The inaugural Amateur Wine Competition, as part of Iowa’s Premier Wine & Food Expo, judging was held today at Hy-Vee Hall. 60 entries competed for the top honors. The contest was only open to local wine clubs and hobbyists – commercial wineries were not allowed.
The contest was sponsored by Make Mine Wine Magazine, Indianola, Iowa and BlueStem Winery, Parkersburg, Iowa. The award-winning wines will be featured next weekend at Hy-Vee Hall at Iowa’s Premier Wine & Food Expo.
Judges critiqued the wines based on color, aroma, body, taste and finish. All winemakers will receive their score sheet with judges comments, which may be helpful when they start on their next batch of wine.
And the winners are:
Best of Grape Wines-Robert Smith from Webster City. Smith’s entry was a 2008 Barbera.
Best of Non Grape Wines-Bob Whitbeck from Indianola. Whitbeck’s entry was a 2008 Elderberry.
Best of Meads & Ciders-Joel Duden from Marshalltown. Duden’s entry was a 2008 Sparkling Apple Mead.
ABOUT IOWA’S PREMIER WINE AND FOOD EXPO, PRESENTED BY HY-VEE Live demonstrations will be taking place in the Celebrity Kitchen Theater, sponsored by Kitchen Classics, by popular celebrity chefs, including Andrew Zimmern of Travel Channel’s “Bizarre Foods” and Duff Goldman, host of “Ace of Cakes” on the Food Network. The celebrities will participate in meet and greets and autograph sessions in Hockenberg’s Celebrity Meet ‘n Greet Zone. Autographs are on a first come first served basis as time allows.
Celebrities aren’t the only ones with a chance to show off their culinary skills. The You’re Cookin! Stage will showcase local and regional chefs.
The Emporium, sponsored by Mrs. Clark’s features retail, food and service vendors from all over the Midwest. Buy it, leave it, and take it home, or BLT. When attendees purchase items at Iowa’s Premier Wine & Food Expo, they can leave those items at the convenient, on-site drop-off location at no charge and free their hands for more shopping.
Over 280 wines, beer and spirits from around the world are at the show. The Sampling Zone will be open for individuals to try various beers, wines and spirits for only $12 (must be 21 years of age to sample). When guests are finished at the Sampling Zone, they can visit the Hy-Vee Wine Shop to purchase their favorite sampled bottle of wine or specialty beer.
Regular tickets are priced at $20 for the day or $35 for both days and are on sale now. Children six and under are admitted into the show FREE of charge. Tickets are available at the Wells Fargo Arena Ticket Office, all area Dahl’s Foods locations, online at dahlstickets.com, or charge by phone at 866-55-DAHLS.
The full schedule and detailed information can be found at www.iowaeventscenter.com/wineandfood.
Sponsors include Hy-Vee, The Des Moines Register, Factory Direct Appliances, Kitchen Classics, Mrs. Clarks, Hockenbergs, Iowa Beef, Pork and Turkey Producers, Renaissance Savery Hotel, and WHO-TV-Channel 13.
About Make Mine Wine Make Mine Wine and the Make Mine Wing blog offer weekend inspiration with regional wine, go-with recipes, fun, getaway, home and entertaining ideas for wine lovers. The magazine immerses the novice or more sophisticated wine lover in the culture of wine, specifically in Iowa and the Midwest.
Advertisers reach women and discretionary income that make most of the decisions on where to spend money on things they love: dining, travel, home décor, entertainment, shopping, personal, financial and medical services, and more.
The Make Mine Wine audience enjoys wine as pat of a lifestyle choice that involves family, friends and fun.
Make Mine Wine is published by Rasko Publishing LLC., founded in 2006 and headquartered in Indianola, IA. For more information or to subscribe to Make Mine Wine ($12.72 per year) call 515-962-5515. The Midwest wine events list and the Make Mine Wine blog are on line at www.makeminewinemagazine.com. Follow @MakeMineWine at www.twitter.com
About BlueStem Winery Vern Holms made his first batch of wine in 1976 and today produces and sells wine and offers wine-making classes at BlueStem Winery. At www.bluestemwine.com he sells beer-brewing and winemaking supplies and kits to more than 3,000 customers in numerous countries and in all 50 states. BlueStem Winery is located at 305 Third Street, Parkersburg, Iowa.
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