Red Wine Wins Blue Ribbon in State Fair Vintner Competition
August 15, 2011
The Red Raspberry wine produced by Ackerman Winery of South Amana won the Sweepstakes award as the overall top entrant in the Iowa Wine Commercial Competition, judged Sunday, August 7, prior to the start of the 2011 Iowa State Fair.
To be eligible for the Sweepstakes award, wines had to receive Gold awards from both judging panels. Ackerman Winery captured double gold status with their Red Raspberry and Blackberry Wines. The same honor also went to Cedar Valley Winery of Batavia for their Norton Wine and Eagles Landing Winery of Marquette for their Autumn Splendor and Serenity wines.
Two panels of judges conducted blind tastings of 116 wines entered by 24 Iowa wineries. All entrants were made from Iowa grown grapes.
The competition uses an awards system based on how the wine should be shared. A Gold award means the wine would be one a person would be “proud to take to a dinner party.” A Silver award denotes a wine that you would be “proud to serve to friends in my home,” while a Bronze award signifies a wine that a person “will enjoy drinking at home.”
Samples of the Double Gold winning wines as well as State Fair White and State Fair Red wines are available in Grandfather’s Barn for a nominal fee.
Additional Results below:
Gold Winners:
By the Dam Good Wine, Brush Creek Winery, Bellevue
Brianna, Santa Maria Vineyard and Winery, Carroll
Summer White, Wide River Winery, Clinton
Sassy Girl, Breezy Hills Winery, Minden
Frontenac, 2008 Vintage, Snus Hill Vineyard and Winery, Madrid
Sweet Ruby, Eagles Landing Winery, Marquette
Red, White and Blue, Tassel Ridge Winery, Leighton
Just Peachy, Eagles Landing Winery, Marquette
Farm House Red Raspberry, Engelbrecht Family Winery, Fredericksburg
Silver Winners:
White Diamond, Whispering Pines, Keosaqua
Whisker White, Snus Hill Vineryard and Winery, Madrid
Burlington Mist, Lindon Wines, Burlington
Boule de Polis, Snus Hill Vineyard and Winery, Madrid
Farm House White, Engelbrecht Family Winery, Fredericksburg
Classy Lady, Danish Countryside Vines & Wine, Exira
Edelweiss, Covered Brides Winery, Winterset
Niagra, Ackerman Winery, South Amana
Ms. Behavin’, Wide River Winery, Clinton
Brianna, Covered Bridges Winery, Winterset
Star Spangled White, Tassel Ridge Winery, Leighton
Frontenac, 2009 Vintage, Snus Hill Vineyard and Winery, Madrid
Iowa St. Croix, Tassel Ridge Winery, Leighton
Rising Sun Red, Rosey Acres Winery, Runnells
Sweet Caroline, Danish Countryside Vines and Wines, Exira
Kitten, Snus Hill Vineyard and Winery, Madrid
Farm House Blues, Engelbrecht Family Winery, Fredericksburg
Firefly, Fireside Winery, Marengo
Cabana Boy, Breezy Hills Winery, Minden
Pink Catawba, Tassel Ridge Winery, Leighton
Concord, Ackerman Winery, South Amana
Apple, Eagle City Winery, Iowa Falls
Cranberry, Eagle City Winery, Iowa Falls
Plum Light Wine, Christian Herschler Winery, Donnellson
Raspberry, Breezy Hills Winery, Minden
Raspberry, Penoach Winery, Adel
Viola!, Santa Maria Vineyard and Winery, Carroll
Bronze Winners:
Seyval, Cedar Valley Winery, Batavia
Chardonel, Snus Hill Vineyard and Winery, Madrid
LaCrosse, Fireside Winery, Marengo
Fontenac Gris Blush, Lindon Wines, Burlington
Edelweiss, Snus Hill Vineyard & Winery, Madrid
Summer Crush, Eagles Landing Winery, Marquette
Summer Daze, Brush Creek Winery, Bellevue
Volga Lake Blush, Eagles Landing Winery, Marquette
Aspok, John Ernest Vineyard & Winery, Tama
Misty Thistle, Danish Countryside Vines & Wines, Exira
Volga Lake White, Eagles Landing Winery, Marquette
Cedar Bridge, Covered Bridges Winery, Winterset
Sweeter Than Sprintime, Brush Creek Winery, Bellevue
Storyteller, Fireside Winery, Marengo
LaCrosse, Cedar Valley Winery, Batavia
Autumn Blush, Whispering Pines, Keosaqua
Brianna, Penoach Winery, Adel
Catnip, Snus Hill Vineyard and Winery, Madrid
Marachel Foch, Snus Hill Vineyard and Winery, Madrid
Hayfork, Danish Countryside Vines and Wines, Exira
Iowa Sunset, John Ernest Vineyard and Winery, Tama
Rohde Red, Eagles Landing Winery, Marquette
Sven Red, Snus Hill Vineyard and Winery, Madrid
White St. Croix, Breezy Hills Winery, Minden
Hogback Ridge, Covered Bridges Winery, Winterset
Rileigh Red, Grape Escape Winery, Pleasantville
Papa Cherry, Eagles Landing Winery, Marquette
Raspberry, Eagle City Winery, Iowa Falls
Cherry, Rosey Acres Winery, Runnells
Campfire Hootch, Eagles Landing Winery, Marquette
Blue Heron, Brush Creek Winery, Bellevue
Blackberry Wine, Tassel Ridge Winery, Leighton
My Blackberry, Santa Maria Vineyard and Winery, Carroll
Farm House Irish Charm, Engelbrecht Family Winery, Fredericksburg
Frontenac Dessert, Snus Hill Vineyard and Winery, Madrid
Chocolate Grandfinale, Tassel Ridge Winery, Leighton
Spinna, Snus Hill Vineyard and Winery, Madrid
“Nothing Compares” to the 2011 Iowa State Fair, celebrating 100 years of the Butter Cow August 11-21. The Fairgrounds are located at East 30th and East University Avenue, just 10 minutes east of downtown Des Moines, and are open 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. each day of the Fair. Exhibit hours may vary. For more information, call 800/545-FAIR or visit iowastatefair.org.
* * *
