2013 Mid-American Competition Results

The Mid-American Wine Competition in Des Moines was the first major American wine competition to judge wine in relation to food pairings.  Chief judge Doug Frost of Kansas City, one of only three people in the world who is both a Master of Wine and a Master Sommelier, says that a main reason for the food pairing portion of the Competition is to encourage Midwest wineries to promote wine with a particular type of food.

According to Frost, more emphasis on how well regional wine pairs with food will help increase the amount of Midwest wine served in restaurants. “I think that the smaller wine regions have so far failed to convince their local restaurant industry that they are local producers as worthy of attention as the local cheese maker, or farmer, or rancher,” Frost said. “In order to change that dynamic, wineries should reach out to their local restaurateurs and find ways to promote their wines within those restaurants. It’s just a matter of time and attention before those restaurants wake up to this opportunity to continue to add value to their own communities.”

One of the first restaurants to serve Midwest wines was Annie Gunn’s in Chesterfield, MO near St. Louis.  Annie Gunn’s wine director Glenn Bardgett, who was a judge at the 2013 Mid-American Competition, is a not only a supporter of Missouri wine, he is also a proponent of selling wine by the glass.  “Two-thirds of our wine sales at Annie Gunn’s are by the glass,” Bardgett says.  “We sell about 40 cases of wine in a typical week, so that’s a lot of glasses of wine.”

Of the 800 or so different labels on Annie Gunn’s wine list,  forty are offered by the glass.  Among the Missouri wines that Bardgett features are an Augusta Winery Vidal Blanc Ice Wine and a Port from Adam Puchta Winery that is primarily made from Missouri grown Norton grapes.  Both Bardgett and Frost believe that offering Midwest wine by the glass encourages consumers to try new wines that they might not buy an entire bottle of.

Midwest Wine Press publisher Mark Ganchiff was a judge for the food pairing portion of this year’s Mid-American Competition.  “Tasting different wines with common dishes like trout and steak created an entirely new perspective,” Ganchiff said.  “The perceptions of the wines changed dramatically when  food was introduced.  I think wine drinkers will really enjoy trying the medal winning wines with their meals; sometimes the combinations created entirely new flavors that just appeared like magic.”

2013 Mid-American Wine Contest Sweepstakes Awards

Dr. Dick Peterson Best Iowa Appellation Award– Summerset Winery, IA,  De Chaunac

Best Dessert Wine–  Ferrante Winery, OH, Vidal Blanc Ice Wine

Best Dry Red-  Blue Sky Vineyard, IL, Chambourcin Reserve

Best Dry White–  Montelle Winery, MO, Seyval Blanc

Best Fortified Wine-  Adam Puchta Winery, MO, Signature Port

Best Fruit Wine-  The Winery at Versailles OH,  Strawberry Mist

Best Off Dry Red-  Hinterland Vineyards, MN,  Happy Creek Red

Best Off Dry White- Cedar Creek Winery, WI,  La Belle Vie

Best Sparkler- Illinois Sparkling Company, IL, Bride of Freak of Nature

2013 Mid-American WIne Competition Food/Wine Pairing Medal Winners

Chocolate Brownie:

Gold, Eagles Landing, IA, Serenity

Silver, Coopers Oak Winery, MO, Sawmill Sweet

Silver, Feather River Vineyards, NE,,Rendezvous

Bronze, Covered Bridges Winery, IA, Hogback Bridge

Bronze, Dubuque Heritage Winery, IA, Rivertown Raspberry

Bronze, Eagle City Winery, IA, Raspberry Wine

Bronze, Two Saints Winery, IA, Revelations Red

Bronze, Wide River Winery, IA, Pursuit of Happiness

Bronze, Beans Creek Winery, TN, Apropos

Easy Baked Trout:

Gold, Garvin Heights Vineyards, MN, La Crescent

Gold, Beans Creek Winery, TN, Chardonel Reserve

Bronze, Feather River Vineyards, NE, Trinity Blanc

Grilled Chicken:

Silver, Eagles Landing, IA, Marquette Rose

Silver, Beans Creek Winery, TN, Chardonel

Bronze, Brick Arch Winery, IA, Chardonel

Bronze, Dubuque Heritage Winery, IA, Town Clock Seyval

Bronze, Summerset Winery, IA, Delaware

Grilled Hamburger:

Gold, Dubuque Heritage Winery, IA, Riverwalk Rose

Silver, Beans Creek Winery, TN, Chambourcin Reserve

Grilled Sirloin Steak:

Gold, Beans Creek Winery, TN, Midnight Sun

Silver, Dubuque Heritage Winery, IA, Shot Tower Red

Bronze,  Brick Arch Winery, IA, Chambourcin

Bronze, Wide River Winery, IA, Felony Red

Bronze, Ladoga Ridge Winery, MO, Galens Red

Sauteed Shrimp:

Silver, Summerset Winery, IA, Vignoles

Silver, Beans Creek Winery, TN, Traminette

Bronze, Brick Arch Winery, IA, Sun Dog

Bronze, Dubuque Heritage Winery, IA, Ham House Traminette

Bronze, Schade Creek Vineyard & Winery, IA, Wine O Clock Somewhere

Bronze, Garvin Heights Vineyards, MN, Frontenac Rose

Bronze, Feather River Vineyards, NE, Seyval Blanc

Smoked Pork Ribs:

Gold, Covered Bridges Winery, IA, Rattlesnake Red

Gold, Dubuque Heritage Winery, IA, Shot Tower Red

Silver, Eagle City Winery, IA, Black Currant Wine

Silver, Eagles Landing, IA, Rohde Red

Silver, Summerset Winery, IA, Caba Moch

Silver, Garvin Heights Vineyards, MN, Marquette Rose

Bronze, Brick Arch Winery, IA, Tire Swing

Strawberries with Crème Anglais:

Silver, Eagles Landing, IA, Strawberry Fest

Silver, Schade Creek Vineyard & Winery, IA, Ghetto Fab

Bronze, Garvin Heights Vineyards, MN, Bluff Country Blush

Bronze, Beans Creek Winery, TN, Valley Home Sparkling Strawberry

Bronze, Brigadoon Winery, WI, Kiss Me Kate

Photos of judges courtesy of Dan Ivis of Des Moines Area Community College