2023 WineMaker Competition Judging is Now Complete!
From April 21 to 23, 2023, a total of 1,718 different wines were judged at the Grand Summit Resort at Mt. Snow in West Dover, Vermont. This year’s event was again the largest wine competition for homemade wine in the world.
Download a PDF of the 2023 Competition Winners by Clicking Here
This year marks two decades of the event being the largest wine competition for home winemakers in the world. The 1,718 entries arrived from hobby winemakers living throughout North America in 48 American states and four Canadian provinces and five different countries. It continues to be the single largest and most diverse collection of hobby wines assembled annually under one roof. Over the course of three days, experienced judging panels worked through 335 flights, examining 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 had 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 20 years of the competition and thanks for entering your wines!
Best of Show winners are listed below and the full winner’s 2023 list can be found here:
Special “Best of Show” awards will be presented thanks to our Award Sponsors:
Gene Spaziani Grand Champion Wine
Robert Joakimson and Rex Johnston • Concord, California
60% Mango, 40% Passionfruit 2022
Sponsor:
WineMakers of the Year
Robert Joakimson and Rex Johnston
Concord, California
Sponsor:
Best of Show Red
Ken Stafford • Plymouth, California
50% Estate Zinfandel, 35% Estate Barbera, 15% Estate Petite Sirah 2020
Sponsor:
Retailer of the Year
MoreWine! • Concord, California
Sponsor:
Best of Show White
Kathleen Ondrus • Palisade, Colorado
100% Gewürztraminer 2022
Sponsor:
U-Vint of the Year
Tin Lizzie Wineworks • Clarksville, Maryland
Sponsor:
Best of Show Dessert
Larry and Jay Drew • Quaker Hill, Connecticut
100% Winexpert Aprés Chocolate Mocha Dessert Wine 2022
Sponsor:
Club of the Year
Contra Costa Wine Group • California
Sponsor:
Best of Show Country Fruit
Joey DeCarlo • Hudson, Wisconsin
100% Raspberry 2021
Sponsor:
Best of Show Mead
Norman Yerdon • Adams, New York
100% Honey 2008
Sponsor:
Best of Show Sparkling
Wil Malski • Grand Haven, Michigan
100% Estate Marquette 2021
Sponsor:
Best of Show Estate Grown
John and Eloise Pound • Clayton, California
55% Estate Syrah, 45% Estate Primitivo 2022
Sponsor:
Best of Show Kit/Concentrate
Tom and Marleigha Burton • Mt. Washington, Kentucky
100% RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Coffee Dessert 2022
Sponsor:
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
Sponsor: UWinemaker
14. Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris
15. Gewürztraminer
16. Riesling
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: All in One Wine Pump Company
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
39. Stone Fruit (Peach, Cherry, Blends, etc.)
Sponsor: GLCC Co.
40. Berry Fruit (Strawberry, Raspberry, Blends, etc.)
Sponsor: GLCC Co.
41. Other Fruits
Sponsor: GLCC Co.
42. Traditional Mead
43.Fruit Mead
Sponsor: Moonlight Meadery
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 competition@winemakermag.com with any questions about the competition.
