Gov. George Pataki was a no-show this afternoon when officials of the New York Wine & Food Classic announced the winner of the Governor's Cup, the wine competition's highest honor. (Someone suggested the Yankees had an afternoon game, and Pataki, a prospective presidential candidate two years hence, may have preferred to appear in a bigger crowd.)

Kevin Rivoli, a photographer for the New York Times was at the competition, however. He got some terrific shots of the wine columnist for The Sacramento Bee, kind of like the logo atop this blog, but in full color and fine detail. What reputable person wouldn't welcome having his photo in the New York Times? But when he asked for the spelling of my name I had to explain why I'm so shy.

More to the point: The winner of the Governor's Cup was a mightily deserving candidate, the Hermann J. Wiemer 2005 Finger Lakes Dry Riesling, a classically lean yet vivacious take on the varietal.

Something else of note happened during the award announcements. Mark Chandler, executive director of the Lodi Woodbridge Winegrape Commission, revealed that the group would be giving its annual industry integrity award this fall to Jim Trezise, executive director of the New York Wine & Grape Foundation, sponsors of the judging.