Dear Hudson Valley Winemaker, Cider Maker & Distiller,

It is with great pleasure that we announce the 2025 Hudson Valley Wine, Cider, and Spirit Competition, which will take place on Saturday, September 6th, at the Hudson Valley Wine Festival at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck, NY.

For those new to this event, our competition highlights the exceptional quality of our region’s wines, ciders, and spirits and the growing public interest in them. As the chair of this competition, I am also committed to hosting seminars at the Wine Festival. This year, the seminar topic is “From Dry to Dessert: The Many Faces of Riesling.” If you produce a Riesling  I would like to feature it in the seminar. Please include three bottles of each wine with your competition entry; any unopened bottles will be returned to you if you attend the festival. Please include a tech sheet or email it to me.  Thank you in advance.

This year marks the 15th year of our competition at the Wine Festival. The winners will be announced multiple times throughout the two-day event. If you are a vendor at the festival, you will be able to display your winning medals immediately following the competition.

Entering your wine, cider, and/or spirits in the competition grants the following exposure:

• Awards will be announced at the Hudson Valley Wine Festival.
• The Winery of the Year will be awarded to the winery with the highest average scores (winery must enter at least four wines).
• Winners will be posted on HVWGA.com.
• A press release with the complete list of awards will be sent to local media and the wine press following the competition.

The Judging Process:

• The judging is structured as a blind tasting.
• Each entry receives a unique number to ensure anonymity.
• We use the American Wine Society 20-point scale.
• Each panel evaluates wines by class on an individual basis.
• Judges confer to decide all awards, and a consensus determines all medals.
• Judges award all medals through scoring, deliberation, discussion, and voting.
• All judges evaluate wines for sweepstakes awards.
• Our goal is not to award an unending string of medals but to provide expert evaluations in a controlled setting that benefits the Hudson Valley wine industry.

Awards to be Presented:

• Winery of the Year: Awarded to the winery with the highest average score (winery must enter at least four wines).
• Best in Show: Highest-ranking wines judged by all judges and voted on, with the most votes winning.
• Best Overall Hudson Valley Wine: Best wine made with 100% Hudson Valley fruit.
• Best Sparkling Wine, White Wine, Red Wine, Cider, and Spirit.
• Double Gold Medal: Awarded to wines with unanimous Gold votes by the entire panel.
• Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals: Based on varietal character, balance, and excellence.

Important Dates and Entry Information:

• Deadline for entry forms and fees: August 12, 2025.
• Delivery/shipment of bottles: Deadline is Sunday, August 26, 2025 (three 750ml or 375ml bottles per entry).

Entry Requirements:

• Open to any wine, cider, or spirits produced and bottled in the Hudson Valley AVA made from 100% New York State fruit or wine made from 100% Hudson Valley fruit.
• All entries must be commercially available in New York State at the time of the competition.
• To compete in the Hudson Valley AVA Wine category, the wine must be made from at least 75% Hudson Valley produce.
• Entry fee: $33 per wine or spirit. Make checks payable to the Hudson Valley Wine & Grape Association.

Submission Instructions:

• Mail entry forms and checks by August 12, 2025 to:
• Hudson Valley Wine Competition
• c/o Debbie Gioquindo
• 608 Pilgrim Plaza
• Cape May, NJ 08204
• Send wine by August 26, 2025 to:
• Hudson Valley Wine Competition
• c/o Whitecliff Vineyards & Winery
• 331 McKinstry Road
• Gardiner, NY 12525

Please ensure that forms and checks are not enclosed inside wine cases. We are excited to continue this event for Hudson Valley wineries, cideries, and distilleries and look forward to your participation.

Sincerely,

Debbie Gioquindo, CSW, WLS, CSWS
Competition Committee Chair