Four wines from Demarest Hill Winery win awards
WARWICK Francesco (Frank) Ciummo recently won awards for four wines during a recent competition with 22 other nation The award-winning wines were:
Grappa Cristallina. Demarest Hill Grape Vodka.
Demarest Hill Very Special Reser.
Demarest Hill Winery & Distillery Cherry Brandy.
There were 32 entries from 22 countries, with 64 judges from 15 countries.
Ciummo began his winery, Demarest Hill, with a dream 50 years ago. As a young man, he tended his familys vineyards in Molise, Italy, and learning wine-making from his father.
He purchased his first tract of land in Warwick in 1978; he now has 83 acres off Pine Island Turnpike, where he grows all his own grapes.
To date, Ciummo has created 36 wines, brandies and after-dinner liquors.
In the winery brochure, Ciummo explains why he makes wine:
Its the people, he said. When they take a sip of my wine and they smile, thats my reward.
If they dont smile, the wine maker added, I dont think I would make wine anymore.