2023 NDGWA Wine Competition Results
There were 45 entries and 35 ballots for the 2023 Wine Competition. Commercial and hobbyist wine makers competed side by side in a blind tasing. On the People’s Choice ballots tasters were to select their top three wines in each category. Entries in each category were as follows: 17 red, 8 white, 14 non-grape (fruit), and 6 ciders. The two sweet wine entries were incorporated into the red category, there were no mead or commercial cider entries.
See the results below.
For each entry, please submit two bottles, along with $10. Wine entries should be 750ml bottles, but Mead and Cider bottles may be smaller.
2023 Wine Competition entry form (download PDF)
People’s Choice Competition
Let the people decide! As we have done in the past, the wine tasting of all of our wine competition entries to were evaluated by the 2023 NDGWA conference attendees. The people have chosen their favorites among this blind tasting within the categories. The top three wines in each category will be determined by a People’s Choice tasting.
CATEGORIES
To be classified in a category, your wine must contain at least 75% of the category ingredient.
RED GRAPE WINE
Commercial Wine
First Place – Bob and Marilyn Thaden – Tongue River Winery – Warm Front: 100% Frontenac Noir
Second Place – Greg & Lisa Cook – 4e Winery – Rail Line Red – Frontenac
Third Place – Rodney & Susan Hogen – Red Trail Vineyard – Dolly – Sabrevois & Shiraz
Hobbyist Wine
First Place – Mark & Nancy Lunde – Red Blend -Frontenac/Foch/St. Croix
Second Place – Greg & Allison Krieger – Long Shadow Vineyard – Midsummer Red
Third Place – Tom Jacobs – Snapper Bend – Sweet Red Prairie Rose
2023 Best of Category Over-all Winner Red Grape Wine –
Mark & Nancy Lunde – Red blend – Frontenac/Foch/St. Croix
WHITE GRAPE WINE
Commercial White Grape Wine
First Place – Rodney & Susan Hogen – Red Trail Vineyard – Frontenac Gris
Second Place – Bob & Marilyn Thaden – Tongue River Winery – La Crescent
Third Place – Greg & Lisa Cook – 4e Winery – Frontenac Gris
Hobbyist White Grape Wine
First Place – Mark & Nancy Lunde – La Crescent
Second Place – Mark & Nancy Lunde – Itasca
Third Place – Greg & Allison Krieger – Long Shadow Vineyards – St. Pepin
2023 Best of Category Over-all White Grape Wine –
Rodney & Susan Hogen – Red Trail Vineyard – Frontenac Gris
FRUIT WINE – non grape
Commercial Fruit Wine – non grape
First Place – Kevin & Deb Kinzel – Fluffy Fields Vineyard & Winery – Boo Ass Cherry
Second Place – Bob & Deb Grosz – Dakota Vines – Thankful – Cranberry
Third Place tie – Kevin & Deb Kinzel – Fluffy Fields Vineyard & Winery – Naughty Bunny
Third Place tie – Bob & Marilyn Thaden – Tongue River Winery – Cherub
Hobbyist Fruit Wine – non grape
First Place – Mark & Nancy Lunde – Carmine Jewel
Second Place – Greg & Allison Krieger – Long Shadow Vineyards – Haskap
Third Place – Larry & Christie Walsh – Township Road Farm – Elderberry Itasca
2023 Best of Category Over-all Fruit Wine – non grape –
Mark & Nancy Lunde – Carmine Jewel
MEAD – No Mead entries
CIDER
Commercial Cider – No commercial cider entries
Hobbyist Cider
First Place –Opie & Shim – Cranberry Cider
Second Place tie – Opie & Shim – Carmel Apple Cider
Second Place tie – Opie & Shim – Sour Apple Cider
Third Place – Opie & Shim – Blue Citrus Cider
2023 Best of Category Over-all Cider –
Opie & Shim – Cranberry Cider