2024 NDGWA People's Choice Competition Results

There were 55 wine entries and 58 ballots turned in for the 2024 People’s Choice Wine Competition.  Commercial and hobbyist wine makers competed side by side in a blind tasting.  As in the past, tasters were to select their top three wines in each category.  Entries in each category were as follows: 20 red, 16 white, 15 fruit, 4 ciders.  Two meads donated by Prairie Rose Meadery were available to taste.  The event was part of the conference and open to the public as well.  Here are the results:

 

RED GRAPE WINE

 

Hobbyist Wine

First Place – Mark & Nancy Lunde – Red Blend – Crimson Pear / St. Pepin

Second Place – Greg & Allison Krieger – Long Shadow Vineyard – Frontenac ‘23

Third Place – 3-Way-Tie

Tim & Hunter Bernson – Crimson Pear

Greg & Allison Krieger – LSV TLC Red

Nordic Oaks – Frontenac Noir 2022

 

Commercial Wine

First Place – 4E – Rail Line Red

Second Place – 4E – Bison Tale

Third Place – Red Trail Vineyard – Marquette

 

2024 Best of Category, Over-all Winner Red Grape Wine –

Mark & Nancy Lunde – Red Blend – Crimson Pearl / St. Pepin

 

WHITE GRAPE WINE

 

Hobbyist White Grape Wine

First Place – Mark & Nancy Lunde – Frontenac Gris

Second Place – Nordic Oaks – La Crescent 2022

Third Place -Mark & Nancy Lunde – Itasca with Am. Oak

 

Commercial White Grape Wine

First Place - Grape Mill Vineyard & Winery – Brianna

Second Place – 4E – Frontenac Gris

Third Place – Grape Mill Vineyard & Winery – Rose – Zeus

 

2024 Best of Category, Over-all Winner White Grape Wine- Grape Mill Vineyard & Winery - Brianna 
 

FRUIT WINE – NON-GRAPE

 

Hobbyist Fruit Wine – non-grape

First Place – Mark & Nancy Lunde – Rhubarb

Second Place – Mark & Nancy Lunde – Aronia

Third Place – Greg & Allison Krieger – Vitko Pear

 

Commercial Fruit Wine – non-grape

First Place – Bob Wallace – Apple Wine No. 43

Second Place – Bob Wallace – Raspberry / Apple No. 38

Third Place – 4E – Polar Light – Haskap

 

2024 Best of Category, Over-all Winner Fruit Wine non-grape – Bob Wallace – Apple Wine No. 43

 

CIDER

 

Hobbyist Cider

First Place – Jason Middlestead – Cherry Cider

Second Place – Mark & Nancy Lunde – Haskap Cider

Third Place – Hearthside Vineyard & Winery – Hard Apple

 

Commercial Cider

First Place – Tongue River Winery – Hard Apple

 

2024 Best of Category, Over-all Winner Cider – 

           Jason Middlestead – Cherry Cider

 

MEAD – No Mead entries