For nearly five decades, Missouri wineries have been vying for the coveted title of the best wine in the state, an annual competition that, over the years, has come to be known as the prestigious Missouri Governor’s Cup Wine Competition.
For this year’s competition, 239 wines were considered for the nod, and after a rigorous blind tasting evaluation by a panel of eight experts, the results are in: Stone Hill Winery’s 2022 Cross J Norton is the 2024 Missouri Governor’s Cup winner.
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This is the seventh consecutive Governor’s Cup win for Stone Hill Winery, whose Norton wines are considered to be exemplary of Missouri winemaking excellence. In acknowledging his winery’s win, Stone Hill president/CEO Jon Held expressed why this particular wine holds special meaning to him.
“Once again, I am deeply honored to win the Missouri Governor’s Cup,” Held said in a press release announcing the win. “It is especially meaningful to win this award with our 2022 Cross J Norton [because it] is a single vineyard Norton and a tribute to my late father, Jim, the “J” following the Cross… My goal has always been to make the finest wines possible from our estate grown grapes. Achieving this goal is only possible with a truly incredible team in the vineyard and winery. They deserve all the credit for our consistently superb wines.”
The 2022 Stone Hill Cross J Norton was selected for the honor via a two-day blind tasting panel. Judges included Doug Frost, a Kansas City-based wine consultant, writer, Master Sommelier, and Master of Wine; Glen Bardgett, wine director at Annie Gunn’s; Jon Parker, owner of Parker’s Table; and Cat Neville, host of the PBS series tasteMAKERS and vice president of communications for Explore St. Louis. On the first day, the judges awarded gold, silver, and bronze medals to various wines from the lot of 239 bottles submitted for consideration. Gold-medal winners moved on to compete for the title of Best of Class, the winners of which went on to vie for the Missouri Governor’s Cup crown.
“The Missouri Governor’s Cup gives our wineries a chance to shine,” says Jim Anderson, executive director of the Missouri Wine & Grape Board. “It highlights not only the quality wine produced by our highly skilled winemakers but serves as motivation for many of our wineries. The Governor’s Cup award is highly coveted among wineries. The competition itself gives us the opportunity to celebrate their craftsmanship and provides an avenue to tell their story. It also puts the spotlight on new talent rising to the top of the industry.”
Other Award Winners
The Best of Class award winners are as follows:
- Sparkling: Les Bourgeois Vineyards – Brut
- Dry White: Defiance Ridge Vineyards – 2023 Katy Traminette
- Semi-Dry White: Adam Puchta Winery – 2023 Dry Vignoles
- Sweet White: Stone Hill Winery – 2023 Vignoles
- Dry Red: Stone Hill Winery – 2022 Cross J Norton
- Semi-Dry Red: Stone Hill Winery – 2022 Ozark Hellbender
- Sweet Red: Adam Puchta Winery – Riefenstahler
- Semi-Dry Rosé: Montelle Winery – 2022 La Rosée
- Dessert: Stone Hill Winery – 2020 Port
- Late Harvest/Ice Wine: Montelle Winery – 2022 Vidal Blanc Icewine
- Fruit: Stone Hill Winery – Peach
The C.V. Riley Award, which recognizes Norton, the state grape, also went to Stone Hill Winery’s 2022 Cross J Norton. The Husmann-Jaeger award for best white varietal went to Adam Puchta Winery’s 2023 Dry Vignoles.
In addition to the Governor’s Cup, C.V. Riley, Husmann-Jaeger, and Best of Class distinctions, judges awarded gold, silver, and bronze medals. Find the complete list of the 2024 award-winning wines here.
The Background
Missouri wines were once a vital part of the international wine industry. In fact, before Prohibition, Missouri was the second largest wine producer, and its rootstock famously saved the French wine industry from a devastating phylloxera outbreak in the 1860s. Although Missouri wines lost that status over time, influential hospitality professionals and experts in the field believe that the state’s winemakers have made great strides and are turning out serious wines that deserve attention, especially considering today’s farm-to-table culinary emphasis.
“I can try wines from vineyards around the world, but this is my home, these are my neighbors, this is my community,” Neville said in the release. “They are making world-class products.”
Anderson believes that the Governor’s Cup competition is an important step in helping open their eyes to the wide range of flavor profiles and styles that can be found across the state’s wine region. Whether it’s the dry Cross J Norton, a semi-dry rosé, or a luscious tawny port, Anderson encourages wine drinkers to consider all that Missouri wine country has to offer.
“I would encourage people to seek out a Missouri wine,” says Anderson. “We’re changing perceptions every day. People often comment that they were pleasantly surprised by the wide range of styles that range from sparkling to fruit and dry to sweet. There are more than 125 wineries across the state. Take a drive, and see the beauty of Missouri wine country. You might find a new favorite.”
