Events and Activities : Benton County Fair – Eastern Iowa Wine Club Amateur Wine Maker Competition Rules

1. No Entry Fee.

2. Contest is open to any amateur home winemaker. No wine exhibited may have been made by a professional 
commercial winemaker or by any commercial winery. All entrants must be at least 21 years of age.

3. Entries must be made in the Department between 2:00 and 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 25, 2012.

4. One bottle is required per entry. Still wines must be submitted in standard 750ml wine bottles. Ice and 
fortified wines may be submitted in 375ml bottles. Sparkling wines must be in champagne (high pressure) bottles secured with proper closure and cage. All bottles must be free of wax, decorative labels, and capsules. The bottles will be identified with the Fair Identification Number (ID) and Class at the time of entry.

5. Exhibitors may enter multiple wines into the competition. Each wine may be entered into only one category. Judges may reclassify an entry if they feel that the wine was entered into the wrong category.

6. 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.

7. NoexhibitwillbereleasedtoexhibitorsbytheSuperintendentorhisdesigneeuntil5:00p.m.onthelast day of the Fair, and all exhibits must be removed by 6:00 p.m. After 6:00 p.m., neither Department Superintendent nor the Benton County Fair management shall be responsible for any exhibit that has not been picked up and all prizes and awards earned shall be forfeited unless arrangements have been made with the Superintendent or his designee at the time of entry.

8. All decisions by competition organizers and judges are final.

Class 1 – Grape Wine

1. Dry White (Vinifera)

2. Dry Red (Vinifera)

3. Sweet White (Vinifera)

4. Sweet Red (Vinifera)

5. Sparkling (dry or sweet)

6. Dry White (Native/Hybrid)

7. Dry Red (Native/Hybrid)

8. Sweet White (Native/Hybrid)

9. Sweet Red (Native/Hybrid)

10. Marechal Foch

Class 2 – Non-Grape Wine

1. Dry Fruit

2. Sweet Fruit

3. Dry Berry

4. Sweet Berry

5. Rhubarb

6. Dry Vegetable or Flower

7. Sweet Vegetable or Flower

8. Dessert Wine (includes fortified)

9. Sparkling (non-grape)

Class 3 – Meads and Ciders

1. Dry Mead

2. Sweet Mead

3. Cider