Florida State Fair Competition
28th Annual Florida State Fair International Wine Competition
January 30, 31 and February 1, 2016
Amateur Competition
The time is fast approaching for the 2016 Florida State Fair Wine Competition which is taking place January 30, 31 and February 1, 2016, and it is at this time you should be considering what wines to enter. I would urge all FWGGA amateur winemakers and your winemaking friends to consider entering your wines. You will receive feedback from the wine judges, good or bad, and it can be very constructive in improving your winemaking skills.
Here is a tip from me as to what I do to prepare for the competition:
- Open (3) bottles of the wine you would like to enter and pour them together into a clean container such as a 3-liter jug.
- Pour a sample of the three combined bottles and taste. Adjust if needed.
- Rebottle the wine and cork.
- Add a sticker to the bottles (2 of them needed for competition) to mark them for the competition so you know which bottles to enter.
Commercial Wine Competition
We now have 42 bonded wineries in Florida. I would like to challenge all the Florida wineries to enter your wines in the Commercial Wine Competition for the people who look at the awards in the commercial wine cabinets at the Florida State Fair so they can see what Florida has to offer. I am surprised every year when people who are viewing the cabinets will make a statement like “I didn’t know we had wineries in Florida” and then when I point out the medals that are won by the Florida wineries, they are really shocked. I try to encourage them to gather up a few friends and visit a winery for a pleasant experience.
Let’s try to make this the biggest and best Amateur Wine Competition at the Florida State Fair in YEARS! Enjoy the experience of the competition and Good Luck!
Donnie Nettles
Director of Education