The following is general information for each wine competition - please contact the event organizer for specific dates, entry fees and other entry requirements.
- American Wine Society Commercial Wine Competition
- Matt Kristofik
- 432 Chester Drive
- Lower Burrell, PA 15068
- Day Phone 412/578-7011
- Evening Phone 724/339-4234
- Fax 724/339-4234
- Sponsors/Organizers The American Wine Society
- Dates Of Competition Mid-November
- Venue Greenwich, CT
- Entry Requirements The competition is open to all wineries, distributors and importers. Each winery is limited to 24 entries.
- Wine Submission Deadline Early October
- Judge Information The judging panels are made up of American Wine Society certified judges and industry professionals.
- Competition Established 1985
- Atlanta International Wine Summit
- Pat Driscoll
- 2441 Woodacres Rd. NE
- Atlanta, GA 30345
- Phone 404/634-4175 or 800/868-2929 access: 00
- Fax 404/327-9252
- Web http://winesummit.homestead.com/
- Sponsors/Organizers Atlanta International Wine Summit
- Dates Of Competition Early July
- Venue Atlanta, GA
- Entry Requirements Open to all wine producing areas worldwide. No limit to the number of entries.
- Entry Form Deadline Early June
- Wine Submission Deadline Early June
- Judge Information Wine industry professionals and consumer representation
- Competition Established 1979
- Best of the Bay Wine Competition and Zin Challenge
- Diane Long
- 4501 Pleasanton Avenue
- Pleasanton, CA 94566
- Phone 925/426-7611
- Fax925/426-7652
- E-mail exhibits@alamedacountyfair.com
- Website http://www.alamedacountyfair.com
- Sponsors/Organizers Bremner Bisquit Company
- Dates Of Competition June
- Venue Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton, CA
- Entry Requirements
- Best of the Bay Competition — Commercially bonded wineries in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Benito, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and Solano counties.
- Zin Challenge — Open to all U.S. wineries producing red Zinfandel.
- Wine Entry Form Deadline End of April
- Wine Samples Due Mid-May
- Judge Information Judging panel includes three experienced and qualified judges chosen from the wine industry, wine journalism and wine trade.
- Competition Established 1981
- California State Fair Wine Competition
- Kem Pence
- Wine Department Chair
- California State Fair
- P.O. Box 15649
- Sacramento, CA 95852
- Phone 916/263-3159
- Sponsors/Organizers Sponsored by Albertson's and organized/governed by the California State Fair
- Dates Of Competition End of June
- Venue California State Fairgrounds, Sacramento
- Entry Requirements Must be a California wine and part of a lot of identical wine of at least 480 gallons.
- Wine Submission Deadline End of May Ñ please contact event organizers for wine submission timelines
- Judge Information Judges must take a qualifying exam and include wine industry representatives, wine writers, enologists, winemakers, restaurateurs, sommeliers and educators. Wines are entered judged in 10 geographical groupings and on a regional basis, based upon where the grapes are grown.
- Competition Established 1854 (The oldest wine competition in the Western U.S.)
- California Zinfandel Championship Competition
- Monica Culcasi
- Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce
- 2020 Railroad Avenue
- Pittsburg, CA 94565
- Phone 925/432-7301
- Fax 925/427-5555
- E-Mail chamber@pittsburg.org
- Web http://www.pittsburg.org
- Sponsors/Organizers Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce
- Dates Of Competition Early September
- Venue Pittsburg Seafood Festival, Pittsburg, CA
- Entry Requirements To enter the competition you will need to return a completed entry form for each Zinfandel wine you wish to enter. Multiple entries are allowed. The competition is open to all wineries. You must submit 2 bottles of wine per entry.
