Eastern Iowa Wine Club

From Press Release

The Eastern Iowa Wine Club and Benton County Fair have teamed up to host our first annual amateur winemaking competition on July 24, 2008 at the county fair in Vinton, Iowa.

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 15 categories, including seven subcategories of grape wines and eight subcategories of non-grape wines, will be evaluated with ribbons awarded to the top three finishers in each grouping. The judges will also award two top ribbons, including 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 23rd and judging will take place on July 24th with awards presented at 7:40pm. Official rules are available on the Eastern Iowa Wine Club website (www.iowawineclub.org) or additional information may be obtained by contacting Martin Blind at (319-551-2075 or email).