FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

WINE & GRAPE JUICE COMPETITION -
STILL POPPING CORKS AFTER 20 YEARS

4800 U.S. Highway 301 North
Tampa, FL 33610
Phone (813) 621-7821             Fax (813) 740-3505             http://www.floridastatefair.com/

[NEWS RELEASE] TAMPA, FL. — February 5, 2008.  The International Wine and Grape Juice Competition sponsored by Cabot Creamery is celebrating its 20th year at the Florida State Fair. The competition held annually has revised a few of its categories to better class the numerous varieties of wine showcased each year.

This year, the competition has created new categories for the international wines more suited for their distinct blend of grapes as compared to previous years. The competition is divided into 11 classes of wine and three classes of juice with each type having numerous categories. For example, vinifera-red is a class of wine with 22 categories. These categories have more noticeable names such as merlot, shiraz, and cabernet sauvignon.

Under vinifera-red, six new categories were added including Blended Bordeaux varietals, Blended Italian varietals, Blended Portuguese varietals, Blended Rhone varietals, Blended Spanish varietals, and Blended Tuscan varietals. Under vinifera-white, four new categories were added including Blended Bordeaux varietals, Blended Italian varietals, Blended Rhone varietals, and Blended Spanish varietals.

The three day judging event takes place from Thurs., Feb. 7 through Sat., Feb. 9. Over these three days, 27 judges will taste approximately 1600 commercial wines and 200 hobbyist wines. The judges are pooled from a variety of industries related to wine and its crafting including sommeliers, respected wine writers, wine wholesalers, wine retailers, wine educators, winemakers and restaurateurs.

Judges are paired into groups of three with each group evaluating a specific wine category. There are 136 wine categories judged in the competition! A category may have one entry or 150 entries as is the case with more widely produced wines such as Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. Each wine is analyzed by blind judging meaning that the judges do not see the bottle; the wine is poured into a glass and is marked with an identifying number. Judges score the wines independently and then discuss and agree on any medals awarded. 

Each wine entry is scored using a 20-point scale. Points are scored for color, clarity, aroma, bouquet, balance, bitterness, astringency, general quality, and tasting true to type.  Wines garnering 17 points or more receive a Gold Medal.  Those between 13 and 16 points receive a Silver Medal.  Wines which receive 10 to 12 points are given a Bronze Medal.

Multiple gold medal recipients in each class of wine move forward to a “Best of Show” judging. Each judge tastes these wines and collectively determines the “Best of Show White Wine”, “Best of Show Red Wine”, “Best of Show Dessert Wine”, “Best of Show Sparkling Wine”, “Best of Show Juice” and “Best of Show Florida Wine”. These wines represent not only the very best wines in the competition, but some of the finest wines in the world. The best of show award is deemed highly prestigious because there are wines from 34 states and 10 foreign countries.

More competitors have entered the wine competition than any other previous year and Florida is proudly represented by 13 wineries. Joyce Covington, the special events coordinator of the Florida State Fair, stated:

“It is exciting to be celebrating our 20th year with the largest number of wines that have ever been entered in our competition and additionally exciting to have 13 Florida wineries participating.”

The 20th International Wine and Grape Juice Competition, sponsored by Cabot Creamery, will be on display for the duration of the fair in the Florida Center.  No separate admission is required – your gate admission ticket is all you need.  Stop by and watch the judging or see the show winners for yourself!

All acts, concerts, scheduled times, exhibitors, prices, and other advertised events are subject to change and/or cancel without notice.  Fair gate admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children ages six to 11; and free for children five and younger.  NO RE-ENTRY is permitted without an admission ticket.  Gates open daily at 9 a.m. and parking is free during the 12 days of the Fair. 

The Florida State Fairgrounds is located just seven miles east of downtown Tampa, with easy access via I-75, I-4, U.S. Highway 301, Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, and Orient Road.  For more information about the 2008 Florida State Fair, call toll-free (800) 345-FAIR or (813) 621-7821, visit http://www.floridastatefair.com/ or http://myspace.com/floridastatefair.

The 104th annual Florida State Fair will take place on February 7-18, 2008.  The Florida State Fair – always in Tampa and always in February – is organized by the Florida State Fair Authority under the leadership of Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.  Agriculture Commissioner Charles H. Bronson leads the Fair Authority, which oversees the Florida State Fairgrounds and the annual Florida State Fair.

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For media inquiries, please contact:
Denise Shreaves:  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  
Manager of Marketing & Public Relations
Florida State Fair Authority
Phone (813) 627-4314 / Cell (813) 732-0141
 
OR

Vince Caruso:  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Marketing Director 
Florida State Fair Authority
Phone (813) 627-4222