- Entry Form Deadline
- Wine Submission Deadline End of June
- Judge Information The judges are American Wine Society Certified and Industry professionals
- Competition Established 1997
- Critics Challenge International Wine Competition
- 1034 Quince Street
- San Diego, CA 92103
- Phone 619-804-0371
- Fax 619-294-4878
- email: criticschallenge@aol.com
- web: http://www.criticschallenge.com
- Sponsors/Organizers Whitley On Wine, the Westgate Hotel, SignOnSanDiego Gourmet Club, Passionfish (a non-profit org) Director, Robert Whitley
- Dates Of Competition May 28-29, 2005
- Venue The Westgate Hotel, San Diego
- Entry Requirements Entries open to all wines, brandy, eau de vie and grappa from around the world.
- Judge Information Mary Ewing-Mulligan, MW and Robert Whitley
- Dallas Morning News World Wine Competition
- Rebecca Murphy
- P.O. Box 721283
- Dallas, TX 75372-1283
- Phone 214/319-7000
- Web http://www.dallaswinecompetition.com
- Sponsors/Organizers The Dallas Morning News
- Dates Of Competition Late January
- Venue Fairmont Hotel in Dallas, TX
- Entry Requirements A wine produced anywhere in the world may be entered. Limit 3 wines per category. Please contact event organizers for entry form submission deadline.
- Entry Form Deadline Mid-January
- Judge Information There will be 48 judges, consisting of wine writers, retailers, restaurateurs, and wine educators. Winemakers may not serve as judges.
- Competition Established 1984
- El Dorado County Commercial Wine Competition
- 100 Placerville Drive
- PO Box 1537
- Placerville, CA 95634
- Phone 530/621-5860
- Sponsors/Organizers The El Dorado County Fair Association with special awards sponsored by El Dorado Winery Association, El Dorado Wine Grape Growers, Organic Grapes into Wine Alliance, Zachary Jacques Restaurant, Fair Play Marketing Group
- Dates of Competition Entries accepted April 23-May 11, 2007. Judging June 1, 2007
- Venue El Dorado County Fairgrounds
- Entry Requirements The competition is open to all California wineries producing less than 20,000 cases total production annually and to all Sierra Foothills wineries. The exception to this requirement is the Rhone category, which accepts commercial wines from Rhone Varietal Grapes grown and produced anywhere in the world, by any size commercial winery.
- Entry Form Deadline May 11, 2007
- Wine Submission Deadline May 11, 2007
- Judge Information The judging panel consists of 28 judges, including individuals associated with the wine trade and wine writers.
- Competition Established 1988
- Finger Lakes International Wine Competition
- David G. Male
- 441 Sprucewood Terrace
- Williamsville, NY 14221-3910
- Phone 716/634-2456
- Fax 716/634-7061
- E-Mail vinehous@aol.com
- Sponsors/Organizers Camp Good Days and Special Times (a not-for-profit 501 corporation providing a camping experience and much more for children with cancer)
- Dates Of Competition Late March
- Venue Crown Royal Hotel, Rochester, NY
- Entry Requirements Wine classes include varietals, blends and generic wines from any grape or fruit type. They include sparkling, dessert, fortified and fruit wines. Distilled products allowed include brandy, grappa and eau de vie. Fruit-flavored wines are allowed, but must be specifically identified as flavored.
- Wine Submission Deadline Mid-March
- Judge Information A diverse, internationally certified and highly skilled group of judges.
- COMPETITION ESTABLISHED 2001
- Florida State Fair Wine & Grape Juice Competition
- Joyce Covington
- P.O. Box 11766
- Tampa, FL 33680
- Phone 813/627-4216
- Fax 813/740-3513
- Sponsors/Organizers Florida State Fair and the Florida Grape Growers Association
- Dates Of Competition Early February
- Venue Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, FL
- Entry Requirements Wine produced anywhere in the world may be entered. Wines must be currently available in the commercial market, but need not be available in Florida. Entry forms must be submitted by mid-December.
- Wine Submission Deadline Mid-January
- Judge Information There are 15 qualified judges from all across the country.
- Competition Established 1988
- Grand Harvest Awards
- Robert Merletti
- Vineyard & Winery Management
- PO Box 2358, Windsor, CA 95492-2358
- Phone 707/836-6820
- Fax 707/836-6825
- Sponsors/Organizers Vineyard and Winery Management Magazine
- Dates Of Competition Mid-February
- Venue Fountain Grove Inn, Santa Rosa, CA
- Entry Requirements Wines made from grapes of any North American viticultural area are eligible, if commercially available.
