--- title: 15th Annual Idaho Wine & Cider Competition Results description: Discover the award-winners of the 15th annual Idaho Wine & Cider Competition sponsored by Great Northwest Wine. image: https://blog.idahowines.org/hubfs/IWC_2023_Theme_Assets/Common_Assets/idaho-wine-og-image.webp --- The page requires JavaScript to be enabled. [Skip to content](https://blog.idahowines.org/2024-idaho-wine-cider-competition-results#content) [![Idaho Wine Commission](https://www.idahowines.org/content/themes/iwc/images/idaho-wine-color-logo@2x.webp)](https://www.idahowines.org) - [Media](https://www.idahowines.org/media/) - [Request Brochure](https://resources.idahowines.org/request-a-brochure) - [Contact Us](https://resources.idahowines.org/contact-us) - [Subscribe](https://resources.idahowines.org/subscribe-idaho-wines) - - [FB](https://www.facebook.com/idahowinecommission) - [IG](https://www.instagram.com/idahowines/) - [YT](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt03FzUcXh-qAOByZDREK8A/videos) - [Idaho Wines](https://www.idahowines.org/idaho-wines/) - [Idaho Wine FAQs](https://www.idahowines.org/idaho-wines/idaho-wine-faqs/) - [Idaho Wine History](https://www.idahowines.org/idaho-wines/idaho-wine-history/) - [Visit](https://www.idahowines.org/visit/) - [Boise & Garden City](https://www.idahowines.org/visit/boise-garden-city/) - [Coeur d’Alene & Sandpoint](https://www.idahowines.org/visit/coeur-dalene-sandpoint/) - [Eagle](https://www.idahowines.org/visit/eagle/) - [Lewiston & Moscow](https://www.idahowines.org/visit/lewiston-moscow/) - [South Central](https://www.idahowines.org/visit/south-central/) - [Western Treasure Valley](https://www.idahowines.org/visit/western-treasure-valley/) - [Wine Flies Free](https://www.idahowines.org/visit/wine-flies-free/) - [Events](https://www.idahowines.org/events/) - [Industry Resources](https://www.idahowines.org/industry-resources/) - [Blog](https://blog.idahowines.org/) - [In The News](https://www.idahowines.org/in-the-news/) - [Who We Are](https://www.idahowines.org/who-we-are/) - [Team](https://www.idahowines.org/who-we-are/team/) Search for: Open main menu - [Home](https://www.idahowines.org) - [Blog](https://blog.idahowines.org) - 15th Annual Idaho Wine & Cider Competition Results # 15th Annual Idaho Wine & Cider Competition Results Posted by Idaho Wine Commission on **June 20 2024** The 15th annual Idaho Wine & Cider Competition was held on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at [Koenig Vineyards](https://www.koenigvineyards.com/) in the heart of the [Snake River Valley](https://idahowines.org/visit/western-treasure-valley/) American Viticultural Area. The competition is sponsored by [Great Northwest Wine](https://greatnorthwestwine.com/idaho-wine-competition/), a regional media company based in Washington state, as a collaborative effort with the Idaho Wine Commission.  In this year’s competition, 199 wines and 11 ciders were blind tasted and evaluated by a panel of distinguished judges. Find out which Idaho wineries and cideries took home the gold! ![award-winning bottles of Idaho wines sitting on a ledge in front of vineyard](https://blog.idahowines.org/hs-fs/hubfs/sweepstakes-elevated-idaho-wine-cider-competition-2024-2048x1536.jpg?width=488&height=366&name=sweepstakes-elevated-idaho-wine-cider-competition-2024-2048x1536.jpg) ## **The Judging Process** The [judging panel](http://www.idahowinecompetition.com/judging-panel-for-15th-annual-idaho-wine-cider-competition-features-liz-thach-master-of-wine/) consists of winemakers, sommeliers, journalists, wine buyers and educators from throughout the country. The judges evaluate similar wines in one setting. For example, all Merlots are brought out and judged at the same time. During one setting, up to eight different glasses of wine are evaluated at once. Each glass is labeled ‘Merlot 1’, ‘Merlot 2’, etc, to ensure the wines are judged blindly and without bias. The judges smell, taste, and taste again each sample, taking notes on a printed form. Each judge then writes down what award they believe the wine merits. After tasting each wine, judges submit their written comments to a moderator who enters each judge’s award into a spreadsheet. The moderator reads aloud the awards given to a particular wine. At the Idaho Wine & Cider Competition, decisions are made by "majority rule." ## **The Awards ** Once the votes are captured from the judges and calculated by the moderator, a wine can be awarded one of four medals: Bronze, Silver, Gold or Double Gold. Bronze is the third highest award given, Silver is the second highest, and Gold is the highest.  