Weis Vineyards Wins Winery of the Year at New York Classic

By Blake Jackson

New York continues to shine in the world of wine, with its annual New York Wine Classic celebrating excellence across the state’s diverse wine regions.

Each entry in the competition is carefully evaluated, with the most coveted awards being the Governor’s Cup, given for Best of Show, and Winery of the Year, awarded to the winery with the strongest overall performance.

In 2024, Weis Vineyards of Hammondsport, located on Keuka Lake, achieved an extraordinary feat by winning both top awards. This year, the winery once again claimed the Winery of the Year title, an honor it also received in 2022.

“I am happy and shocked to earn such prestigious awards in such a short time,” said founder Hans Peter Weis, who runs the winery with his wife, Ashlee.

Weis grew up in a winemaking family in Zell Mosel, Germany, and studied the craft before spending time in California’s Sonoma region. A visit to Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery in 2006 revealed Finger Lakes’ similarity to his homeland, inspiring him to work there before launching his own venture. By 2017, Weis Vineyards was open to the public, quickly attracting recognition.

At the 2025 New York Wine Classic, a virtual event hosted by wine writer Wanda Mann on July 17, Weis Vineyards collected nine additional awards alongside Winery of the Year.

These included Best White and Best Grüner Veltliner for its 2024 Grüner Veltliner, Best Pink and Best Rosé for its 2024 Dry Rosé, and Best Overall Chardonnay for its 2024 Unoaked Chardonnay. Other honors went to its Sauvignon Blanc, Seyval Blanc, and Riesling.

Of these, the Seyval Blanc was the newest achievement. “It’s the first vintage of the wine,” Weis explained. “We purchased a vineyard on Seneca Lake that had Seyval grapes. I liked the taste of the grapes, and here we are people love it.”

Visitors can sample the award-winning lineup at the expanded tasting room overlooking Keuka Lake. The addition has doubled retail space, added accessibility features, and enhanced the property with fresh landscaping. Looking ahead, Weis Vineyards will also debut a grape-based distillery in spring 2026.

“The only way to achieve this [award] is with the great team we have at Weis, including all the growers we’ve worked with from the beginning,” Weis said.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-willhowecreative