- Wine Submission Deadline entry due early January; wines to arrive by mid-January.
- Judge Information Judges are wine industry professionals and experienced wine judges. Some judges familiar with terroir characteristics of each participating region are used to judge wines of that region.
- Competition Established 1990
- Indiana State Fair International Wine Competition
- Jill Blume
- Food Science Department
- 745 Ag Mall Drive
- Purdue University
- West Lafayette, IN 47907-2009
- Phone 765/494-1749
- Fax 765/494-7953
- E-Mail Blume@purdue.edu
- Web http://www.indyinternational.org
- Sponsors/Organizers Indiana State Fair
- Dates Of Competition Late July
- Venue Expo Hall, Indiana State Fairgrounds, Indianapolis, Indiana
- Entry Requirements 3 bottles for commercial wineries, 2 bottles for amateur winemakers
- Wine Submission Deadline Mid-July
- Judge Information 70 judges will be employed; including winemakers, wine writers, wine marketers and chefs and knowledgeable consumers from around the world.
- Competition Established 1992
- International Eastern Wine Competition
- Donna Lodge
- P.O. Box 231
- Watkins Glen, NY 14891
- Phone 800/535-5670 x21 or 607/535-2998
- Sponsors/Organizers Vineyard and Winery Management Magazine
- Dates Of Competition Late May
- Venue Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, NY
- Entry Requirements Wines must be commercially available in North America.
- Wine Submission Deadline Late April
- Judge Information Judges are a diverse trade professionals including winemakers, researchers, retailers, restaurateurs and wine media.
- Competition Established 1976
- InterVin U.S./Canadian International Wine Competition
- Mrs. Dayle Sharp, Chairman & C.E.O.
- P.O. Box 488
- North York, Ontario, Canada, M3C 2T2
- Phone 416/429-6523
- Fax 416/429-0382
- E-mail Dayle.Sharp@intervin.com
- Web http://www.intervin.com
- Sponsors/Organizers InterVin
- Dates Of Competition May/June
- Venue Toronto, Canada
- Entry Requirements Any commercial wine produced worldwide, including brandy, grappa and fruit wines. There is no limit to the number of entries. Wineries must ship three bottles minimum of each label.
- Wine Submission Deadline End of May
- Judge Information The number of judges depends on the number of entries received. Judges must pass InterVin's stringent taste test.
- Competition Established 1986
- Jerry D. Mead's New World International Wine Competition
- Eileen Tillery
- P.O. Box 5306
- Diamond Bar, CA 91765
- Phone 909/989-4733
- Fax 909/989-1864
- Email: nwiwc@yahoo.com
- Web: http://www.nwiwc.com
- Sponsors/Organizers Jerry D. Mead, Founder, New World International Wine Competition
- Dates Of Competition End of February
- Venue Ontario, CA
- Entry Requirements Accepts all wines and grape distillates from the U.S., Australia, Mexico, New Zealand, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, South Africa and any other wine producing nations of the "New World." No limit on the number of entries.
- Wine Submission Deadline Mid-January
- Judge Information Judges include the wine media, vintners, trade representatives, trained consumers and academia.
- Competition Established 1985
- Long Beach Grand Cru Wine Competition
- Ludmila Montoya
- Executive Producer
- 110 Pine Ave. #420
- Long Beach, CA 90262-3945
- Phone 213/640-3894
- Sponsors/Organizers Long Beach Office of the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles
- Dates Of Competition Mid-late July
- Venue Exhibit Hall, hosted by Queen Mary, Long Beach, CA
- Entry Requirements Open to all nations unless otherwise stated. One entry = six bottles, not less than 750ml. If 350ml, submit 12 bottles. Entry forms may be submitted between April 1st and June 10th.
- Wine Submission Deadline Mid-June
- Judge Information Dan Berger and a steering committee will choose judges from a pool of winemakers, restaurateurs, wine store representatives, noted wine writers and recognized wine connoisseurs.
