Published: August 05, 2007 10:21 pm         

White Owl Winery wins Governor’s Cup

BIRDS, Ill. — White Owl Winery in Birds, Ill., recently was awarded the coveted Governor’s Cup for Best Dessert/Sparkling Wine in the state. White Owl won the cup with its Grand Persimmon Sherry.

The sweet dessert wine has a full, lush persimmon flavor with a nutty sherry finish. W.O.W.’s Grand Persimmon Sherry is the only persimmon sherry commercially made in the world.

It has won more than half a dozen awards in international competitions this year and has a wine rating of 90 points from the Beverage Tasting Institute in Chicago.

White Owl Winery also was awarded a silver medal for its persimmon wine.

More than 300 wines were evaluated. Of those, 195 wines received medals. All the wines were judged on characteristics such as balance, aroma, color and taste.

The 10th annual Illinois Wine Competition was staged in Springfield. This now brings W.O.W.’s total awards up to 26 so far, for 2007.

For more details, call Joy Neighbors, marketing director, White Owl Winery, at (618) 928-2898.