Grand Harvest Awards
Rules & Procedures
Competition Dates: June 4-6, 2012
Check back soon for entry details.
OBJECTIVE
To promote the concept of regional typicity in wines and to recognize high quality among wines of entrants.
CLASSES OF ENTRY
In Grand Harvest, there are two principal classes of entry; those with specific geographical appellations (Napa, Finger Lakes, Bordeaux) and those without (California, New York, France). Both are treated with equal emphasis, but terroir discovery is not attempted in classes without geographical specificity.
1. Geographical classes of entry are determined by any viticultural region recognized by the United States government. Wines will be primarily grouped and judged according to their essential viticultural region. Recognition of terroir will be considered a quality factor in the determination of award. Wines of non-geographical specificity, whose labels do not bear the name of a viticultural region, will be tasted to determine quality only.
2. Any and only 100% grape wine may be entered. Class numbers/names:
Sparkling Wines
100 Sparkling White
110 Sparkling Rose
120 Sparkling Red
White
200 Chenin Blanc
210 Reislings
220 Gewurztraminer
240 Muscat Varieties
250 Other White Varietals
255 White Blends
260 Sauvignon Blanc
270 Pinot Gris/Grigio
280 Viognier
290 Chardonnay
Blush and Rosé
320 Varietal Blush/Rose
330 Rosé
Red
400 Pinot Noir
410 Sangiovese
411 Barbera
412 Other Italian Varietals
413 Italian Red Blends
415 Other Red Varietals
420 Syrah/Shiraz
422 Carignane
423 Other Rhone Varietals
424 Rhone Red Blends
430 Zinfandel
440 Merlot
450 Cabernet Franc
460 Other Bordeaux Varietals
470 Cabernet Sauvignon
481 Red Bordeaux Blends
490 Petite Sirah
495 Proprietary (house) Red Blends
Late Harvest & Dessert
500 LH White Varietals
530 LH Red Varietals
540 Ice Wine
“Euro-American Hybrids &
Native American Varieties”
600 Native American White
610 Native American Red
620 Euro-American White Hybrids
630 Euro-American Red Hybrids
Sake
700 Sake
Fruit Wines and Vermouth
710 White Vermouth
720 Red Vermouth
730 Fruit wines
740 Hard Ciders
Fortified
800 Sherry
820 Fortified Wines
Distilled Beverages
900 Brandy/Grappa
3. Entries must have a descriptive label bearing all federally required information. One label for each wine type entered should be mailed with the entry form. In the case of online and faxed entries, please copy your final entry form and mail it with labels and payment. Required information: a) The specific, labeled viticultural or political area for each wine; b) The varietal or proprietary name; c) The vintage (or NV for “no vintage”); d) Residual sweetness if greater than 0.1% (expressed as percentage).
4. Not yet released and unlabeled wines may be entered as long as they are identified with a temporary label specifying their class and contents for award listing.
5. An official entry consists of (4) 750ml bottles or (6) 375 ml bottles of each wine type.
6. Geographically similar wines will be tasted with other wines of the same viticultural area in order of varietal content, vintage and sweetness. Any wine considered by the judging panel to significantly differ from its labeled information may be disadvantaged in the competition.
7. Cases of production must be provided. “Cases” means the entire volume produced after blending of component cuvees. Wine entered must be typical of entire batch produced.
8. Entry fee, to be submitted with entry form, is $85 per wine type.
9. Entrants must specify residual sweetness accurately as a percentage.
10. Entrants must specify their intended retail price per bottle.
11. Any wine remaining at the conclusion of the event becomes the property of Vineyard & Winery Services, Inc.
JUDGING
Grand Harvest Awards will take place March 1-2 at the Vinna Chanticleer in Healdsburg, CA. All wines will be judged in their own regional classes by panels of expert judges from the ranks of wine professionals. A typical panel will include a winemaker, wine writer, wine educator, restaurateur and wine marketer. The traditional Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals will be awarded. To earn a Bronze medal or higher, a wine must be voted Bronze or higher by each judge on the panel, with one exception that one judge’s Silver or Gold vote will override another judge’s no medal vote.
RESULTS AND NOTIFICATION
Results for medal winners only will be posted on vwm-online.com and released to the wine media and industry as soon as possible at the end of judging. Award recipients will be notified by fax or email immediately after the competition. Actual awards are mailed 4-6 weeks after notification of award.
JUDGES’ NOTES
A set of complementary judges’ notes will be made available for each wine entered, providing you direct feedback from industry professionals about your wine. If you wish to receive this information with your medals, please indicate on the entry form.
PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
a) Attractive foil-embossed medal-winning wine stickers are available for $50 per thousand. You will have the option to order at time of medal notification. Visit vwm-online.com/gha or call 707.577.7700 for more details. Allow 4-6 weeks for delivery after award notification. b) A one-time fee of $55 may be purchased to link your award result from our web site to yours for a period of six months and covers each winning wine per entry. The link must be purchased at the time of registration and no refunds can be made if no awards are won. c) Winners will be entitled to display the trademarked Grand Harvest Logo on their web sites on request and in compliance with the event owner’s policies. d) If you provide the email address of one newspaper (or similar) on your entry form, we will email that publication an official results press release at the end of this competition.
ENTRY INFORMATION
Entry Form Deadline: Extended to February 7, 2011
Enter by Mail: 2011 Grand Harvest Awards Entry, PO Box 14459, Santa Rosa, CA 95402
Enter by Fax: 707.577.7705 and mail payment to above address
Enter Online: vwm-online.com/gha
(additional entry forms are online for download)
Wine Shipments: At warehouse by extended date of February 7, 2011
Questions? 707.577.7700
WINE SHIPMENTS
Ship or hand-deliver wine to Groskopf Warehouse, 20580 Eighth Street East, Sonoma, CA 95476, 800.479.9459 or 707.939.3100. Wine shipments must be received no later than February 7, 2011. Important: Please use labels provided or clearly mark boxes on all sides with “GHA 2011Entry.” Wine Entries arriving after February 7, 2011, may be judged in a “Late Entry” class if they cannot be appropriately intermingled with others of their own class.