The 2009 Amateur Wine Competition was successfully held October 2-4, 2009

Congratulations to all the winners of the 2009 Amateur Wine Competition!

The 2009 Amateur Wine Competition was held October 2-4, at the Four Points Sheraton in Pittsburgh, PA. The Competition Chairs have been working diligently in planning the 2009 competitions. We look forward to announcing the competition results at our National Conference at different times from November 5-7.  Entrants are encouraged to attend the conference in order to be announced and presented the medals in person at the National Conference.  We will also post the winners information on this website on November 10th.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Competition Chairs, as listed below:

 Commercial Wine Competition Chairpersons

    Jim Sperk (co-chair)
    7962 Gallowae Ct.
    Mentor, OH 44060
    440-266-0394 (phone/fax)
    competitions@americanwinesociety.org

    Ed Boyd (co-chair)
    1321 Center Rd.
    Clinton, OH 44216
    330-882-5699 (phone/fax)
    competitions@americanwinesociety.org

An amateur wine competition has been an integral part of the AWS national conference for almost as long as the Society has existed. In the late 1960s, the Society’s founders addressed the interests of home winemakers in the draft of the organization’s first “Constitution.” The founders stated that a purpose of AWS shall be “to foster the production of wine by home winemakers and to provide means for such amateurs to meet to exchange information and experience, and to compare and judge their products.”

A competition evolved as an opportunity for AWS home winemakers to showcase their creations and have them judged by their peers. Today’s amateur winemaking competition at the AWS national conference is much more extensive than those of the early years. In a two-tiered system of judging, hundreds of wines in dozens of categories are evaluated. Medals and other honors are awarded to makers of wines deemed worthy.

The winemaking event also provides a learning opportunity for AWS members wanting to know more about evaluating wines. They may participate in judging sessions by observing the process, and by tasting and rating the wines for their own education.