the coveted award, winning the top prize in 2004 and 1995.

“This wine truly captures what makes Missouri wines so distinct,” said Tony Kooyumijan, owner and winemaker at Augusta Winery. “No other wine in the world compares to the flavor of Vignoles.”

Twenty-three wineries participated in the annual wine competition sponsored by the Missouri Wine and Grape Board. A panel of expert judges from across the U.S. tasted 207 wines and awarded 29 Gold, 64 Silver and 69 Bronze medals.

“I am proud of Augusta Winery for their third Governor’s Cup win,” said Jim Anderson, executive director of the Missouri Wine and Grape Board. “This win shows the winery’s consistent commitment to quality winemaking.”

The venue for the Governor’s Cup award announcement was the gala opening of the exhibit “History Uncorked: Two Centuries of Missouri Wine” at the Mercantile Library in St. Louis on Sept. 28. The exhibit, a collection of artifacts recognizes the contributions made by local wineries to the state and will be on display at the Mercantile Library through June 2007.

For more information regarding the Missouri wine industry, contact the Missouri Wine and Grape Board at (800) 392-9463 or visit www.missouriwine.org.

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