Local Wineries Shine at 2024 Iowa Wine State Fair Competition
The Iowa Wine Growers Association (IWGA) recently announced the winners of the Iowa Wine State Fair Competition.
Held in July each year, the competition utilized ten qualified wine judges selecting medal winners through a blind sensory and tasting evaluation.
Wines had to be produced at a commercial winery and made from grapes, fruits, honey, or vegetables that are at least 75% sourced from or grown in Iowa or an AVA that includes Iowa.
This year, a record 171 wines from 23 Iowa wineries were entered. In total, 116 wines earned awards, 7 Double Gold, 9 Gold, 48 Silver and 52 Bronze.
Following the medaling round of the competition, 15 outstanding wines were nominated for the “Best of Show” (BOS) sweepstakes round, which judges reevaluated and selected the top wine in each of the six divisions of the competition: dry white, sweet white, dry red, sweet red, rosé, and specialty/other.
The six top winners were then narrowed down to determine the overall competition winner, the Governor’s Cup Trophy Award.
Oscar Carl Vineyard’s Loesscato was selected as the 2024 Governor’s Cup Trophy Award winner. The Iowa Wine Growers Association sponsors the Governor’s Cup Trophy award, which is the “best of the best” wine selected from the six Best of Show winners, determined by the judging panel at the end of the competition.
Iowa’s Governor, Kim Reynolds, presents the trophy in a ceremony each year during the Iowa State Fair. The trophy has been on display at Eagles Landing Winery for their Outstanding White wine from the 2023 competition. This year’s ceremony will take place outside Grandfather’s Barn during the Iowa State Fair.
2024 Iowa State Fair "Best of Show" Iowa Wine Competition Winners
The six “Best of Show” (BOS) Iowa wines have been selected at the 2024 Iowa State Fair Commercial Wine Competition.
The Cellar Winery in Madrid won Best of Show Dry Red with Marquette.
Lindon Wines in Burlington won Best of Sweet Red with their Burlington Kiss.
Iowa State University Winery in Ames won Best of Show Dry White with their La Crescent and won Best of Show Rosé with their Blended Rosé.
Oscar Carl Vineyard in Sioux City won Best of Show Sweet White with Loesscato. Oscar Carl Vineyard also earned the 2024 Governor’s Cup honor for their Loesscato.
Emery Meadery won the Best of Show Specialty/Other category with their Black Raspberry.
Additional results included:
Double Gold
Blended Rosé – Iowa State University Winery, Ames – BOS
Rosé Goldenrod – Soldier Creek Winery, Fort Dodge – BOS Nominee
Red Raspberry Rhapsody – Winneshiek Wildberry Winery, Decorah
Cranberry Whistle – Tabor Home Vineyards & Winery, Baldwin
Fortissimo – Soldier Creek Winery, Fort Dodge – BOS Nominee
Petite Pearl – Soldier Creek Winery, Fort Dodge – BOS Nominee
Black Raspberry – Emery Meadery, Riverside – BOS Specialty/Other
Gold
Marquette –The Cellar Winery, Madrid – BOS Dry Red
La Crescent – Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery, Swisher
Loesscato – Oscar Carl Vineyard, Sioux City – BOS
Sweet White & 2024 Governor’s Cup Winner
St. Pepin– Soldier Creek Winery, Fort Dodge – BOS Nominee
Edelweiss – Covered Bridges Winery, Winterset – BOS Nominee
La Crescent – Iowa State University Winery, Ames – BOS
Dry White Blanc de Blancs – Soldier Creek Winery, Fort Dodge
Frontenac – Tabor Home Vineyards & Winery, Baldwin
Iowa Rhubarb – Ackerman Winery, Amana
Burlington Kiss – Lindon Wines, Burlington – BOS Sweet Red
Silver
Marquette – Iowa State University Winery, Ames
Marquette – Fireside Winery, Marengo
Crimson Pearl – Soldier Creek Winery, Fort Dodge
Rosette – Soldier Creek Winery, Fort Dodge – BOS Nominee
Iowa Sparkling – Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery, Swisher
Cranberry Crush – Winneshiek Wildberry Winery, Decorah
Mead – Ackerman Winery, Amana
Howdy’s Apple Pie – Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery, Swisher
Twenty-Nine – Soldier Creek Winery, Fort Dodge – BOS Nominee
Maréchal Foch – The Cellar Winery, Madrid
Double Oak Reserve – Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery, Swisher
Nine Sixty-Five – Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery, Swisher
Marquette – Red Barn Wines, Ames
Marquette – Soldier Creek Winery, Fort Dodge – BOS Nominee
Frontenac – Three Sons Vineyard, Columbus Junction
Sweet Annie – Winneshiek Wildberry Winery, Decorah
Frontenac Gris – Soldier Creek Winery, Fort Dodge
Burlington Blush – Lindon Wines, Burlington
2021 Iowa Steuben – Tassel Ridge Winery, Leighton
La Crescent – Soldier Creek Winery, Fort Dodge
Farmer’s Daughters – Winneshiek Wildberry Winery, Decorah
Brianna – Fireside Winery, Marengo
Outlaw White – Eagles Landing Winery, Marquette
Harvest White – Summerset Winery, Indianola
Glow – Fireside Winery, Marengo
Applause – Tabor Home Vineyards & Winery, Baldwin
Fizzy Firefly – Fireside Winery, Marengo