A Double Gold Medal is rare. This award signifies a unanimous decision of a Gold Medal by each person on the panel, without any prior discussion. At the end of the competition, each wine awarded a Gold or Double Gold Medal is once again evaluated by all nine judges. The judges go through the same process and rank the wines on paper and pick their favorites. The gold-winning red and white wines are narrowed down to the top two or three, and then judges taste them again and are asked to vote for a Best-In Class wine with a show of hands. ## **The Winners** Listed below are the gold, double gold and best of show wine and cider award winners at this year’s Idaho Wine & Cider Competition. [Check out the full list of the competition results](https://greatnorthwestwine.com/2024/06/15/a-different-panel-another-best-of-show-for-idaho-winemaker-will-wetmore/) including silver and bronze winners! The award-winners listed below are structured by: Winery name - year the grapes were harvested, type of wine and growing region. A special congratulations to Highpoint Cider for being the top ranked cider three years in a row! And be sure to keep your eye out for Famici Wine Co., which was awarded the 2024 Idaho Winery to Watch! ### **Best of Show / Best Red Wine / Double Gold Medal** [Veer Wine Project](https://www.veerwineproject.com/) - 2022 Garnacha, Snake River Valley ### **Best White Wine / Double Gold Medal** [Huston Vineyards](https://hustonvineyards.com/) - [2023 Chicken Dinner White](https://hustonvineyards.com/wine-shop/chicken-dinner-white/), Snake River Valley ### **Best RoséE / Double Gold Medal** [Huston Vineyards](https://hustonvineyards.com/) - [2023 Rosé](https://hustonvineyards.com/wine-shop/rose/), Snake River Valley ### **Best Sweet Wine / Double Gold Medal** [Koenig Vineyards](https://www.koenigvineyards.com/) - 2022 Riesling Ice wine, Snake River Valley ### **Best Sparkling Wine / Gold Medal** [3100 Cellars](https://3100cellars.com/) - [2019 Whitewater Sparkling Wine](https://3100cellars.com/wines/2019-whitewater), Snake River Valley ### **Best Merlot / Double Gold Medal** [Vale Wine Co](https://hatranchwinery.com/). - 2021 Merlot, Snake River Valley ### **Best Syrah / Double Gold Medal** [Huston Vineyards](https://hustonvineyards.com/) - 2021 Syrah, Snake River Valley ### **Best Red Blend / Double Gold Medal** [Veer Wine Project](https://www.veerwineproject.com/) - 2022 Tressé Red Wine, Snake River Valley ### **Best Cabernet Sauvignon / Gold Medal** [Rolling Hills Vineyard](https://www.rollinghillsvineyard.com/) - [2020 Cabernet Sauvignon](https://rollinghillsvineyard.orderport.net/product-details/0278/2020-Cabernet-Sauvignon), Snake River Valley ### **Best Riesling / Gold Medal** [Veer Wine Project](https://www.veerwineproject.com/) - 2023 Reverie Riesling, Snake River Valley ### **Best Tempranillo / Gold Medal** [Dunning Estates](https://www.theslopefarm.com/) - 2022 Tempranillo, Snake River Valley ### **Best Viognier / Gold Medal** [Holeskinsky Winery and Vineyard](https://www.holesinsky.com/) - [2022 100% Viognier](https://www.holesinsky.com/shop/p/100-viognier-2022), Snake River Valley ### **Best Malbec / Gold Medal ** [Indian Creek Winery](https://www.indiancreekwinery.com/) - 2022 For The Mountains Benefit Series Malbec, Snake River Valley ### **Best Cabernet Franc / Gold Medal ** [Snake River Winery](https://www.snakeriverwinery.com/) - [2022 Estate Cabernet Franc](https://www.snakeriverwinery.com/product-page/cabernet-franc), Snake River Valley ### **Double Gold Medal Winners** [Clearwater Canyon Cellars](https://clearwatercanyoncellars.com/) - [2022 Verhey Vineyard Malbec](https://clearwatercanyoncellars.orderport.net/product-details/0243/2022-Malbec), Washington [Famici Wine Co.](https://famiciwine.com/) - 2021 Malbec, Snake River Valley  [Hat Ranch Winery](https://hatranchwinery.com/)- 2021 Malbec, Snake River Valley  [Hat Ranch Winery](https://hatranchwinery.com/) - 2023 Pinot Grigio, Snake River Valley [Snake River Winery](https://www.snakeriverwinery.com/) - [2018 Estate Zweigelt](https://www.snakeriverwinery.com/product-page/blauer-zweigelt), Snake River Valley ### **Gold Medal Winners** [Cinder Wines](https://cinderwines.com/) - 2023 Emerald Slope Vineyard Verdejo, Snake River Valley  [Dude Dewalt Cellars](https://www.dudedewalt.com/) - 2023 Chardonnay, Snake River Valley  [Famici Wine Co](https://famiciwine.com/). - 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley  [Famici Wine Co](https://famiciwine.com/). - [2023 Vermentino](https://famiciwine.com/our-wines/), Snake River Valley [Hat Ranch Winery](https://hatranchwinery.com/) - 2023 Grüner Veltliner, Snake River Valley  [Hat Ranch Winery](https://hatranchwinery.com/) - [2021 Tempranillo](https://vinoshipper.com/shop/hat_ranch_winery/tempranillo_129221), Snake River Valley  [Indian Creek Winery](https://www.indiancreekwinery.com/) - 2023 Dry Rosé, Snake River Valley  [Koenig Vineyards](https://www.koenigvineyards.com/) - 2021 Sangiovese, Snake River Valley  [Koenig Vineyards](https://www.koenigvineyards.com/) - 2020 Snake River Valley Cuvée Red Wine, Snake River Valley [Koenig Vineyards](https://www.koenigvineyards.com/) - [2023 Dry Rosé](https://www.koenigvineyards.com/product/2023-dry-rose), Snake River Valley  [Lindsay Creek Vineyards](https://lcvineyards.com/) - [2017 Malbec](https://lcvineyards.com/shop), Washington  [Lindsay Creek Vineyards](https://lcvineyards.com/) - 2022 Riesling, Washington [Rolling Hills Vineyard](https://www.rollinghillsvineyard.com/) - [2021 Zinfandel](https://rollinghillsvineyard.orderport.net/product-details/0322/2021-Zinfandel), Horse Heaven Hills  [Sawtooth Winery](https://www.sawtoothwinery.com/) - [2022 Classic Fly Series Chardonnay](https://sawtoothwinery.orderport.net/product-details/1229/2022-Classic-Fly-Chardonnay), Snake River Valley [Sawtooth Winery](https://www.sawtoothwinery.com/) - [2021 Classic Fly Series Malbec](https://sawtoothwinery.orderport.net/product-details/1256/2021-Classic-Fly-Malbec), Snake River Valley  [Two Bad Labs Vineyard](https://twobadlabs.com/#wines) - [2022 Fumé Blanc](https://twobadlabs.com/#wines), Lewis Clark Valley  Vale Wine Co. - 2023 Sweet Moscato, Snake River Valley  [Veer Wine Project](https://www.veerwineproject.com/) - [2023 Project: Carbonic Syrah](https://vinoshipper.com/shop/veer_wine_project/project_carbonic_131824), Snake River Valley ### **Best Cider** [Highpoint Cider](https://highpointcider.com/) - [Transplant New England-Style Cider](https://vinoshipper.com/shop/highpoint_cider/transplant_70330) ### **Cider Double Gold Medal** [Highpoint Cider](https://highpointcider.com/) -[Prairie Punch ](https://vinoshipper.com/shop/highpoint_cider/prairie_punch_128670) ### **Cider Gold Medal** [High Country Cider](https://highcountrycider.com/about-us) - [Pineapple- Caramel Cider](https://untappd.com/b/high-country-cider-caramel-apple-cider/5272755) The 15th annual Idaho Wine & Cider Competition showcased the best of Idaho’s wine and cider scene, celebrating the dedication and craftsmanship of local producers. We extend heartfelt congratulations to all the winners and encourage enthusiasts to explore these award-winning beverages and savor the excellence that Idaho continues to offer. Cheers to another year of exceptional wine and cider and new favorites! Thank you to our amazing sponsors of the 15th annual Idaho Wine & Cider Competition:  [Core Enology Analytical Services,](https://enologylab.com/)[The Hartwell Corporation,](https://www.thehartwellcorp.com/)[Associated Insurance Services,](https://www.associatedins.com/)[Koenig Vineyards,](https://www.koenigvineyards.com/)[Visit Boise and](https://visitboise.com/)[Anthony’s Restaurants.](https://www.anthonys.com/)   Topics: [Idaho Wine Events](https://blog.idahowines.org/tag/idaho-wine-events), [Wine Education](https://blog.idahowines.org/tag/wine-education), [Featured Post](https://blog.idahowines.org/tag/featured-post) ## Stay Connected Get more information about Idaho wines, upcoming events, special offers and other exclusive content from the Idaho Wine Commission. 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