2019 Iowa State Fair "Best of Show" Iowa Wine Competition Winners Announced
The four “Best of Show” Iowa wines were selected to be featured in Grandfather’s Barn at the Iowa Wine Experience throughout the duration of the 2019 Iowa State Fair. Covered Bridges Winery won the Best of Show Red with Rattlesnake Red. Snus Hill Vineyard and Winery won Best of Show White with Cat Nip. Best of Show Fruit was awarded to Ackerman Winery with Red Raspberry and the Eagles Landing Winery was awarded Best of Show Other with Volga Lake Blush.
This year, 11 outstanding wines were nominated for “Best of Show”, which judges narrowed down and selected the top wine in each of the four divisions of the competition: white, red, fruit and other.
Held in July each year, the competition has 12 qualified judges selecting medal winners through a blind evaluation. This year, 145 wines from 28 Iowa wineries were entered. In total, 93 wines were given awards, five Double Gold, six Gold, 43 Silver and 39 Bronze.
In addition, the Iowa Wine Growers Association sponsors a Governor’s Cup Trophy award, which is the “best of the best” wine selected from the four Best of Show winners, determined by the judging panel at the end of the competition. Iowa’s Governor, Kim Reynolds, presents the trophy in a ceremony each year during the Iowa State Fair. Backcountry Winery was the first recipient of the trophy in 2017 with their Vignoles, which received Best of Show White. Ardon Creek Winery was the winner in 2018 with their Nouveau, which received Best of Show Red. The trophy has been on display at Ardon Creek Winery the past year and will soon be traveling to the 2019 winner’s tasting room. This year’s ceremony is taking place Saturday, August 10 at 1:30 p.m. at Grandfather’s Barn.
The Iowa Wine Growers Association also sponsors a People’s Choice Trophy award. Fairgoers purchasing a tasting tray can cast their vote to determine which “Best of Show” wine takes home the trophy each year. Ackerman Winery has received the award both years, with their Cranberry & Apple in 2017 and their Mango wine in 2018. The People’s Choice Trophy announcement takes place the last Sunday of the Fair at 3 p.m. at Grandfather’s Barn.
All four of the Best of Show award-winning wines, in addition to the commemorate Iowa State Fair Red and White wines, will be available at Grandfather’s Barn each day of the Fair from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tastings are $1 each or six for $5. Bottles of State Fair White and State Fair Red wines will also be available for $15.
For more information about the Iowa Wine Experience visit www.facebook.com/ISFWineExperience/.
Additional results included:
Double Gold
Cat Nip, Snus Hill Vineyard and Winery, Madrid, BEST OF SHOW WHITE
Red 52, Ardon Creek Vineyard and Winery, Llc, Letts, NOMINEE FOR BOS
Red Raspberry, Ackerman Winery, Amana, BEST OF SHOW FRUIT
Sweet Ruby, Eagles Landing Winery, Marquette, NOMINEE FOR BOS
Volga Lake Blush, Eagles Landing Winery, Marquette, BEST OF SHOW OTHER
Gold
Blackberry, Tassel Ridge Winery, Oskaloosa, NOMINEE FOR BOS
Cranprairie, Prairie Crossing, Treynor, NOMINEE FOR BOS
Honey – Mead, Ackerman Winery, Amana, NOMINEE FOR BOS
LaCrescent, Soldier Creek Winery, Fort Dodge, NOMINEE FOR BOS
Misbehavin', Breezy Hills Vineyard, Minden, NOMINEE FOR BOS
Rattlesnake Red, Covered Bridges Winery, Winterset, BEST OF SHOW RED
Silver
All Night White, Jasper Winery, Des Moines
Ardon Depot Wine, Ardon Creek Vineyard and Winery, Llc, Letts
Autumn Rose, Frisky Fox Vineyard & Winery, Riceville
Blackberry, Eagles Landing Winery, Marquette
