Events and Activities : EASTERN IOWA WINE PREPARING FOR WINE COMPETITION

Benton County Fair Hosts Fourth Annual Amateur Winemaking Contest

The Eastern Iowa Wine Club and Benton County Fair have once again teamed up to host the fourth annual amateur winemaking competition on July 26, 2012 at the county fair in Vinton, Iowa.

You might not know it but there are winemakers among us! “Right next door to you there may be friends and neighbors who ferment everything from Cabernet Sauvignon, raspberries, choke cherries, Iowa grown grapes, such as La Crosse (a cold‐tolerant, white French hybrid grape), to honey and dandelions. The wine industry in Iowa is booming and so is home wine making,” says Martin Blind, Eastern Iowa Wine Club President.

The amateur winemaking competition is an opportunity for home winemakers to showcase their favorite wines and to receive critical evaluation by skilled judges. The contest is open to any amateur home winemaker and is free to enter. A total of 19 categories, including ten subcategories of grape wines, nine subcategories of non‐grape wines, and three subcategories of meads and ciders will be evaluated. All wines will be judged according to their relative merits within the category and will receive a ribbon for Gold (blue), Silver (red), and bronze (white) as appropriate. Double Gold Medals will be awarded to wines judges believe to be of superior quality. The judges will also award a “Best of Show” given to the top overall wine in the entire competition. After the formal judging, visitors (21 and older) may sample the wines and place a vote for their favorite, “People’s Choice” award.

Entries must be received at the fairgrounds between 2‐8pm on July 25th and judging will take place on July 26th with awards presented at approximately 8:00 pm. Official rules are available on the Eastern Iowa Wine Club Facebook page (www.facebook.com/EasternIowaWineClub) or additional information may be obtained by contacting Martin Blind at (319‐551‐2075 or winecompetition@iowawineclub.org).