Denison -- During 2013, we honor renowned viticulturist Thomas V. (T.V.) Munson and the 125th anniversary of him receiving the French Legion of Honor Award in 1888 for saving the French wine industry. The T. V. Munson Cup was awarded to the winner of the Texas Wine & Grape Growers Association’s sanctioned Texas Non-commercial Wine Competition. This awards ceremony took place during the Hoedown at the DDI Corral (Heritage Park) sponsored by Downtown Denison Inc. on the evening of Saturday, April 27.
Munson’s invaluable contributions to the science of horticulture as well as the French wine industry have led to the noteworthy recognition of Cognac, France as Denison’s sister city. This historic “French Connection” embodies the importance and appreciation of the flourishing Texas wine industry and the variety of savory wines that still use Munson’s varieties of grape root stocks.
This was the inaugural year for the TV Munson cup, and the winner, Ken Wuensche, was from Cyprus, Texas.
It was also an impressive competition for Christine and Steve Finley's Iron Rock Vineyards in Pottsboro, Texas. Iron Rock Vineyards earned a Gold Medal for Best White Wine and a Silver Medal for its rosé.
Bob Tuberville of Fredericksburg headed back to the Hill Country with a Gold Medal for Best Red Wine.
Anthony Moseley of C. Moon Winery in Ivanhoe, Texas won a Bronze Medal for Best Fruit Wine.
Texas Non-Commercial Wine Competition was hosted by the City of Denison and the Grayson Viticulture Center and everyone anticipates this becoming an annual event.
2013 Texas Non-Commercial Wine Competition Medal Awards
Winemaker Award Name of Wine Varietal(s) Vintage Winery/Vineyard - Location
Barnes, Byron Bronze Lenoir Port Lenoir (Black Spanish) 2011 San Antonio, TX
Barnes, Byron Silver Tres Hombres Syrah/Malbec/Cabernet Franc 2007 San Antonio, TX
DiSanto, Sandro Silver The 101 Pinot Noir/Pinot Grigio 2010 Checkered Past Winery – Richardson, TX
Eaton, Meredith Silver Chambourcin Chambourcin 2012 Valley View, TX
Eaton, Meredith Silver Viognier Viognier 2012 Valley View, TX
Finley, Christine and Steve Gold/Best White Wine Iron Rock Vigonier Viognier 2012 Iron Rock Vineyards – Pottsboro, TX
Finley, Christine and Steve Silver/Best Rosé Iron Rock Tempranillo Rosé Tempranillo 2012 Iron Rock Vineyards – Pottsboro, TX
Finley, Christine and Steve Bronze Iron Rock Malbec Malbec 2008 Iron Rock Vineyards – Pottsboro, TX
Finley, Christine and Steve Bronze Iron Rock Tempranillo Tempranillo 2010 Iron Rock Vineyards – Pottsboro, TX
Head, Thomas Bronze Peach Peche Peach 2012 Lubbock, TX
Head, Thomas Bronze Mislabeled Logans Logan Berry 2012 Lubbock, TX
Henderson, Caleb Silver Come Hell or High Water Blanc Du Bois 2012 True Vine Vineyard and Farm - Tyler, TX
Henderson, Caleb Bronze God Willin and the Creek Don’t Rise Lenior (Black Spanish) 2012 True Vine Vineyard and Farm - Tyler, TX
Henriksen, Deborah and Richard Silver Harvest Moon Blanc Du Bois 2012 Knox Circle Winery – Huntsville, TX
Keating, Lana Gold Times Thirteen Port Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 Five Whispers – Richland Hills, TX
Keating, Lana Silver Malbec Malbec 2011 Five Whispers – Richland Hills, TX
Koegele, Gerhard Bronze Lenoir Lenior (Black Spanish) 2011 Waller, TX
McKibben, Evan Silver Villard Blanc Villard Blanc 2011 Red Caboose Winery – Meridian, TX
Melton, Michael Bronze Sangiovese Sangiovese 2011 Warren Run Vineyards – Frisco, TX
Mosley, Anthony Silver Tempranillo Tempranillo/Merlot 2011 C. Moon Winery – Ivanhoe, TX
Mosley, Anthony Bronze Honey Suckle Muscat Canelli/Blanc Du Bois NV C. Moon Winery – Ivanhoe, TX
Mosley, Anthony Bronze/Best Fruit Wine Plum Plum 2012 C. Moon Winery – Ivanhoe, TX
Noshie, Ziad Silver Meritage Nebbiolo/Cab Franc/Cab Sauvignon 2009 Almaza Wine Cellars – Houston, TX
Noshie, Ziad Silver Aglianico Aglianico 2011 Almaza Wine Cellars – Houston, TX
Stephenson, Phillip Bronze Pinot Blanc Pinot Blanc 2011 Fort Worth, TX
Todd, David Silver Sunset Lenoir/Blanc Du Bois 2011 Boyd, TX
Todd, David Bronze Le Noir Lenoir (Black Spanish) 2011 Boyd, TX
Tuberville, Bob Gold/Best Red Wine Dream Chaser Merlot Merlot 2011 Fredericksburg, TX
Westover, Fritz & Payne, Simon Bronze Villard Blanc Villard Blanc 2010 Houston, TX
Wuensche, Ken Bronze Cypress Port Lenoir 2012 Honey Suckle Oaks Vineyards - Cypress, TX
Wuensche, Ken Gold/T.V. Munson Cup Mydeara Blanc Du Bois 2011 Honey Suckle Oaks Vineyards - Cypress, TX