Watkins Glen, N.Y.—Buttonwood Grove Winery’s 2016 Finger Lakes Riesling won the Governor's Cup at the 2017 New York Wine & Food Classic. The competition, now in its 32nd year, was hosted by the New York Wine & Grape Foundation and held at the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel in Watkins Glen, N.Y..  

The Governor's Cup is the highest award of the contest that drew 958 entries. The Winery of the Year award recognizes the winery with the best overall showing and this year went to a tie between CK Cellars/Torrey Ridge Winery from the Finger Lakes Region, and Sparkling Pointe Vineyards & Winery from the North Fork of Long Island.

The competition included 915 New York wines, 27 Hard Ciders and 16 Craft Spirits from several regions across New York State including Long Island, Hudson Valley, Finger Lakes, Niagara Escarpment and Lake Erie. The awards were based on blind tastings by 21 wine industry judges from California, New York, and 7 from other states.