New York wineries win big in national competition

(AP) -- Finger Lakes wineries took four best in class awards, a double gold medal, 11 other golds and other honors at the 2009 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

At the Cloverdale Citrus Fair, judges evaluated 4,736 wines.

Goose Watch Winery collected three best of class awards for its Pinot Noir Brut RosDe, in the Sparkling RosDe class; its 2007 Diamond, in the White Native American class; and its 2005 Chambourcin, in the Red Hybrid class.

Swedish Hill Winery's 2007 Cayuga White won best in the White Hybrid class.

Swedish Hill is the parent of Goose Watch and Penguin Bay Winery, which won a rare double gold medal for its 2007 Chambourcin RosDe in the dry rosDe class. Double golds are awarded only when all judges vote for a gold medal.