Entry Deadline:
While there are dozens of wine competitions around the United States, there is no competition devoted to the promotion of quality wines made exclusively from cold hardy grape cultivars. That changed in 2009 when the Minnesota Grape Growers Association, in conjunction with the Minnesota State Fair and the Minnesota Farm Wineries Association sponsored the First Annual Cold Climate Wine Competition.
There are 30 different competition categories, including Native Grape, French & American Hybrids, Sparkling, Specialty & Fortified and Non-Grape. Only commercially available wines (minimum production of 20 cases) are eligible.
University of Minnesota Horticultural Research Center
c/o Drew Horton
600 Arboretum Blvd.
Excelsior, MN 55331
Per Entry Fee – $55.00
Submit two (2) bottles per entry.
AWARDS
Awarded based on each wine’s individual merit within the context of its own category
• Double Gold
• Gold
• Silver
• Bronze
SPECIAL HONORS AWARDS
Minnesota Governor’s Cup
– A traveling trophy awarded to the Best Minnesota Wine from any category
Winery of the Year Trophy
– Awarded to the winery with the best overall showing at the competition, based on the highest average scores with a minimum of five wines submitted
Best of Show Trophy
– Awarded to the wine showing the best for each of the following categories: white, red, rosé, specialty/fortified/sparkling
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
3675 Arboretum Blvd.
Chanhassen, MN 55317
612-624-2200
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