FARMINGTON, NY — When Bryan Kransler tasted his 2003 Seyval Blanc earlier this year, he knew he was on to something.
Just to be sure, the hobby winemaker and retired Canandaigua firefighter had two professional winemakers he knows, one from the Finger Lakes and one from the mid-Hudson Valley region, taste it too, just to make sure he was going down the right path.
“They said you can’t do any better than this,” Kransler said.
They were right.
Kransler, of Farmington, took home a double gold medal from the New York State Fair Amateur Wine Competition. In all, 30 exhibitors entered 125 homemade wines in several categories. Judges awarded 43 bronze, 39 silver, three gold and eight double gold medals for a grand total of 93 medals.
Kransler, who has medaled in previous competitions, started making craft adult beverages several years ago with hard cider before switching over to wine. He typically makes white wines, including the Finger Lakes mainstay Riesling, and this year is working on Grüner and more Seybol.