Fred Merwarth of Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard Awarded Wine Enthusiast Magazine Winemaker of the Year

Fred Merwarth, Head Winemaker and Co-owner of Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard and Standing Stone
Vineyards has been awarded the Wine Enthusiast Magazine Wine Star Award for Winemaker of the Year.
The magazine writes of the awards, “This year marks the 22nd anniversary of Wine Enthusiast’s Annual Wine Star Awards,
honoring the individuals and companies that make outstanding contributions to the wine and alcohol beverage world. The
winners plus special awards for Lifetime Achievement Award and American Wine Legend, will be announced in the
magazine’s Best of Year issue and celebrated at our annual event in February 2022.”
Merwarth joins a list of winemaking icons who have received the honor in years past, including Olivier Humbrecht of
Domaine Zind-Humbrecht, Benoit Gouez of Moet & Chandon, and Andrea Mullineux of Mullineux Wines.
This is the first time that a New York Winemaker has been nominated or awarded the Winemaker of the Year honor.
Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard was previously nominated in 2020 for the Wine Enthusiast Magazine Wine Star “American
Winery of the Year” award.
The selection process begins with anonymous submissions and explanations from the entire Wine Enthusiast staff followed
by a round of anonymous voting. According to the magazine, “Final winners were chosen… by the Executive Publishing
team with selections based on many factors, including impact on consumers and trade in the wine, spirits, or beer space,
commercial successes, company/brand vision, and trendsetting.”
Fred Merwarth reflects on the accomplishment, “It is a fantastic honor to receive this award. I am both humbled and
incredibly proud of our team here at the estate- from the vineyards to the cellar and everywhere in between- enough cannot
be said about the group effort that goes into producing these wines.” He adds, “It has been so fulfilling to be a part of the
Finger Lakes wine industry over the last 20 years and we will continue to push the boundaries of what this region has to offer
and what can be achieved.”
Sam Filler, Executive Director of the New York Wine & Grape Foundation says of the honor, “This award is a testament to
not only the innovative and exceptional work that Fred and the team at Wiemer are accomplishing, but also demonstrates
what a burgeoning region like the Finger Lakes has to offer on the world stage. As a region and a state, we should be very
proud.”
To learn more about the Wine Enthusiast Wine Star Awards visit:
https://wineenthusiastwinestarawards2021event.com
To read Fred Merwarth’s profile in Wine Enthusiast Magazine click here.