U.S. National Wine Competition
About the Competition
U.S. National Wine Competition
Judging: April 9-12, 2012
Watch Video
Registration for this event is now closed
About the Competition
Greetings from the Chief Judge
Meet the Judges
Eligibility & Fees (See Rules and Wine Classes)
Rules and Procedures
Promotional Opportunities
Why create a national wine competition?
“National” is the essence of this competition, representing the multitude of grape varieties shore-to-shore that are unique to our nation’s historical footprint. Its focus is on all US grape varieties (native, hybrid, vinifera) and regions seen today. It also represents the diversity of our wine growing regions, wine varieties and ties in with the diversity of all our nation’s ethnic food and wine pairings.
Exploring American Heritage through Wine
Founding father Thomas Jefferson had a vision for America’s potential in viticulture. “We could, in the United States, make as great a variety of wines as are made in Europe, not exactly of the same kinds, but doubtless as good.” Today, the vision is realized through our nation’s growth and continued success in wine production and winemaking. The U.S. National Wine Competition embodies these concepts to recognize excellence in winemaking by awarding medals to wines produced in any of the 50 United States, celebrating the best examples of our nation’s heritage - something our forefathers would surely raise a glass to!
The Measure of Success
Wine competitions are a yardstick of the successes or failures of U.S. winemaking. The aim of the U.S. National Wine Competition is to recognize excellence in winemaking by awarding medals to wines produced in any of the 50 U.S. states. Each wine will be judged on its own merits by qualified, experienced judges from the wine industry, wine journalism, wine trade and restaurants.
Eligibility
See Rules and Wine Classes
Entry Fee
$75 per wine.
We encourage you to enter your wines into the exciting new event.
Media Partner:
Official Sponsors:
Bottlenotes - Gain consumer exposure through New Media Partner!
V&WM has joined forces with Bottlenotes as an official new media partner for all six of our wine competitions. Bottlenotes is the premier online community for wine enthusiasts with a following of 250,000 registered users, over 25,000 Twitter followers and over 65,000 Facebook fans. Bottlenotes will provide an exclusive winery benefit to all USNWC entrants who enter online by publically posting award-winners on bottlenotes.com. This is free to our customers! Should your wines medal, a virtual icon will flag your wine as an award-winner. You will keep 100% of the revenues associated with any purchases that are generated by Bottlenotes!
How to participate in the Bottlenotes promotion
Remember, you must enter your wines online in order to participate. Mailed and faxed entries may not be considered. During the entry process, be sure to check the Bottlenotes box and a pop-up screen will appear. You will be asked to provide your winery name, winery story, tasting notes in available, an online purchase link, and an image link (with specific link instructions). Please provide what information you have available. If you cannot complete all the questions, don't worry, but the more information provided the better to market and promote your wines. For changes or additions to your entry or for manual inclusion of our wines in the Bottlenotes promotion, please email your questions to Lance Derrick at lderrick@vwm-online.com or call 707-577-7700 x109.
About Bottlenotes
Bottlenotes is the premier online wine community, a place where you can learn about, discuss and rate new wines. There are four ways in which members of our community interact with us and each other:
• The Daily Sip™ our e-newsletter on all things wine, reaches more than 140,000 subscribers each day. The content directs readers to interesting people and products, new grape varieties and regions, as well as interviews with the some of the most fun, innovative and provocative people in the wine world. Click here to sign up.
• Around The World in 80 Sips™, our public events attended by hundreds of consumers in Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Denver and Miami, bring together young, professional wine enthusiasts to taste some of the world's best bottles in a fun, interactive setting. These affordable, popular tastings are held in art galleries and other creative spaces, and are highlighted regularly by Thrillist, Daily Candy, Tasting Table and Urban Daddy. Click here to learn more.
• My Bottlenotes is our simple, interactive web platform that allows community members to post and share tasting notes and ratings on wines they've recently tasted. Users can also browse for other members' notes, and buy the wines through our retail partner, Sherry-Lehmann. Click here to sign up.
• Bottlenotes Mobile is the easy-to-use iPhone app that allows anyone to rate and/or share their impressions of a wine--and tell their friends and the rest of the Bottlenotes community what they're drinking right now. Users can also read The Daily Sip on the app, as well as find other people's thoughts on a wine before buying or ordering it.
More about our sponsors:
(wineindustrynetwork.com) The Wine Industry Network is a comprehensive business-to-business (B2B) Internet marketplace specifically created to help wine industry professionals more effectively and efficiently locate and connect with suppliers and service providers, regardless of region or category of interest. Founded by industry veterans George Christie and Elizabeth (E) Slater, the site is dedicated to the business of wine and to providing information crucial to the success of the entire wine industry.
The Wine Industry Network (WIN) is funded through supplier memberships and provides, at no charge to users, current and relevant information, about suppliers and service professionals serving the North American wine industry. The site also features Supplier Ratings & Referrals Educational Videos and business Resource Center along with information on industry associations, educational institutions and other wine business related resources.
Join Today and come back often for more suppliers, ratings, videos, tips and tactics, new features and programs.
"The finest glasses for both technical and hedonistic purposes are those made by Riedel. The effect of these glasses on fine wine is profound. I cannot emphasize enough what a difference they make." (Quote: Robert M. Parker, Jr. The Wine Advocate)
"The Riedel family has never stamped its name on a single bottle of wine. But over the past 50 years, this Austrian clan of master glassmakers has done more to enhance the oenophile's pleasure than almost any winemaking dynasty". (Quote: TIME MAGAZINE)
Claus Riedel was the first person in the long history of the glass to design its shape according to the character of the wine. He is thus the inventor of the functional wine glass. Make a journey through our world of glasses and senses. On the following internet pages you will find detailed information about our glass creations and our unique philosophies on the ultimate enjoyment of wine.
The mission of WineAmerica is to encourage the dynamic growth and development of American wineries and winegrowing through the advancement and advocacy of sound public policy. The Association also provides membership services to assist wineries with a variety of business operations. We invite you to explore the site to learn more about WineAmerica's activities, membership, and benefits.
Deussen Global Communications is a New York City-based, boutique PR/
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DeLoach Named to Wine & Spirits Magazine's Top 100 Wineries of 2011. For the 11th year, DeLoach Vineyards was named a Top 100 Winery by Wine & Spirits Magazine. Read the entire article here.
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A Legacy that Sparkles
Founded by Judy Jordan in 1986, J Vineyards & Winery began as a producer of critically-acclaimed sparkling wines like our J Vintage Brut, J Late-Disgorged Vintage Brut, Brut Rosé, and Cuvée 20 Brut. However, Judy, always curious and innovating, came to the realization that her vineyards would also be ideal for producing site-specific, cool-climate Russian River Valley varietal wines like Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Gris...Read More