Erie County's Mazza brings home gold in Decanter World Wine Awards
Mazza Vineyards has won hundreds of awards in 50 years. It's recent gold medal is likely the biggest.
Jim MartinThe wineries of Robert Mazza Inc. have won hundreds of awards and medals since Mazza Winery became one of Pennsylvania's first wineries in 1972.
But until this year, none of Mazza's three vineyards had won a gold medal in the Decanter World Wine Awards, thought to be the world's largest wine competition and, by many accounts, one of its most prestigious. In fact, in more than 20 years no Pennsylvania winery has ever won a gold Decanter medal.
Mazza ended that streak recently when The Perfect Rosé became one of only 20 U.S wines to win gold.
In the world of wine, it's a big deal, said Robert Mazza, the winery's founder and president.
More:Mazza at 50: The state's biggest winery almost died on the vine, but in 2022, it's not looking back
In an article on the U.S. winners, Clive Pursehouse, Decanter's U.S. editor, wrote: "Perhaps the biggest result were the first-ever Golds for a Virginia wine and a French-American hybrid rosé from the state of Pennsylvania... From the shores of Pennsylvania’s Lake Erie, an astonishing rosé from the French-American hybrid grape Chambourcin, Mazza’s The Perfect Rosé 2022, made in a zippy, bone-dry style, scored 95 points—a first for Pennsylvania and a hybrid from the United States."
Like other Pennsylvania winemakers, Mario Mazza, vice president and general manager of the family-owned company, knows that high-brow wine lovers are often dismissive of what the region has to offer. He thinks that's changing as winemakers in Pennsylvania and across the Lake Erie grape belt continue to improve their craft and to make use of other grape varieties.
The right grape
Chambourcin grapes, which grow naturally along Lake Erie, were an obvious choice for The Perfect Rosé, Mario Mazza said.
According to a comment attributed to him in the Decanter article, "We have a well-honed familiarity with its brilliant colour and bright acidity — both of which provide the perfect framework for an excellent rosé."
He went on to say: "We have approached The Perfect Rosé with intentional and pristine craftsmanship both inside and outside of the bottle."
More:Where to find wineries and when they're open in Erie region and along Lake Erie Wine Trail
An evolving industry
Traditionally, the region is often associated with sweet wines, such as Niagara. Those wines remain popular and an important part of the business for Mazza and other wineries in the region.
"But there is a lot more to the industry," Mario Mazza said. "There are great wines being made here and it's not just us. The sweet wines have a place in the program. We are not going to disavow them. There is a place for them."
At the same time, Mazza said he sees more growth for higher-end wines that cater to different tastes.
"We are really proud of what we do," he said. "I want to see all the other wineries continue to grow and improve. We have lots of work to do. I want to see them all make really good wine. I have a competitive streak and I want us to push each other."
More:Grape juice flowed through his veins; wine industry pioneer dies at 87
Mazza said he's focused now on raising the bar.
"I was fortunate to come into this fantastic operation," he said. "I am proud to help move it forward. It feels like this effort has all been worthwhile. Now, you think about how to repeat this feat."
Contact Jim Martin at jmartin@timesnews.com.