West Coast Wine Competition
Rules & Procedures
Location: Santa Rosa, CaliforniaDates: April 16-18, 2008
Deadline to enter: March 24, 2008
Deliver your wines to:
Groskopf Warehouse
20580 Eighth Street East
Sonoma, CA 95476
800.479.9459 (warehouse phone)
Clearly mark your boxes "WCWC 2008 Entry"
Wines must arrive between March 10 and March 28, 2008.
Rules
This event is sponsored by Vineyard & Winery Management, whose competition experience spans more than 25 years, and is operated by a nucleus of wine industry professionals. West Coast Wine Competition judges are wine industry professionals as well as media and marketers of wine, many of whom make direct use of the results in their purchasing decisions.
1. The West Coast Wine Competition is open to wines produced in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Baja California, British Columbia, Australia & New Zealand.
2. An official entry consists of (4) 750 ml bottles or (6) 375 ml bottles.
3. Entry fee, to be submitted with entry form, is $55 per wine. A one-time fee of $55 links your award results to your winery's web site homepage. Link fee must be purchased at entry and cannot be refunded should no award be made.
4. All entered wine must be available to the general public at a tasting room and at full retail price. Experimental lots of wine are not permitted.
5. Entrants must specify residual sweetness accurately as a percentage.
6. Entrants must specify their intended retail price per bottle.
7. Entrants should specify class number of entry.
8. Any wine remaining at the conclusion of the event may be used at events hosted by the sponsor.
9. Sweepstakes wines will be selected by the judges in five categories: Red, White, Sparkling, Dessert & Late Harvest (including Ice).
Judging Methodology
Panels will consist of five members, one each selected from wine media, wine/vineyard research, wine-making, wine education and wine marketing. Majority will rule in reaching a consensus. Longer classes will have an elimination round. New bottles will be opened for medal-round tasting. Judges may ask for a new bottle to be poured when a flaw is detected.
Medals awarded will be Double Gold, Gold and Silver. Bronze medals will be recognized only. Double Gold is a unanimous gold medal judgement among the five panelists. Best of Class wines may be selected by the panels on an as-advised basis. A Best of Show or Sweepstakes wine may be selected. Entrants will be notified within 10 working days of the conclusion of the event.
Internet Results
Results will be posted to vwm-online.com within 10 working days of the end of the judging. Entrants may elect to have their medal-winning wines link from the vwm-online.com website to their own websites. The link will be active for 6 months and covers each winning wine per winery. The link must be purchased at the time of registration and no refunds can be made for those wineries who opted for the link and won no award. Winners will also be entitled to display the West Coast Wine Competition logo on their websites.
Notification of Medals
Award recipients will be notified by mail, fax or email within 10 working days of the end of the competition. Actual award medals typically take six weeks to produce and are mailed as soon as available. Promotional West Coast Wine Competition (Double Gold, Gold, Silver) medal stickers are available for purchase at $50 per thousand and can purchased through vwm-online.com or by calling 800-535-5670. Allow 4-6 weeks for delivery of stickers from the conclusion of event. Pre-orders may be made on the attached entry form, but will not be placed until completion of event.
Frequently Asked Questions
What category do I put it in?
1. Wine has two different grapes, each 50%.
Answer: Blended wines or Meritage.
2. Wine has more than 2 grape varietals.
Answer: More than 75% of any varietal is it's major varietal, less than 75% is a blend.
3. Any wines with % different than category allows?
Answer: They are blended wines.
4. Dessert wine under 16% alcohol.
Answer: Most dessert wines are.
5. Cider has greater than 7% alcohol.
Answer: It is still considered cider.
6. Apple still wine less than 7% alcohol.
Answer: Goes in Fruit wine section.
How many bottles to submit?
1. I only want to submit 2 ice wines, no more, very expensive.
Answer: We have to allow for corked bottles and for sweepstakes competitions.
2.Will unopened bottles be returned to me?
Answer: No
Shipping
1. How do I send the wines?
Answer: Ship them in shipping boxes, of cardboard or foam.
2.Where do I send the wines?
Answer: West Coast Wine Competition, c/o Groskopf Warehouse, 20582 Eighth Street, Sonoma, CA. 95476
3. Do I send payment with the wines?
Answer: No, payment is sent with the entry form.
4. My wines have been returned to winery after sending UPS ground.
Answer: Check with UPS as to why they have been returned. We don't return wines.
Having a problem with Customs?
1. I cannot get my wines through customs.
Answer: Have you organized a wine broker to clear your wines?
2. Consolidation of wines (Canadian Wineries)
Answer: Call Groskopf Warehouse ( 1-800-479-9459) and find out if they have a winery that is consolidating wines.
Awards & Promotional Stickers
1. When will results be released?
Answer: Results will be posted to vwm-online.com within 10 working days of the end of the judging.
2. When will we receive our awards?
Answer: When all the results have been verified, the awards will be ordered and sent to the participating wineries. Allow 4-6 weeks for receipt of medals.
3. If I order stickers, will they arrive in the same package with medals?
Answer: No, stickers are ordered and shipped separately. Allow 4-6 weeks for receipt of stickers from time of order.
4. Are there stickers for bronze-medal winners?
Answer: No, not at this time.
5. If my wine takes a bronze medal, do I have the option of declining receipt of an actual medal?
Answer: Yes, please check appropriate box on entry form.
Legalities
1. Do I have to be a bonded Winery?
Answer: Yes.
2. Who can enter the competition?
Answer: The West Coast Wine Competition is open to wines produced in the states of California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Baja California, British Columbia, Australia and New Zealand.
3.What wines can I enter?
Answer: All entered wine must be available to the general public, either at a tasting room or at full retail. Experimental lots of wine are not permitted.