And the gold goes to.....

Each year, Flag Hill submits a few of our new wine releases to Finger Lakes International Wine & Spirits Competition (FLIWSC) — and that’s the only competition we regularly enter, for either wines or spirits.

Why just this one? We’d love to explain

Not All Competitions Are Created Equal

In the beverage world, competitions range from reputable and meaningful to marketing gimmicks and pay-to-play schemes. A gold medal on a bottle can help someone take that first sip — but it can also give a false sense of quality if the award didn’t come from a trusted source.

We don’t want to mislead. We want to earn your attention — and your return visit — by making wines and spirits that actually deliver.

Crisp: Gold Medal Winner

Crisp: Gold Medal Winner

We’re proud to share that our Crisp white wine earned a Gold Medal at the 2025 Finger Lakes International Wine & Spirits Competition. According to the FLIWSC judges, that means the wine was “exceptional in its class.”

Is it the Olympics? No. It’s more like getting an “A” on your report card — a clear recognition of quality, but not necessarily first place.

We think Crisp, especially in this release, deserves the recognition. It’s a bold, aromatic, fruit-forward white wine with a dry finish and low sugar content. It’s designed to reflect the best of what we do here at Flag Hill — bright, expressive, and wonderfully drinkable.

Why FLIWSC?

There are two main reasons we submit to the Finger Lakes competition:

1. It Aligns With Our Style

The Finger Lakes region is an underappreciated gem in the American wine world. Like us, they specialize in cold-hardy hybrids and aromatic whites, not the heavy reds you might find in a Napa tasting room.

So, when we enter Crisp or other white varietals into this competition, we know we’re being judged among similar styles — and against wineries that we deeply respect.

2. It Gives Back

Every competition charges entry fees — sometimes hundreds of dollars per product. What we love about FLIWSC is that all proceeds go to Camp Good Days, a nonprofit that supports children and families affected by cancer and sickle cell anemia.

That makes it easier to submit our wines with pride, knowing the process supports something meaningful beyond medals and marketing.

And What About Our Spirits?

We occasionally submit our whiskeys to the Beverage Testing Institute (BTI) — another organization we trust. BTI is well-regarded within the distribution and retail side of the beverage industry, which means their ratings carry weight in the channels where our spirits are sold.

We’ve submitted both of our core bourbons:

• Wheated Bourbon: 93 points (Gold Medal)

• Straight Bourbon: 92 points (Gold Medal)

  
  

These are excellent scores from a serious institution, and we’re proud of them. But again — we don’t live or die by medals.

So, Do Medals Matter?

Yes… and no.

A medal can start a conversation or help someone decide what to try first. But they shouldn’t be the last word. Your own palate is what matters most.

You might love our gold medal winner. You might prefer the one that didn’t place. And that’s the fun of tasting.

The real takeaway?

Medals can validate, but they don’t define. Try things. Trust your own taste. And if you love what’s in the glass — it’s a winner.