Thirsty Owl Wine Company Named Winery of the Year
September 3, 2026 — Libation has announced the winners of the inaugural American Heritage Wine Competition, a first-of-its-kind national competition celebrating exceptional wines made from Native American grapes, French-American hybrids, cold-climate varieties and other grapes rooted in America’s winemaking heritage.
The competition recognized outstanding wines across a diverse range of styles, including red, white, rosé, sparkling, dessert, fortified and specialty wines. Complete competition results are available at libationawards.com/results.
Among this year’s honorees, many wines received the competition’s prestigious Double Gold Best in Class distinction.
Thirsty Owl Wine Company, located in Ovid, New York, in the Finger Lakes region, was named the inaugural American Heritage Winery of the Year.
“Hybrid and Native varieties make great wines and are an important part of our wine list alongside Vinifera,” said Shawn Kime of Thirsty Owl Wine Company. “It is an amazing honor to be recognized as the American Heritage Winery of the Year in a first-of-its-kind competition. We are proud of our hybrid wines and grateful for the opportunity to showcase their quality.”
Double Gold Best in Class Winners
- Willow Creek Winery — Wilde Cock Niagara
Double Gold — Best in Class: Niagara, Native American and Historic White Grape Wines - Wild Sun Winery — 2023 Norton
Double Gold — Best in Class: Norton, Native American and Historic Red Grape Wines - Lakeridge Winery and Vineyards — Southern Red
Double Gold — Best in Class: Noble, Red and Black Muscadine Wines - Layton’s Chance Winery — Lazy Day White
Double Gold — Best in Class: Traminette, White American-Bred Hybrid Wines (tie) - Layton’s Chance Winery — 2023 Oaked Chambourcin
Double Gold — Best in Class: Chambourcin, Red French-American Hybrid Wines - The Peachfork — 2023 Traminette
Double Gold — Best in Class: Traminette, White American-Bred Hybrid Wines (tie) - Adams County Winery — Revere’d Red
Double Gold — Best in Class: General Heritage Blends and Specialty Wines - Converse Wine Co. — Brianna
Double Gold — Best in Class: Brianna, White Cold-Climate Hybrid Wines - Mistie Hill Vineyard LLC — 2022 St. Croix
Double Gold — Best in Class: St. Croix, Red Cold-Climate Hybrid Wines - Wild Sun Winery — Dry Rosé
Double Gold — Best in Class: Native American Rosé Wine - San Sebastian Winery — Rosa
Double Gold — Best in Class: Muscadine Rosé Wine - Davesté Vineyards — 2025 Dry Rosé of Chambourcin
Double Gold — Best in Class: French-American Hybrid Rosé Wine (tie) - Stuck Lizard Vineyards and Winery LLC — 2025 Chambourcin Rosé
Double Gold — Best in Class: French-American Hybrid Rosé Wine (tie) - Nokesville Winery — 2025 Lily
Double Gold — Best in Class: Sparkling Heritage Wines - TerraVox Winery — 2022 Wetumka Report
Double Gold — Best in Class: Dessert Heritage Wines - Messina Hof — Tawny Port
Double Gold — Best in Class: Fortified Heritage Wines - Abacela Winery — 2022 Angelica
Double Gold — Best in Class: Mission and Colonial Heritage Wines - Domaine Helena — 2024 Petite Vine
Double Gold — Best in Class: General Heritage Blends and Specialty Wines
The American Heritage Wine Competition was established to recognize the quality, diversity and growing importance of wines produced from grapes with a distinctly American story. By bringing these wines together in a dedicated national competition, Libation seeks to expand consumer awareness and give wineries a prominent platform for showcasing varieties that are often overlooked in traditional competitions.
About Libation
Libation is an independent wine, beer, spirits and lifestyle competition brand committed to fair, quality-focused judging and meaningful recognition for producers. Through its growing portfolio of competitions and events, Libation connects consumers with outstanding beverages and the people who create them.
