Award-Winning Red Wine Blends Roundtable

Five top medal winners from the WineMaker International Amateur Wine Competition share the secrets of their red wine blending success. Ron Dickens from Arizona started making wine at home in 2008 and started making red blends in 2010. His recent awards include a gold for his 2011 Chardonnay, silver for 2011 “Two Red Heads” blend, and a silver for Riesling at the 2014 WineMaker International Amateur Wine Competition. Bob Joakimson of California started making and blending wine in 2008. He won a gold, three silver and two bronze medals at the 2014 WineMaker International Amateur Wine Competition, as well as several medals (including a Best of Class and double gold) at the California State Fair Home Wine Competition. Byron Barnes from Texas started making wine in 2006 and made his first blend in 2009. This year he won the TV Munson Cup for Best of Show in the Texas Wine & Grape Growers Association’s non-commercial wine competition with an estate blend of 5 varietals. He also won a gold and silver in the 2014 WineMaker International Amateur Wine Competition with