Wine Competition Rules and Regulations

Entry Details

Entries must be submitted online by midnight September 11th, 2025. All wine bottles must be received by October 1st, 2025.
An official entry consists of four (4) standard size bottles. Send an equivalent amount when using smaller bottles / cans.
Paper entry forms must be submitted online. Entry will not be confirmed until booth payment is complete.
You may link your award results to your brand’s homepage. Links are free and may be activated at any time.
All entered wines must be available to the wine gallery and blind wine tasting.
Entrants must specify residual sweetness accurately as a percentage.
Certain classes may be subdivided by price, at the discretion of the Chief Judge.
Entrants must specify the winery suggested retail price (SRP) for each wine entered.
The festival and wine competitions have a rain or shine policy with no cancellation.
All payments are final.

Judging Process

Blind Tasting: Judges do not see the bottle or label; wines are identified by code only.

Panels will be comprised of qualified members of wine media, wine/vineyard research, winemaking, wine education and wine marketing. Majority will rule in reaching a consensus. New bottles will be opened for medal-round tasting. Judges may ask for a new bottle to be poured if they believe a wine to be “corked.” Medals awarded will be Best of Class, Double Gold, and Gold. Double Gold is only awarded when all judges on the panel agree on a gold on the first round, without any discussion of moving one (or more) judge’s Silver up to a Gold. Best of Class is determined from the following categories: Best White, Best Red, Best Rosé/Blush, Best Dessert/Late Harvest (including Ice Wine), Best Sparkling Wine, Best Fruit Wine. In order to progress a Best of Class to Sweepstakes, there must be a minimum of five (5) wines in that class.

Scoring System: 100-point system, based on:
- Appearance
- Aroma/bouquet
- Taste/palate
- Balance
- Finish

Awards

Festival’s People’s Choice
Director’s Cup
Gold, Silver, Bronze
Best In Class
- Best of White Varietal Wine, Best of Class for Dry White, Semi-dry White, Sweet White, Dry Red, Semi-dry Red, Sweet Red, Dry Rosé, Semi-dry Rosé, Sweet Rosé, Dessert/Fortified, Sparkling, Late Harvest/Ice, Distilled and Fruit Wine

Disqualification and Compliance

Tampering or providing inaccurate information leads to disqualification.
Wines may be tested in labs for compliance (alcohol, sugar, additives).
Substituting wine from a different batch or bottling than declared is prohibited.

Post-Competition

Results Publication: Awardees will be posted on our website, via press release, and festival magazines.
Award Stickers: Winners may receive or buy medal stickers for bottles.

Notification
Award recipients will be notified within 10 working days of the last day of the competition.

NOTE – ONLY Director’s Choice, People Choice and Double Gold awards will receive trophies. A link for a Media Kit will be posted on the website. Digital Medals / PR, etc., will be included to download. This will include all levels of awards after the results are released. Medal winners will also be posted on wineandfoodholidayfestival.com within ten (10) working days of the final judging day.

Wine Shipments and Delivery

Wine shipments must arrive at Support Local Charities by the stated date. Clearly mark boxes on all sides for “Festival Wine Competition Entry”. Indicate box 1 of 2, 2 of 2, etc. to ensure the entire shipment is received. Please ship four (4) 750 ml bottles or six (6) 375 ml bottles per wine type entered.

Please ship wines to – “Festival Wine Competition”, c/o Support Local Charities, 9638 Griffin, St Louis MO 63137. (636) 388-8185.

Disclosures

Any wine remaining at the conclusion of the judging becomes the property of Support Local Charities.