FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

(Columbus, Ohio – November 17, 2011) Ahead of the legendary gridiron clash, wine lovers in Ohio and Ann Arbor assembled to determine whose wines would triumph in a head-to-head clash.Ten wines, five of the best from each state, were matched in head-to-head competition.

This year was a draw with an aggregate of 5 winning wines per state : 

		Wine (winner in bold)	Columbus	Ann Arbor
Sparkling		Ravenhurst Brut Noir (OH) L. Mawby Talismon  (Leelanau Peninsula,MI)	6-0	6-4
White		Burnet Ridge Pinot Gris 2010 (Lake Erie, OH) Black Star Farms Pinot Gris 2010 (MI)	6-4	3.5-2.5
White		Debonné Vineyards Riesling Reserve Lot 907 2009 (Grand River Valley, OH) Chateau Grand Traverse "Laika" Gruner Veltliner 2010 (Old Mission Peninsula, MI)	3.5-2.5	7-3
White		Ferrante "Golden Bunches" Riesling 2010 (Grand River Valley, OH) Left Foot Charley "Seventh Hill Farm" Riesling 2010 (Old Mission Peninsula, MI)	8-2	5-2
Red		Meranda-Nixon Norton 2010 (Ohio River Valley, OH)  Old Shore Vineyards "Tree Line" Pinot Noir 2010 (Lake Erie Shore, MI)	6-0	<scratch*>

This year marked a return to tasting in both Ann Arbor (Nov 13) and Columbus (Nov 14.) All wines were tasted blind in pairs of one wine per state. 

The real winners are the consumers of Michigan and Ohio who have an array of quality local wines to enjoy. “The selection process was very hard and rigorous this year with so many quality wines from both states,” said organizer Andrew Hall, “Any of the entrants would be welcome on my table.”

Both Ohio and Michigan share a century-old tradition of viticulture which was wrecked by Prohibition but has re-emerged in recent times. From the Ohio River Valley to the upper shores of Lake Michigan, growers and winemakers are working hard to create unique and quality wines. This event was created in 2008 to showcase these local efforts and in the context of our storied local football rivalry. This is the only purely consumer-selected judging of wines in either state and is limited to wines from grapes grown in their respective state.

“There were a lot of good wines from both states,” commented one of the judges, “and I hope that people will give them a chance. Restaurants and consumers are starting to care a lot about local produce and wines should follow.” Another commented that it was a treat to taste the wines as neither state's distribution system currently offers consumers any wines from the other state.

For further information, please contact Andrew Hall