Bobber, Wooden Wheel Vineyards, Keota
Brianna, Frisky Fox Vineyard & Winery, Riceville
Brianna, Soldier Creek Winery, Fort Dodge
Brianna, Train Wreck Winery, Algona
Burlington Kiss, Lindon Wines, Burlington
Campfire Hootch, Eagles Landing Winery, Marquette
Catawba Sunset, Danish Countryside Vines & Wines, Exira
Ditchweed Red, Snus Hill Vineyard and Winery, Madrid
Edelweiss, 99 Bottles Winery, Garner
Edelweiss, Snus Hill Vineyard and Winery, Madrid
Edelweiss, Snus Hill Vineyard and Winery, Madrid
Edelweiss, Tassel Ridge Winery, Oskaloosa
Front Porch, Jasper Winery, Des Moines
Frontenac, Red Barn Wines, Story City
Goldenrod, Soldier Creek Winery, Fort Dodge
Harvest Red, Tassel Ridge Winery, Oskaloosa
Holiday White, Ardon Creek Vineyard and Winery, Llc, Letts
Holliwell Bridge, Covered Bridges Winery, Winterset
Iowa Steuben, Tassel Ridge Winery, Oskaloosa
Kate, Train Wreck Winery, Algona
LaCrescent, Frisky Fox Vineyard & Winery, Riceville
Limestone Bluffs LaCrescent, Winneshiek Wildberry Winery, Decorah
Maid of the Harbor, Danish Countryside Vines & Wines, Exira
Nouveau, Ardon Creek Vineyard and Winery, Llc, Letts
Outstanding White, Eagles Landing Winery, Marquette
Peach, Ackerman Winery, Amana
Reverie, Revasser Winery, Ainsworth
Riverbend Rose, Penoach Winery, Adel
Rosa, Soldier Creek Winery, Fort Dodge
Roseman Bridge, Covered Bridges Winery, Winterset
Sabrevois, Red Barn Wines, Story City
Sassy Cindys Rhubarb, Eagles Landing Winery, Marquette
Serenity, Eagles Landing Winery, Marquette
Smooth Ozzie, Prairie Crossing, Treynor
Sparkling St Vincent, Buchanan House Winery, Tipton
Strawberry Fest, Eagles Landing Winery, Marquette
Sven Red, Snus Hill Vineyard and Winery, Madrid
Sweet Ride, Wooden Wheel Vineyards, Keota
Volga Lake White, Eagles Landing Winery, Marquette
Bronze
All Aboard Blush, Train Wreck Winery, Algona
Bee Happy, Eagles Landing Winery, Marquette
Behind the Shed Red, Jasper Winery, Des Moines
Black Sheep, 99 Bottles Winery, Garner
Boone River Blush, Backcountry Winery, Stratford
Celtic Red, Lindon Wines, Burlington
Constance, Eagles Landing Winery, Marquette
Coyote Call, Rustic River Winery And Vineyard, Lake View
Frog Hollow, Eagles Landing Winery, Marquette
Frontenac Gris, Soldier Creek Winery, Fort Dodge
Gandy Dancer, Train Wreck Winery, Algona
Iowa Candle Glow White, Tassel Ridge Winery, Oskaloosa
Iowa LaCrosse, Fireside Winery, Marengo
Isabella, Wooden Wheel Vineyards, Keota
LaCrescent, Jasper Winery, Des Moines
Ladies' Best Friend, Backcountry Winery, Stratford
Mango, Ackerman Winery, Amana
Marquette, Frisky Fox Vineyard & Winery, Riceville
Marquette, Lindon Wines, Burlington
Marquette, Red Barn Wines, Story City
Mrs. Sippi, Eagles Landing Winery, Marquette
Newfie Peach, Prairie Crossing, Treynor
O Ruby, Jennings Winery, Strawberry Point
One Night Stand, Prairie Crossing, Treynor
Outstanding Red, Eagles Landing Winery, Marquette
Paragon Pink, Soldier Creek Winery, Fort Dodge
Petite Pearl, Eagles Landing Winery, Marquette
Prairie Star, Frisky Fox Vineyard & Winery, Riceville
Rhubarb Delight, Frisky Fox Vineyard & Winery, Riceville
Rhuberry, Danish Countryside Vines & Wines , Exira
Rohde Red, Eagles Landing Winery, Marquette
Rosemary's Rose, Ardon Creek Vineyard and Winery, Llc, Letts
Second Child, 99 Bottles Winery, Garner
Seyval Blanc, Jasper Winery, Des Moines
Sparkling Brianna, Buchanan House Winery, Tipton
St. Croix, Frisky Fox Vineyard & Winery, Riceville
Starboard Of Marquette, Eagles Landing Winery, Marquette
The Divide, Backcountry Winery , Stratford
Vignoles, Breezy Hills Vineyard, Minden