Rhubarb Crisp – Winneshiek Wildberry Winery, Decorah
Blackberry Blossom – Winneshiek Wildberry Winery, Decorah
Cherry Lane – Winneshiek Wildberry Winery, Decorah
Blueberry Thrill – Winneshiek Wildberry Winery, Decorah
Buchanan Reserve – Buchanan House Winery, Tipton
Petite Pearl – Olathea Creek Vineyard & Winery, Le Claire
Rubra – Soldier Creek Winery, Fort Dodge
Hardsen Red – Oscar Carl Vineyard, Sioux City
Sultry Sunset – Rustic River Winery, Lake View
Caba Moch – Summerset Winery, Indianola
Dear Carl – Oscar Carl Vineyard, Sioux City
Brianna – Soldier Creek Winery, Fort Dodge
Dry Hopped – Fireside Winery, Marengo
Blackberry – Ackerman Winery, Amana
Cranberry Fizz – Ackerman Winery, Amana
Bubbly Brianna – Buchanan House Winery, Tipton
Berrypatch Hoedown – Winneshiek Wildberry Winery, Decorah
Harvest Blush – Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery, Swisher
Cranberry & Apple – Ackerman Winery, Amana
Iowa Candleglow White – Tassel Ridge Winery, Leighton
Bronze
Marquette – Covered Bridges Winery, Winterset
Frontenac– The Cellar Winery, Madrid
Happy Harvest – Rustic River Winery, Lake View
Unoaked Frontenac– Soldier Creek Winery, Fort Dodge
Petite Rosé – Covered Bridges Winery, Winterset
Primrose – Soldier Creek Winery, Fort Dodge
Rosé – Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery, Swisher
La Crescent – Covered Bridges Winery, Winterset
La Crescent – Fireside Winery, Marengo
St. Pepin – Olathea Creek Vineyard & Winery, Le Claire
At First Sip – Eagles Landing Winery, Marquette
Atlas – Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery, Swisher
Cedar Bridge – Covered Bridges Winery, Winterset
Demi Sec – Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery, Swisher
Brickyard Hill White – Fireside Winery, Marengo
Edelweiss – The Cellar Winery, Madrid
Edelweiss – Olathea Creek Vineyard & Winery, Le Claire
Edelweiss – Summerset Winery, Indianola
Oskyfizzanté Iowa White – Tassel Ridge Winery, Leighton
Sparkling Niagara – Buchanan House Winery, Tipton
Marquette – Tabor Home Vineyards & Winery, Baldwin
Marquette – Lindon Wines, Burlington
Buggy Ride – Buchanan House Winery, Tipton
Jam Session – Eagles Landing Winery, Marquette
Frontenac – Lindon Wines, Burlington
The FGR – Olathea Creek Vineyard & Winery, Le Claire
La Crescent – Red Barn Wines, Ames
Frontenac Gris – Covered Bridges Winery, Winterset
Frontenac Gris – Olathea Creek Vineyard & Winery, Le Claire
Brianna Breeze – Winneshiek Wildberry Winery, Decorah
Horny Heifer – Winneshiek Wildberry Winery, Decorah
Buchanan White – Buchanan House Winery, Tipton
Old Lace – Buchanan House Winery, Tipton
Peach Mango – Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery, Swisher
Electric Raspberry – Tabor Home Vineyards & Winery, Baldwin
American Port – Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery, Swisher
2021 Iowa Harvest Red – Tassel Ridge Winery, Leighton
Pizzeria & Pasta, Too! – Tassel Ridge Winery, Leighton
St. Croix – Soldier Creek Winery, Fort Dodge
Dancing Bear – The Cellar Winery, Madrid
Midnight Moon – Rustic River Winery, Lake View
Peace Rosé – Oscar Carl Vineyard, Sioux City
Rivers Rainbow – Rustic River Winery, Lake View
Flight Path Rosé – Airport Road Vineyard & Winery, Mt. Pleasant
Coyote Call – Rustic River Winery, Lake View
Reserve White – Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery, Swisher
Petite Amie – Soldier Creek Winery, Fort Dodge
Incredibly Berry – Emery Meadery, Riverside
Apple Cranberry – Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery, Swisher
Wild Blackberry – Tabor Home Vineyards & Winery, Baldwin
The Chloe – Olathea Creek Vineyard & Winery, Le Claire
Landmark Corner – Airport Road Vineyard & Winery, Mt. Pleasant
Sample wines at the Iowa State Fair!
Are you ready to taste Iowa Wine? You can sample dry to sweet wines at the Iowa Wine Experience, happening August 8th-18th.
What's on Tap?
25 Wines, Endless Flavor: Explore a diverse selection of wines from Iowa wineries. From dry whites to bold reds, and sweet treats in between, there's a perfect pour waiting for every palate. Plus, experience the best of the best with winners from the Iowa Commercial Wine Competition.
New this Year! Wine lovers rejoice! For the first time ever, you can enjoy wine by the glass for a relaxed and convenient experience. Feeling adventurous? Cool off with a refreshing wine slushie, or discover the crisp taste of Iowa hard cider.
Sample Smart, Save More: Purchase tickets for tastings or full glasses. Samples are just $3 each (with a minimum of 3), while a full glass is $9. Want the best value? Snag a $30 package that lets you mix and match glasses and samples for maximum savings.
Ready to Raise a Glass?
Don't miss your chance to experience the best of Iowa wines at the State Fair. Gather your friends, family, or fellow wine enthusiasts and get ready for a delicious, fun-filled adventure! Full Iowa State Fair information is here.