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