- Competition Established 1995
- The Los Angeles International Wine and Spirits Competition
- Mary Ellen Cole
- P.O. Box 2250
- Pomona, CA 91769
- Phone 909/865-4231
- Web: http://lacountyfair.com
- Sponsors/Organizers Los Angeles County Fair
- Dates Of Competition Mid-May
- Venue Los Angeles County Fairgrounds, Pomona, CA
- Entry Requirements The competition is now open to wine made anywhere in the world. There are two competitions: Wines of the Americas, and the Limited Production competition.
- Wine Submission Deadline Early April
- Judge Information There are 80 judges from a variety of backgrounds.
- Competition Established 1935
- Monterey International Wine Competition
- 625 Division St.
- King City, CA 93930
- Phone 831/385-3243
- Fax 831/385-3345
- Web http://www.salinasvalleyfair.com
- email: whitonwine@aol.com
- Sponsors/Organizers Salinas Valley Fair Director, Robert Whitley
- Dates Of Competition March 5 - 6, 2005
- Venue Salinas Valley Fairgrounds
- Entry Requirements Open to all wine producing areas worldwide. No limit to the number of entries.
- Wine Submission Deadline Late February
- Judge Information Chief Judge, Robert Whitley
- Competition Established 1994
- Orange County Fair Commercial Wine Competition
- Larry Graham
- V.P./Competition Chairman
- P.O. Box 11059
- Costa Mesa, CA 92627
- Phone 714/708-1636
- Sponsors/Organizers The Orange County Wine Society and the Orange County Fair Board co-sponsor the event.
- Dates Of Competition Late May
- Venue Hilton Hotel in Costa Mesa, CA
- Entry Requirements Any California wine that is commercially available in Orange County. Grapes must be grown in California. Entry forms must be submitted at the beginning of May.
- Entry Form Deadline
- Wine Submission Deadline Early May
- Judge Information Judges are either winemakers or winery principals. Judging is performed double "blind."
- Competition Established 1977
- Pacific Rim International Wine Competition
- Dr. James Crum
- 689 South "E" Street
- San Bernardino, CA 92408
- Phone 909/888-6788 ext. 415
- Fax 909/889-7666
- Sponsors/Organizers National Orange Show
- Dates Of Competition Late April
- Venue National Orange Show, San Bernardino, CA
- Entry Requirements Wine must be from the Pacific Rim. All wines must be commercially available and four bottles of each variety must be submitted.
- Entry Form Deadline Late March
- Wine Submission Deadline Late March
- Judge Information The judging panel contains 30 judges from three categories, including principal winemakers, individuals associated with the wine trade and wine writers.
- Competition Established 1984
- The Press Democrat's North Of The Gate Wine Competition
- Ralph Swagler
- 8024 Manchester Ave.
- Rohnert Park, CA 94928
- Phone: 707/664-0510
- Fax: 707/664-9191
- Web http://www.sonoma-marinfair.org
- E-Mail WineJudge@aol.com
- Sponsors/Organizers The Press Democrat Newspaper, Sponsor, Sonoma - Marin Fair, Petaluma, CA, Organizer
- Dates Of Competition Late April
- Venue Marin Fairgrounds, Petaluma, CA
- Entry Requirements Any commercially available wine made from grapes grown in Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino, Marin, Lake, or Solano counties.
- Wine Submission Deadline Early April
- Judge Information 4 Judging panels consisting of 5 judges each, selected from the wine industry, wine buyers, winemakers, wine writers, & wine educators. All judging is blind.
- Competition Established 2001
- Riverside International Wine Competition
- Dan Berger
- 7006 Magnolia Ave. #150
- Riverside, CA 92506
- Phone 707/528-9466
- Fax 707/528-7395
- Email: danberger@rocketmail.com
- Sponsors/Organizers The Riverside International Wine Competition corporation sponsors the company.
- Dates Of Competition Early May
- Venue Riverside Community Hospital Health Education Center
- Entry Requirements Any bonded winery may enter. No limit to the number of entries.
