Thank you to our WineMaker Competition sponsors for honoring our “Best of Show” and category medal winners.

2026 WineMaker Competition Best of Show Sponsors

Grand Champion Wine

Winner: Tonya Jackson Smallwood • Spotsylvania, Virginia
100% Winexpert Après Chocolate Raspberry Dessert Wine 2024

Sponsor: Winexpert

WineMaker of the Year

Winner: Robert X. Joakimson • Concord, California

Sponsor: Wyeast

Best of Show Red

Winner: Bryan Gildersleeve • Maple Valley, Washington
97% Syrah, 3% Viognier 2024

Sponsor RJS Craft Winemaking

Retailer of the Year

Winner: MoreWine! • Concord, California

Sponsor: RahrBSG

Best of Show White

Winner: David Flegle • Indiana, Pennsylvania
100% Diamond 2025

Sponsor: Fermentis by Lesaffre

U-Vint of the Year

Winner: La Boutique du Vin • Quebec City, Quebec

Sponsor: Mosti Mondiale

Best of Show Dessert

Winner: Robert X. Joakimson • Concord, California
100% Elephant Heart Plum Port 2025

Sponsor: Cru Specialty

Club of the Year

Winner: Contra Costa Wine Group • California

Sponsor: Lallemand

Best of Show Country Fruit

Winner: Robert X. Joakimson • Concord, California
85% Red Raspberry, 15% Milano Chocolate 2025

Sponsor: GLCC Co.

Best of Show Mead

Winner: Jeremy Pentico • St. Louis, Missouri
100% Wildflower Honey 2022

Sponsor: Dutch Gold Pure Honey

Best of Show Sparkling

Winner: Ron Mensink • Madison, Wisconsin
100% Chenin Blanc 2022

Sponsor: Fermentis by Lesaffre

Best of Show Estate Grown

Winner: Paul Gulsrud • Bell Canyon, California
100% Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2024

Sponsor: Grape Expectations

Best of Show Kit/Concentrate

Winner: Sandy Shivas • Ilion, New York
100% RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Raspberry Mocha Dessert Wine 2022

Sponsor: VineCo

Category medals (gold, silver and bronze) will be 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: Brehm Vineyards
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
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 and 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 | Sponsor: Vintner’s Best®
42. Traditional Meads | Sponsor: Barrel Char Wood Products
43. Fruit Mead
44. Herb and Spice Mead | Sponsor: Barrel Char Wood Products
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.

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