AMHERST — The New Hampshire Liquor Commission recently named LaBelle Winery as the state’s Winery of the Year in recognition of its excellence in product quality, innovation and its contribution to the state’s vibrant wine industry.

The award was presented during the annual NHLC Wine and Spirits Awards on April 22 at The Backroom Restaurant at the Puritan in Manchester. LaBelle Winery was honored for its support of the local community, innovative marketing, sales performance and work ethic.

The winery also received the same honor in 2016.

“We are tremendously honored to once again be recognized as New Hampshire’s Winery of the Year,” said Amy LaBelle, co-founder of LaBelle Winery. “This award reflects the dedication of our entire team and our continued commitment to producing exceptional wines that showcase the best of what New Hampshire has to offer.”

Since its founding in 2005, LaBelle Winery, which has locations in Amherst and Derry, has become a cornerstone of New Hampshire’s wine industry. LaBelle is set apart by its natural winemaking approach, producing wines without the use of chemicals or additives common in conventional winemaking.

“This award reaffirms our mission to create exceptional wines using sustainable practices that respect both our customers and the environment,” said Cesar Arboleda, co-owner of LaBelle Winery. “We’re proud to continue our tradition of excellence while staying true to our commitment to natural winemaking.”

The award comes at a time when consumers are more particular than ever about the products they consume, with many preferring natural, artisanal wines to mass produced alternatives. LaBelle Winery has positioned itself as a trusted producer for these discerning wine buyers.

The winery’s commitment to sustainability can be seen in its wine production processes. LaBelle employs water conservation methods that include high-pressure, low-volume nozzles for cleaning its fermentation tanks, using 90 percent less water and 10 percent less energy than traditional cleaning methods.

LaBelle Winery composts all of its wine production biomass, and uses a lenticular wine filtering system that significantly reduces filtration time and energy consumption. LaBelle’s wine keg program, a sustainable, efficient solution for serving wine at events and throughout the winery’s venues, helps reduce packaging waste, with each five-gallon stainless steel keg replacing 26 glass bottles, corks and labels.

“Every decision we make, from the vineyard to the wine cellar, is a step toward a more sustainable and environmentally-conscious winemaking process,” said winemaker Melaney Shepherd.

Both LaBelle and Arboleda say exceptional wines can be produced in any region given proper viticultural techniques. They believe that the winemaker’s methodological approach, including scientific precision, artisanal craftsmanship and technical expertise, are the primary factors determining a wine’s quality, as opposed to its geographic origin, offering an alternative perspective to traditional views of established wine regions.