2026 People's Choice Wine Competition Results

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There were 49 wine entries, and 42 ballots turned in for the 2026 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 in no particular order.  Entries in each category were as follows: 15 red, 11 white, 17 non-grape / fruit and 6 Sweet / Dessert.  There were no mead or cider entries this year, but there were some available to taste. The event was part of the 2026 Conference and was co-sponsored by the Nome Schoolhouse, Nome ND, open to the public, donations from the public will be used by the Nome Eweniversity.  Here are the results:

 

RED GRAPE WINE CATEGORY

Hobbyist Wine

First Place –’73 Cellars – Steve & Pat Sagaser – Field Blend Red

Second Place – ’73 Cellars – Steve & Pat Sagaser - Crimson Pearl

Third Place – ’73 Cellars – Steve & Pat Sagaser - Petite Pearl

Commercial Wine

First Place – 1882 Winery & Vineyard – Homestead Red Blend

Second Place – Dakota Vines Vineyard & Winery – Roughrider Frontenac

Third Place – 4e Winery - Marquette

2026 Best of Category, Over-all Winner Red Grape Wine

                                    1882 Winery & Vineyard – Homestead Red Blend

 

WHITE GRAPE WINE CATEGORY

Hobbyist White Grape Wine

First Place – Long Shadow Vineyards – Greg & Allison Krieger – 2023 Louise

Second Place - no entry

Third Place – no entry

 

Commercial White Grape Wine

First Place – 4e Winery – Frontenac Blanc

Second Place – Dakota Vines Vineyard & Winery – Prairie Sky LaCrescent

Third Place – 4e Winery - LaCrescent

2026 Best of Category, Over-all Winner White Grape Wine

                                    4e Winery – Frontenac Blanc

NON-GRAPE / FRUIT CATEGORY

Hobbyist Fruit Wine – non-grape

First Place – Long Shadow Vineyards – Greg & Allison Krieger – 2022 Golden Spice Pear

Second Place – ’73 Cellars – Steve & Pat Sagasar - Raspberry

Third Place – no votes

Commercial Fruit Wine – non-grape

First Place – Dakota Vines Vineyard & Winery – Summer Shade Black Currant

Second Place – 1882 Winery & Vineyard - Haskap

Third Place – 4e Winery – Dark Current Black Currant

2026 Best of Category, Over-all Winner Fruit Wine non-grape

                                    Dakota Vines Vineyard & Winery – Summer Shade

SWEET / DESSERT CATEGORY

Hobbyist - Sweet / Dessert

First Place – The Adair Cellar – Tim Adair – Guelph III

Second Place tie – Long Shadow Vineyards – Greg & Allison Krieger – 2022 Vitko Pear

Second Place tie – The Adair Cellar – Tim Adair – Pear / Mango

Commercial Sweet / Dessert

First Place - Bob Wallace - #49 Spiced Apple

Second Place - Dakota Vines Vineyard & Winery – Dakota Noir Frontenac

Third Place – 4e Winery – Nutty Bison – KON & Peanut butter

​2026 Best of Category, Over-all Winner Sweet / Dessert

                                    Bob Wallace - #49 Spiced Apple

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​CIDER CATEGORY- No Cider entries, ciders donated by individuals were available to taste.

MEAD CATEGORY– No Mead entries, mead donated by Prairie Rose Meadery were available to taste.