Dear Hudson Valley Producer,
As Chairwoman of the Hudson Valley Wine & Spirits Competition, I want to personally invite you to participate in this year’s judging.
Held in conjunction with the Hudson Valley Wine Festival, the Hudson Valley Wine & Spirits Competition was created to recognize excellence in Hudson Valley wine, cider, and spirits while giving producers meaningful visibility and marketing opportunities.
Winning a medal in the competition provides valuable third-party recognition that can be leveraged in:
• Tasting rooms
• Shelf talkers
• Social media
• Press releases
• Websites
• Distributor and retail conversations
Consumers respond to medals and awards. They build credibility, attract attention, and help tell your brand’s story.
Why Medals Matter
Every wine, cider, and spirit has a story. From the vineyard, orchard, or field to the cellar, cidery, or distillery, countless decisions, challenges, and triumphs shape the final product. A medal becomes part of that story.
When customers see a medal, they don’t just see an award—they see validation from industry professionals that recognize the quality and craftsmanship behind what you’ve created.
• Medal winners are highlighted during the Hudson Valley Wine Festival
• Medals can be used in tasting rooms, on shelves, and in marketing materials
• Winners receive social media and press recognition
• Awards help build consumer trust and buying confidence
• Medals become part of your product’s story and help communicate the care, passion, and expertise that went into creating it
This year’s competition will once again be judged by respected industry professionals, wine educators, writers, and trade members who understand the unique character and quality of Hudson Valley beverages. In addition, winners receive post-competition publicity and press exposure through festival marketing, social media, and regional media outreach.
Featured Awards
🏆 Winery of the Year
🥇 Best in Show
🍇 Valerie Cup (Best Wine Made with 100% Hudson Valley Fruit)
🍷 Best Hudson Valley Cabernet Franc
New Entry Fee Structure
To encourage greater participation from wineries, cideries, and distilleries, we have introduced a new fee structure for 2026:
• Standard Entry: $40 per entry
• Early Bird Entry (submitted by August 1): $35 per entry
• First-Time Entrants: $30 per entry
• Portfolio Entry Rate: Enter four (4) or more wines and receive the $35 per entry rate regardless of submission date. Wineries entering four or more wines are automatically eligible for Winery of the Year consideration.
Why Enter Four or More Wines?
Winery of the Year is one of the competition’s highest honors, recognizing excellence across an entire portfolio rather than a single product.
Beyond the trophy itself, winning Winery of the Year provides something every producer values—bragging rights. For the entire 2026–2027 season, you can proudly promote your winery as the Hudson Valley Winery of the Year. The award becomes part of your story, your marketing, and your reputation. It is a distinction that can be shared with customers, distributors, retailers, media, and visitors long after the medals have been awarded.
By entering four or more wines, you not only increase your opportunities to earn medals, but you also become eligible for one of the most prestigious honors presented at the competition.
Bottle Requirements
Each wine entered in the Hudson Valley Wine, Spirits & Cider Competition must be accompanied by three (3) bottles, either 750ml or 375ml in size.
Providing three bottles ensures there is sufficient product available for all judges to evaluate the entry, particularly if the wine advances to a category taste-off or is considered for Best in Show honors. It also allows the competition to open a replacement bottle if a bottle is flawed, damaged, or otherwise unsuitable for judging.
This requirement helps ensure that every entry receives a fair and consistent evaluation throughout the competition process.
For wineries entering four (4) or more wines to qualify for Winery of the Year consideration, please remember to submit three bottles for each entry.
We hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to showcase your products alongside some of the finest wines, ciders, and spirits produced in the Hudson Valley.
Every bottle submitted represents an opportunity to earn a medal, tell your story, and showcase the quality of your portfolio to judges, media, and consumers.
Thank you for being part of the Hudson Valley wine, cider, and spirits community. We look forward to celebrating your work.
Warm regards,
Debbie Gioquindo, Chairwoman
Hudson Valley Wine & Spirits Competition