What is the Golden Nose Award ~ The Finger Lakes Region has long been a producer of award-winning wines. Both domestically and overseas, dozens of wineries win prestigious awards every single year. However it has been over twenty years since a competition has been held specifically between Finger Lakes wineries only. But rather than bringing in a batch of professional tasters to adjudicate which wines are best, we are opting to invite you, the consumers, to judge. After all, what percentage of bottles of wine are sold to wine professionals? Very few. At the end of the day, it is your senses, your palates, and your noses that our wine must please. Thus the Golden Nose Award has been created.

Itinerary ~ While the core event takes place throughout Saturday, April 8th, 2006, this Wine Judging Weekend actually spans three total days: Friday April 7 through Sunday April 9, 2006.

Friday evening, Judges and their guest will be invited to an exclusive reception at the Rockwell Museum of Western Art. Located in Corning, New York's historic Gaffer District, this reception will include live music, delicious wine and food and an opportunity to mingle with your fellow Judges. While we won't be encouraging you to take a glass of red wine around the Andy Warhols or famous paintings by Newell Convers Wyeth, guests will be welcome to enjoy the opportunity to explore this unique museum dedicated to the art of the old, wild west. You can see more about the Rockwell Museum here http://www.rockwellmuseum.org This event is tentatively scheduled to run from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Attendance is not mandatory.

Saturday is the main event and will be hosted by the world-renowned Corning Museum of Glass (CMoG). Located only a couple blocks from the Rockwell Museum of Western Art, CMoG is an incredible experience unto itself. With state-of-the-art exhibits, live glass blowing demonstrations and an amazing gift shop this collection of glass-themed art, the largest in the world, spans all styles and eras. You can see more about CMoG here: http://www.cmog.org

9:00 am, Coffee and pastries, prepared by regionally famed chef, Brud Holland

From 10:00 am - Noon, Judges will sit side-by-side with Winemakers, professional wine Judges and veteran winery owners to learn the fine craft of sitting on a wine judging panel as you collectively judge the wines presented to you. You could read a Dummies guide about doing it, but as we all know, sitting down with friendly professionals and having them train us is a much more enjoyable and effective means of learning this art. Attendance is required.

Some of the industry veterans involved in this training component are:

• Lorraine Hems, Lecturer RIT
  
  
• Dave Whiting, co-owner Red Newt Cellars
  
  
• Chris Stamp, co-owner Lakewood Vineyards, Inc.
  
  
• Jim Trezise, President New York Wine & Grape Foundation
  

These speakers, and more, will cover a variety of aspects of Wine Judging, including technique, the chemistry of wine and wine-tasting, the vast array of different types of wines and more.