Two Niagara-on-the-Lake wineries were winners at an annual wine competition in the United States.

Reif Estate Winery’s 2019 Grand Reserve icewine was awarded a judges’ selection and best of show award for icewine style at TEXSOM, which brings in top tasters from across the world to judge wines from around the globe.

As well, Pillitteri Estates Winery took home six medals in the competition.

Gold medals went to Pillitteri’s Reisling and Vidal ice wines, its Cabernet and Cabernet Franc icewines took silver along with its Fusion Gewurztraminer-Riesling, and the Exclamation Cabernet Franc won a bronze medal.

Reif president Klaus Reif was pleased with the honour.

“While of course, it is always a pleasure to have our wines recognized around the world, there are some awards that feel extra special, and this one of them,” he said in a news release.

“To win one of the highest and most coveted awards of the competition is immensely rewarding for the entire winemaking team,” he said.

A total of 102 entries, demonstrating quality and unique character that are exceptional even among their medal-winning peers, received a judges’ selection nomination, which were elevated to Platinum medals.

The judges’ selection nominees were subjected to head-to-head judging and 44, including Reif’s entry, were awarded a judges’ selection medal and best of show as the highest award of the competition.

Reif, one of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s founding family wineries, opened in 1982.

The 125-acre vineyard planted in 1977 now produces a complete range of varietals used in the production of all estate bottled wines, including Reif’s signature Vidal icewine, a perennial medal winner.