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Monday, July 14, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 14, 2003
Contact:
Sally Linton, Indiana Wine Grape Council, [email protected], 765-496-3842
Ellen Harkness, Competition Coordinator, [email protected], 765-494-6704
Indianapolis hosts international wine competition
Wines from around the world will pour into the Indiana State Fairgrounds Exposition Hall for the twelfth annual Indy International Wine Competition, July 24 to 26.
The largest wine competition outside California, the Indy International brought in 3,262 wines from 15 countries last year. This year, competition coordinators have set a goal of 3,500 entries. The Indy is also the second largest amateur competition in the country and holds the distinction of largest fruit wine competition.
"We're one of the few wine competitions that have a separate fruit wine category," said Ellen Harkness, wine competition coordinator. "We bring in judges who have a special interest in judging fruit wines."
Seventy judges will travel to Indianapolis from across North America to review upwards of 110 wines a day based on appearance, aroma, taste and aftertaste. Judges receive the wines in numbered glasses, lessening the chance of recognizing a wine by its bottle and label art.
A wine can be awarded a gold, silver or bronze medal, or no medal at all. The very best wines are awarded concordance gold, earning the right to compete for the best of show award. Only 55-60 wines are chosen as concordance gold winners. Last year, Indiana wineries took home 138 medals, one of them a concordance gold. Indiana wineries also compete with each other for the Governor's Cup, which is awarded to the "winningest" Indiana winery based on a points system. An award for the "winningest" winery in the entire competition, the Pacesetter Trophy, was established last year.
The results of the competition will be posted on the Internet immediately following the conclusion of the competition at www.in.gov/iwc/.
The public is invited to watch wine judges in action at the competition from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 24-25 and from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on July 26.
On July 31, the Taste of Indiana Agriculture Wine Reception will highlight award-winning wines from Indiana wineries and food from Indiana commodity groups. The reception is from 6-9 p.m. in the Farm Bureau Building at the state fairgrounds. Tickets are $20, available through the State Fair box office at (317) 927-7524 and at the door.
The Indy International Wine Competition is sponsored by the Indiana State Fair and coordinated by the Indiana Wine Grape Council.
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