2025 People's Choice Wine Competition Results
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There were 51 wine entries, and 33 ballots turned in for the 2025 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: 13 red, 11 white, 18 non-grape / fruit and 9 Sweet / Dessert.  There were no mead or cider entries this year. 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 – Greg & Allison Krieger - Long Shadow Vineyards - 2023 Crimson Pearl WB

Second Place – Tom Jacobs - Snapper Bend - Barrel Aged Frontenac / Marquette

Third Place – Larry & Christie Walsh - Township Road Farm - Crimson Pearl

 

Commercial Wine

First Place – 4E – 2023 Frontenac

Second Place – 4E – Bison Tale

Third Place – Grape Mill Vineyard & Winery - Zeus 

 

2025 Best of Category, Over-all Winner Red Grape Wine 

                          4E – 2023 Frontenac

 

WHITE GRAPE WINE

 

Hobbyist White Grape Wine

First Place – Greg & Allison Krieger - Long Shadow Vineyards - 2024 White Blend

Second Place – 

Third Place -

 

Commercial White Grape Wine

First Place - Dakota Vines Vineyard & Winery - Prairie Sky La Crescent

Second Place – Grape Mill Vineyard & Winery - Brianna

Third Place – Tongue River Winery - Itasca

 

2025 Best of Category, Over-all Winner White Grape Wine

                         Dakota Vines Vineyard & Winery - Prairie Sky La Crescent

 

 

NON-GRAPE / FRUIT

 

Hobbyist Fruit Wine – non-grape

First Place – Larry & Christie Walsh - Township Road Farm - Pear

Second Place – 

Third Place –

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Commercial Fruit Wine – non-grape

First Place – Dakota Sun Winery - Haskap

Second Place – Bob Wallace Orchards – Summer Apple Wine No. 43

Third Place – 1882 Winery - Haskap

 

2025 Best of Category, Over-all Winner Fruit Wine non-grape 

                       Dakota Sun Winery - Haskap

 

SWEET / DESSERT

 

Hobbyist - Sweet / Dessert

First Place - Tim Adair - The Adair Cellar - Guelph

Second Place - Tim Adair - The Adair Cellar - Guelph Beta

Third Place - Tim Adair - The Adair Cellar - Peach Melomel

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Commercial Sweet / Dessert

First Place - Bob Wallace Orchards - No. 49 Spiced Apple

Second Place - Bob Wallace Orchards - No. 12 Classic Apple

Third Place - Bob Wallace Orchards - No. 17 Raspberry

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2025 Best of Category, Over-all Winner Sweet / Dessert

                          Bob Wallace Orchards - No. 49 Spiced Apple

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​CIDER - No Cider entries

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MEAD – No Mead entries