Sponsored by

The Minnesota Grape and Wine Alliance

&

The University of Minnesota Grape Breeding and Enology Project

 

Thank you everyone who participated in the 2025 International Cold Climate Wine Competition! We have wrapped up a full day of tasting these delightful wines, with 21 wine expert judges giving their verdicts on 354 wines from all over Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, and Ontario.

 

Full results by winery are listed below. Congratulations to everyone who won an award! Medals and plaques will be mailed out after Labor Day. Bests in Show, Bests in Class, Gold and Silver medal wines will be presented at the Minnesota Grape & Wine Alliance booth at the Minnesota State Fair August 21 - Sept 1.

​

BESTS IN SHOW

 

Best of Show Red

Crow River Winery Red Coyote - Minnesota 2023

 

Best of Show White

  Carlos Creek Winery La Crescent - Minnesota 2024

 

Best of Show Rosé

Cellar 426 Summer Blush - Nebraska 2024

 

Best of Show Dessert

Dancing Dragonfly Winery Hula - Wisconsin 2021

 

Best of Show Fruit

Balanced Rock Winery Rhuberry - Wisconsin

 

Best of Show Sparkling & Minnesota Governor's Cup

Cannon River Winery Shimmer - Minnesota

 

WINERIES OF THE YEAR

 

Parallel 44 Winery - Wisconsin 

Ziegler Winery - Wisconsin

Both with 26 medal awarded wines

 

BESTS IN CLASS

 

Best of Class Red Blend

  Crow River Winery Black Birch - Minnesota 2023

 

Best of Class Marquette

Saint Croix Vineyards Marquette - Minnesota 2023

 

Best of Class Frontenac

Crow River Winery Red Coyote - Minnesota 2023

 

Best of Class Petite Pearl

Ziegler Winery Petite Pearl - Wisconsin 2020

 

Best of Class Other Red

Ziegler Winery Sabrevois - Wisconsin 2020

 

Best of Class White Blend

  Dancing Dragonfly Winery Ballet - Wisconsin 2024

 

Best of Class Brianna

Rolling Forks Vineyards Allegro - Minnesota 2024

 

Best of Class Itasca

Cellar 426 Origin 2552 - Nebraska 2024

 

Best of Class Frontenac Blanc

Schram Vineyards Frontenac Blanc - Minnesota 2024

 

Best of Class Frontenac Gris

Anchored Roots Vineyard & Winery Frontenac Gris - Wisconsin 2024

 

Best of Class La Crescent

Carlos Creek Winery La Crescent - Minnesota 2024

 

Best of Class Other White

Balanced Rock Winery St. Pepin - Wisconsin

 

Best of Class Dry Rosé

Rolling Forks Vineyards Delicato -Minnesota 2023

 

Best of Class Sweet Rosé

Cellar 426 Summer Blush -Nebraska 2024

 

Best of Class Sparkling

Cannon River Winery Shimmer  - Minnesota

 

Best of Class Dessert

Dancing Dragonfly Winery Hula - Wisconsin 2021

 

Best of Class Fruit

Balanced Rock Winery Rhuberry - Wisconsin

 

Each wine was tasted alongside others in its class by a panel of three judges, each judge scoring independently and then discussing among the panel to form a consensus for score and medal award. Medals awarded include gold, silver or bronze, with a unanimous vote for gold medal awarded a double gold. After all the wines had been tasted, scores were compared in each class to determine Best-in-Class, with any tied wines paneled to five judges and judged to determine a winner. For Best-in-Show awards, all bests-in-class were re-paneled to determine a winner.

 

For the Minnesota Governor's Cup, the Minnesota made Best-In-Class wines were paneled to all 21 judges to taste, with each judge giving a vote for the top wine.  

 

Thank you again to everyone who participated, including all the wineries, judges, and volunteers. With the proceeds generated by this competition, the ICCWC will be making a contribution to the The University of Minnesota Grape Breeding and Enology Project to further the development of cold-hardy grape varieties and for University of Minnesota Extension programs for the improvement and growth of cold climate wines.

​

Click here for the 2025 Awards by Winery

​

Click here for the 2025 Awards by Category

​