Over 4,400 entries! The 2009 WineMaker International Amateur Wine Competition Results

Clarkson Vine Ranked 20th Overall International Retailer.

The competition has grown again this year to over 4,400 entries making this not only the largest amateur competition in the world, but also now the largest wine competition - whether it be commercial or amateur - in North America. Check out the results!

From April 17-19, 2009 a record total of 4,478 different wines were judged at the Equinox Resort in Manchester, Vermont (900 more than the previous year). The 2009 edition of the WineMaker International Amateur Wine Competition once again represented the largest and most diverse collection of amateur wines ever assembled. In fact, this year's competition also was the largest wine competition of any kind - commercial or amateur - in North America. The 4478 entries arrived from hobby winemakers living throughout North America in over 48 American states and 8 Canadian provinces and as far away as Australia, Italy and Israel.

Over the course of three days, judging panels worked through over 822 flights, examining each wine using the UC-Davis 20-point wine scale evaluating appearance, aroma, taste, aftertaste and overall impression. The wines were entered in 50 different categories and included an astonishing array of varietals and wine styles. Kit wines competed alongside fresh-grape entries in this blind tasting. Entries were awarded gold, silver, bronze and best of show medals bases on the average score given by the judging panel. The Retailer of the Year award was given to the winemaking supply store whose customers outperformed other shops. Congratulations to everyone who won a medal, and a sincere thanks to our sponsors, judging director, competition director, our judges, competition volunteers and of course everyone who took time to enter.