- Wine Submission Deadline Early April
- Judge Information There are 44 judges who are winery owners, wine writers, winemakers, and other industry representatives.
- Competition Established 1981
- San Diego International Wine Competition
- 3707 Fifth Avenue
- San Diego, CA 92103
- Phone 619/804-0371
- Fax 619/294-4878
- E-mail: sdnwc@aol.com
- Website http://www.sdnwc.com
- Sponsors/Organizers The Social Service Auxiliary of San Diego
- Dates Of Competition April 23-24, 2005
- Venue Varies from year-to-year
- Entry Requirements Any U.S. or International bonded winery may enter. No limit to the number of entries. As a participant, if your wine is awarded a medal, you must be willing to donate one case of that wine to the Wine & Roses Charity Tasting.
- Wine Submission Deadline Late February
- Judge Information Chief Judge, David Lake
- Competition Established 1983
- San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
- Bob Fraser
- 568 Monaco Circle
- Cloverdale, CA 95425
- Phone 707/527-4648
- Fax 707/527-4816
- E-mail rfraser@santarosa.edu
- Website http://www.winejudging.com and http://www.chroniclecalendar.com
- Sponsors/Organizers San Francisco Chronicle, Sponsor; Cloverdale Citrus Fair, Host
- Dates Of Competition Late January. A public wine tasting of award medal wines will be held mid-March.
- Venue Cloverdale Citrus Fairgrounds
- Entry Requirements Accept wines from any bonded winery from California. Must have a minimum of 50 cases on hand for public 30 days from entry deadline.
- Wine Submission Deadline Early January
- Judge Information Judging panel of five include representatives from trade, education, media, winemakers, and food/tour. Judging is blind.
- Competition Established 1983 (Originally as Cloverdale Citrus Fair Wine Competition)
- San Francisco International Wine Competition
- Carol Seibert
- 3145 Geary Blvd. #437
- San Francisco, CA 94118
- Phone 415/345-9000
- Fax 415/345-9090
- E-mail info@sfwinecomp.com
- Website http://www.sfwinecomp.com
- Dates Of Competition Mid-June
- Venue Hotel Nikko, San Francisco
- Entry Requirements Must be a commercial wine produced by a professional winery. Also included in the competition are: non-alcoholic wine, fruit wine, grappa, vermouth, sherry, port and sake.
- Wine Submission Deadline Late May
- Judge Information fifty judges from around the world. The judges are nationally recognized wine experts, usually either wine buyers or wine writers. Winemakers and consumers may not serve as judges.
- Competition Established 1982
- West Coast Wine Competition
- Robert Merletti
- Vineyard & Winery Management
- PO Box 2358, Windsor, CA 95492-2358
- Phone 707/836-6820
- Fax 707/836-6825
- Web http://www.vwm-online.com
- Sponsors/Organizers Vineyard and Winery Management Magazine Ñ Benefits the American Vineyard Foundation and Santa Rosa Symphony League. Culminates in public tasting of medalists. Co-sponsored by the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.
- Dates Of Competition Mid-April
- Venue Fountain Grove Inn, Santa Rosa, CA
- Entry Requirements The competition is open to commercially available wines from California, Baja, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, as well as British Colombia in Canada.
- Wine Submission Deadline entry due mid-March; wines to arrive late March.
- Judge Information Judges are wine industry professionals and experienced wine judges with special knowledge of West Coast wines.
- Competition Established 1982
- WineFest
- Jill Golden
- P.O. Box 5097
- Hilton Head Island, SC 29938
- Phone 843/686-4944
- Fax 843/686-4169
- Sponsors/Organizers Hilton Head Hospitality Association
- Dates Of Competition Early February
- Venue Hilton Head Island, SC
- Entry Requirements Any winery may enter. Three bottles of each label being entered are required.
- Wine Submission Deadline Mid-January
- Judge Information Judging will be conducted blind. Judges will rank wines using the 20-point Davis Rating Scale. All judges must be American Wine Society certified.
- Competition Established 1985