12 replies to this topic

[tater1337]

my roommate has challenged me to a winemaking contest. one 6 gallon batch, start at sept 1st and to be judged between christmas and new years.

anyone have any suggestions as to other restrictions we should make for the contest to be more evenly competitive? or should we go no-holds-barred?

[Wade's Wines]

It's got to be fruit and sweet to be enjoyable in that short a time. Or maybe some kind of kit.
Cranberry's just about as good at 3 months as a year. And it's as good from juice as it is from fresh berries.
Cherry would also be delicious in a short time, sweetened.
Go for a bold delicious fruit and sweeten it back to about the sweetness of the fruit.

[tater1337]

not really looking for contest advice, looking more for how we keep the contest from being too easily one-sided. I am thinking we should keep it at whites, as not everyone likes reds. maybe a max cost on ingredients so he doesnt fly gresh grapes from california in. stuff like that.

[Curt]

Make it local grown fruit.

[Doyle]

Your question is kind of tough to answer as we don't know what kinds of wines the two of you typically make. If it is a kit then clearly you can limit cost. If it is from Fresh grapes, I think you are kidding yourself that they would be ready to drink in 3 months. A high percentage of California hasn't even harvested grapes by Sept 1.

[tater1337]

so far here are a few ideas for rules we decided
start sept 1, judge around x-mas
x dollar limit on ingredients(probably under $100 or it'll be a frozen pail contest)
no artificial flavors
6 gallon batch
judge panel made of wine experts and amateurs
no fortifying or blending with previously made wine

Curt, not a good selection of fresh local fruits(good idea for another contest!)
Doyle, if we could get 'em, I bet we could make 'em drinkable, we are really getting good at that, but we'll use frozen.
Wade, good Ideas, but I picked up some better ones at a non-related festival where drinking was a side sport

[tgoose55]

Why not use some Alexander's Sun Country, canned juice?
- 32.00 per can
- no artificial flavor
- 6 gallon batch (use two or three cans) - I would check the forums for peoples experience for the amount
- Should be ready by Christmas

You could also do a Vintners Harvest (fruit) or an Island Mist kit

Rob

[saramc]

Why don't you each and say two-three other friends write down a non-grape item (this leaves room for herbs, flowers, etc)...and what ever is drawn out of the hat is what is made as the challenge? Also make sure that each person has to understand that they cannot name wild, exotic ingredient--it has to be something that is available in the area or within said price range off the internet.
I have considered doing the same similar thing for our amateur group---at each meeting, each person in attendance puts in their "entry", then each quarter or twice a year a random entry is drawn out---and for all those members who "opt in" we judge said wine ONE year later. They can opt to make one gallon, three, five, six, whatever. Wines will be judged by random panel and prize(s) awarded.(I am a great collector of awards!).

You call can send me a bottle of each and I will gladly judge, since you will be kicking this event off on my birthday (9/1), it is only fitting!!

Have fun!

[Vern_L_Equinox]

Are you agreed to both doing a dry wine? I'd think that a wine with a sweet finish would have an edge when judging 3-month old wines.

[bigdfromtn]

If you want a simple and true head to head contest.

Agree on a certain kit, buy 2 of them, and go for it.

Maybe allow any tweeking, or limit tweeking of the contents and receipe.

This would remove possible partiality to a certain flavor wine. This way it could also be a blind testing.

Best of luck. Sounds like fun.

[jerzy_s]

Yes - at least agree on the TYPE of wine - same fruit or same grapes. If you want to compete in your winemaking abilities - then why not buy the SAME fruit or grapes, split in half and see who can tweak them into a better wine...

[Chris_Austin]

I like the idea of you both making the same type of wine, or same base ingredients - and then see who comes up with the more innovative and best tasting product.

This is sort of like a very extended version of Food TV's Chopped or Iron Chef... instead of 30 minutes to prepare a dish, you have about 4 months to put together a wine... fun!

[geohen]

The type of wine should be the same for both contestants. The fruit (grape or other fruits) should be from the same souce. A Moderator should be chosen to keep thing on the up and up.
Are you going to let everyone know how it turns out