June 22, 2012 (San Francisco, CA) - The 2012 San Francisco International Wine Competition was held June 15-17 at the Hotel Nikko in downtown San Francisco, CA, and after the results were tallied, downtown Indy's very own Easley Winery captured a gold medal with its semi-dry style of Traminette, Indiana's Signature Wine. Nearly 4,500 wines were judged this year, making 2012 the largest competition in the event's 32-year history. The San Francisco International Wine Competition is touted as the largest and most respected international competition in the United States.

This gold medal win comes on the heels of a banner year for accolades at Easley Winery. Since January 2012, Easley Winery has garnered 10 gold medals, 2 Best of Class honors, and 1 Double Gold medal at various regional, national and international wine competitions. This will be the second award for Easley Winery's Traminette this year, as it received a gold medal from the Tasters Guild International Wine Competition of Grand Rapids, MI in late April.   

With the adoption of Traminette as Indiana's signature grape, popularity for the wine has multiplied in recent years. "In 2009, Indiana announced Traminette as our signature wine and grape," said Jeanette Merritt, Marketing Director of the Indiana Wine Grape Council. "Traminette is the perfect grape for Indiana, thriving in all types of soil conditions and climates. It also tops many wine lists as a customer favorite. For Easley Winery to win a gold medal for their Traminette in such a well-known and respected competition, it shows how well this wine can be made!"

Easley Winery's take on Traminette features hints of honeysuckle and floral undertones. This semi-dry white wine pairs perfectly with pork loin and should be served chilled. You can find Traminette at Indiana Meijer and select Marsh stores, as well as many packaged liquor locations and downtown at Easley Winery seven days a week. Easley Winery was established in 1974 at its current location in downtown Indianapolis. All Easley wines are crushed, pressed, fermented, clarified, and bottled in their downtown facility. Now in its second generation, owners Mark & Meredith Easley continue the tradition of award-winning wines as Indiana's oldest family-owned winery.