2024 WineMaker Competition Judging is Now Complete! April 12-14 a total of 1,609 wines were judged at Mt. Snow in West Dover, Vermont.
From April 12-14, 2024, a total of 1,609 different wines were judged at the Mount Snow Grand Summit Lodge in West Dover, Vermont. This year marks the 21st year of the event (we’re finally legal!). It continues to be the largest wine competition for home winemakers in the world. The 1,609 entries arrived from hobby winemakers living throughout North America in 47 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 worked through 306 flights, examining each wine using the UC-Davis 20-point wine scale evaluating appearance, aroma, taste, aftertaste and overall impression.
Click here to download a pdf of the winners:
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 and thanks for entering your wines!
Best of Show winners are listed below and the full winner’s list can be found here:
Special “Best of Show” awards will be presented thanks to our Award Sponsors:
Gene Spaziani Grand Champion Wine
Sponsor:
Thomas Notto • Eastover, North Carolina • 100% Late Harvest Muscadine 2023
WineMaker of the Year
Sponsor:
Robert X. Joakimson • Concord, California
Best of Show Red
Sponsor:
Jerry Dieruf • Haymarket, Virginia • 55% California Merlot 2020, 44% Virginia Merlot 2020, 1% Petit Verdot 2019
Retailer of the Year
Sponsor:
MoreWine! • Concord, California
Best of Show White
Sponsor:
David Flegle • Indiana, Pennsylvania • 100% Diamond 2022
U-Vint of the Year
Sponsor:
Tin Lizzie Wineworks • Clarksville, Maryland
Best of Show Dessert
Sponsor:
Colin Rohrmoser • St. Catharines, Ontario • Port-Style 98% Merlot, 2% Cabernet
Sauvignon 2020
Club of the Year
Sponsor:
Contra Costa Wine Group • California
Best of Show Country Fruit
Sponsor:
Robert Joakimson • Concord, California
85% Red Raspberry, 15% Milano Chocolate 2021
Best of Show Mead
Sponsor:
Ryan Vigne • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • 75% Wildflower Honey, 23% Juneberry, 1% Vanilla, 1% Medium Toast American Oak 2022
Best of Show Sparkling
Sponsor:
Ron Mensink • Madison, Wisconsin • 100% Viognier 2022
Best of Show Estate Grown
Mike and Ann Koch • Alamo, California • 90% Estate Cabernet Sauvignon,
10% Estate Zinfandel 2021
Best of Show Kit/Concentrate
Sponsor:
Susan Campbell-Weir • Clayton, California • 100% RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty
Raspberry Mocha Dessert Wine 2019
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
39. Stone Fruit (Peach, Cherry, Blends, etc.)
40. Berry Fruit (Strawberry, Raspberry, Blends, etc.)
41. Other Fruits
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 [email protected] with any questions about the competition.
