2025 WineMaker Competition Judging is Now Complete! April 11-13 a total of 1,382 wines were judged at Mt. Snow in West Dover, Vermont.

From April 11-13, 2025, a total of 1,382 different wines were judged at the Mount Snow Grand Summit Lodge in West Dover, Vermont. This year marks the 22st year of the event. It continues to be the largest wine competition for home winemakers in the world. The 1,382 entries arrived from hobby winemakers living throughout North America in 46 American states and three Canadian provinces and five different countries. It is the single largest and most diverse collection of hobby wines assembled annually under one roof. Over the course of three days, experienced judging panels examined each wine using the UC-Davis 20-point wine scale evaluating appearance, aroma, taste, aftertaste and overall impression. The wines were entered in 50 different categories and included an astonishing array of varietals and wine styles. Kit wines competed alongside fresh-grape entries in this blind tasting. Entries were awarded gold, silver, bronze and best of show medals based on the average score given by the judging panel. The Gene Spaziani Grand Champion Wine award was the top overall scoring wine across all categories. The Club of the Year was given to the club whose members won the most medals and the Retailer of the Year and U-Vint of the Year awards were given to the winemaking supply stores whose customers outperformed other similar shops. Finally, the Winemaker of the Year award was given to the individual entrant who has the highest average score across their top 5 scoring wines in the competition.

Congratulations to everyone who won a medal, and a sincere thanks to our sponsors, Competition Director Ric Quental, Events Manager Jannell Kristiansen, our judges, competition volunteers, and of course everyone who took time to enter. Cheers to 22 years of the competition and thanks for entering your wines!

Click here to download a pdf of the winners

Best of Show winners are listed below and the full winner’s list can be found here: https://winemakermag.com/25compresults

Special “Best of Show” awards will be presented thanks to our Award Sponsors:

Gene Spaziani Grand Champion Wine

Sponsor:

Susan Morgan • Oakley, California • 97% Estate Pomegranate, 1% Bavarian Cream,
1% Chocolate Milano, 1% Brandy 2024

WineMaker of the Year

Sponsor:

Robert X. Joakimson • Concord, California

Best of Show Red

Sponsor:

Jim Just • Danville, California • 100% Estate Cabernet Franc 2022

Retailer of the Year

Sponsor:

MoreWine! • Concord, California

Best of Show White

Sponsor:

Jerry Glentz • Holmen, Wisconsin • 100% Frontenac Gris 2024

U-Vint of the Year

Sponsor:

Tin Lizzie Wineworks • Clarksville, Maryland

Best of Show Dessert

Sponsor:

Gary Novak • Calgary, Alberta • 99% RJS Craft Winemaking Black Forest • Dessert Wine, 1% Cherry Brandy 2023

Club of the Year

Sponsor:

Contra Costa Wine Group • California

Best of Show Country Fruit

Sponsor:

Robert X. Joakimson • Concord, California • 100% Monterey County Red Raspberry 2024

Best of Show Mead

Sponsor:

Jim Olsen • Glenview, Illinois • 50% Wildflower Honey, 50% Organic Raspberry 2024

Best of Show Sparkling

Sponsor:

Timothy Valdez • Colorado Springs, Colorado • 100% Touriga Nacional 2023

Best of Show Estate Grown

Sponsor:

Brett Causey • St. Joe, Arkansas • 86% Estate Norton, 14% Grape Spirit 2023

Best of Show Kit/Concentrate

Sponsor:

Brad Keown • Windsor, Ontario • 100% Winexpert Après Riesling Ice Wine 2024

Category medals (gold, silver, and bronze) have been awarded thanks to our category sponsors:

1. White Native American Varietal
2. White Native American Blend
3. Red Native American Varietal
4. Red Native American Blend
5. Blush/Rosé Native American
6. Red or White Native American Late Harvest and Ice Wine
7. White French-American Hybrid Varietal
8.White French-American Hybrid Blend
9. Red French-American Hybrid Varietal
10. Red French-American Hybrid Blend
11. Blush/Rosé French-American Hybrid
12. Red or White French-American Late Harvest and Ice Wine
13. Chardonnay
14. Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris
15. Gewürztraminer
16. Riesling Sponsor: Waterloo Container
17. Sauvignon Blanc
18. Other White Vinifera Varietals
19. White Vinifera Bordeaux Style Blends
20. Other White Vinifera Blends
21. Cabernet Franc Sponsor: Five Star Chemicals & Supply, Inc.
22. Cabernet Sauvignon Sponsor: Musto Wine Grape Co. / WinemakingInstructions.com
23.Merlot Sponsor: Vinmetrica
24. Shiraz/Syrah
25.Pinot Noir
26. Sangiovese
27. Zinfandel Sponsor: MoreWine!
28. Other Red Vinifera Varietals
29. Red Vinifera Bordeaux Style Blends Sponsor: Tin Lizzie Wineworks
30. Other Red Vinifera Blends Sponsor: Label Peelers Beer & Winemaking Supply
31. Blush/Rosé Red Vinifera
32. Red or White Vinifera Late Harvest and Ice Wine
33. White Table Wine Blend (Any Grape Varieties)
34. Red Table Wine Blend (Any Grape Varieties)
35. Blush Table Wine Blend (Any Grape Varieties)
36. Grape & Non-Grape Table Wine Blend
37. Apple or Pear Varietals or Blends
38. Hard Cider or Perry Sponsor: White Labs
39. Stone Fruit (Peach, Cherry, Blends, etc.)
40. Berry Fruit (Strawberry, Raspberry, Blends, etc.)
41. Other Fruits Sponsor: Vintner’s Best®
42.Traditional Mead Sponsor: White Labs
43. Fruit Mead
44. Herb and Spice Mead
45. Flower or Vegetable
46. Port Style
47. Sherry Style
48. Other Fortified
49. Sparkling Grape, Dry/Semi-Dry or Sweet
50. Sparkling Non-Grape
E-mail [email protected] with any questions about the competition.