2022 Iowa Wine Award Winners Announced
2022 Iowa Wine Award Winners (L to R): Vineyard of the Year recipient Megan Farley, Summerset Winery, Winemaker of the Year recipient Kent Foulker, Cedar Ridge Winery, Retail Partner of the Year recipient Tara Kohlhaas, The Wijn House and Outstanding Industry Partner recipients Carlton and Lisa Goodwin from Heaven Boutique Winery. Not pictured is Jeremy Kohlhaas.
Contact Information:
Nicole Eilers, Marketing Director
nicole@iowawinegrowers.org
515.664.7754
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
IOWA WINE AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED
DES MOINES, IA — The Iowa Wine Growers Association presented awards to several industry members who have been integral to the success of the wine and grape industry in Iowa. Winners were presented with their awards at the 2022 Iowa Wine Awards Social on Wednesday, February 9, 2022 at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny, Iowa. The awards social was held in conjunction with the 2022 Iowa Specialty Producers Conference, which took place Feb. 9 & 10 at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny.
Kent Foulker, Cedar Ridge Winery in Swisher, was presented with the 2022 Winemaker of the Year Award. This award honors an Iowa winemaker who has served as a leader in the wine industry by crafting superior Iowa wines utilizing locally sourced products when possible, adhering to best practices of winemaking, and demonstrating a willingness to experiment and try new techniques while positively contributing to the industry as a whole. Kent currently serves as the treasurer for the Iowa Wine Growers Association Board of Directors.
Megan Farley, of Summerset Winery in Indianola, was presented with the 2022 Vineyard of the Year Award. This award honors an Iowa vineyard positively contributing to the industry through demonstrated superior viticulture practices, adhering to viticulture best practices to provide high quality produce for Iowa wineries, while continually seeking to improve their business through education and advancement. Megan is growing excellent quality grapes in Iowa. In just over 3 years at Summerset, Megan has taken the 25 year old vines and developed them as a high quality producer in the state. She is dedicated to improving the quality of Iowa's grapes and wine, as well as seeing the association succeed.
Jeremy & Tara Kohlhaas of The Wijn House in Pella, were presented with the 2022 Retail Partner of the Year Award. This award honors an Iowa retailer who has supported the wine and grape industry growth in Iowa through partnership with Iowa wineries and vineyards and demonstrating willingness to showcase Iowa wines in the retail setting. The Wijn House is an all-Iowa wine shop and tasting room, and features a different Iowa winery each week to educate the public about the wide variety of wines available across our state. They work closely with 40 wineries to ensure they are accurately representing their products and all of the hard work that goes into producing them.
Lisa & Carlton Goodwin of Heaven Boutique Winery, in Fayette, were presented with the 2022 Outstanding Industry Partner Award. This award honors an individual or organization that has supported the growth of the wine and grape industry in Iowa, served as an advocate for the industry and has positively impacted the quality of the Iowa grape and wine industry. Lisa and Carlton support the Iowa wine industry by carrying only Iowa wines in their wine shop. Heaven Boutique features a vineyard, music venue and lodging in the lovely Volga River Valley.
QUOTE:
“The Iowa Wine Growers Association is happy we were able to host our annual conference in-person this year. We were happy to be able to gather with our industry members to present awards. This group is extremely involved in the industry, and couldn’t be more deserving. The Iowa Wine Awards are nominated and voted on by peers within the industry, so receiving one of these awards is quite an achievement. We would like to thank each of the award winners for their contributions and work they put into our industry, and look forward to their continued success,” said Chris Larsen, president of the Iowa Wine Growers Association.
ABOUT IOWA WINE GROWERS ASSOCIATION:
The Iowa Wine Growers Association (IWGA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the growth of the wine and grape industry in Iowa. Established in 2000, the Iowa Wine Growers Association (IWGA) supports the industry through education, marketing/promotion and legislative support.
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