About
SUNSET is the leading media brand of the Western lifestyle. Its International Wine Competition makes its winning wines part of the most influential wine program in the country. Its judges are some of the most experienced wine professionals in the West, including many Master Sommeliers and Masters of Wine. The magazine is committed to promoting its winners in ways that no other competition can.
The competition is designed to attract all wineries interested in reaching the Western wine drinker and is juried by the best judges in the industry, who understand and appreciate the Western palate and lifestyle.
Winning producers will be featured in the October release of a Wine Special non-print, digital edition with supporting microsite. Promotions for the Wine Award Special Issue will be placed in sunset.com, Sunset eNewsletters and Sunset social sites. The edition will be promoted and available for 12 months or until the 2024 Wine Competition Awards winners are announced.
Reasons to Enter
Sources: 2018 MRI Doublebase. 2019 Sunset Digital Survey, Sunset Media Kit 2022
Frequently Asked Questions
The judging will take place May 23rd - 25th in Sonoma County, CA.
The deadline for entry is May 8th, 2023.
Early bird entry deadline is April 24th, 2023.
*Shipments must be received by 5pm on May 10th, 2023
Please follow the instructions located on the paper entry form.
We will accept wine shipments until 5pm on May 10th, 2023. Please ship wines directly to:
Sunset International Wine Competition
c/o Express Wine Delivery
7970 Cameron Dr.
Windsor, CA 95492
An official entry shall consist of 4 bottles, each bottle no less than 750 ml in volume. For containers larger than 1 liter in volume, an official entry shall consist of 2 units. An official entry of wines, such as dessert wines, that are bottled only in 375ml bottles shall consist of 6 bottles, each no less than 375ml.
Winning producers will be featured in the Fall release of a Wine Special non-print, digital edition with supporting microsite. Promotions for the Wine Award Special Issue will be placed in sunset.com, Sunset eNewsletters and Sunset social sites. The edition will be promoted and available for 12 months or until the 2024 Wine Competition Awards winners are announced.
Please contact Debra Del Fiorentino at: debra@winecompetitions.com
(415) 640-6337.
Official Rules
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Deadlines & Judging
Entry Deadline: May 8th, 2023
(Early Bird Deadline: April 24th, 2023)
Delivery Deadline: May 10th, 2023
Judging: May 23rd - 25th, 2023
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Fees
Regular: $119 per entry online / $129 by paper entry form
Early Bird Entry (by April 24th, 2023): $99 per entry online / $109 by paper entry form
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Categories
Please review this document for a complete list of all categories.
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Legal
Table, sparkling, fortified, fruit, and specialty wines produced in any wine-producing region of the world that meet the applicable federal legal requirements for sale in the United States are eligible for entry
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Entry form
Entries must be listed on the official entry form, either directly online or downloaded from this web site. If downloading the paper form, please complete the entire form and sign at the bottom of the page to certify that the statements on the form are correct. Failure to complete the form properly may result in disqualification.
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Advertising & Licensing Opportunities
Available a few months after completion of the competition, a special non-print, digital magazine edition with supporting microsite on sunset.com will launch. As part of the digital magazine there will be paid ad opportunities and paid listings in a microsite directory. These ad positions will allow for prominent placement and the larger ad units will allow for your ad to contain your label or logo image along with a link to your website and a “Buy Button” included on Awards page on Sunset.com. Also, if you are looking to leverage your award medal for commercial purposes there is a licensing program that is available upon request. This additional paid licensing program allows entrants to license, on an annual basis, the logo award for commercial purposes to boost sales using your Sunset award. As example, the licensing program will allow you to leverage the Sunset brand on your bottle label, neckers, case cards, shelf talkers and more. Please contact sunsetadops@sunset.com for pricing details for advertising and licensing opportunities.
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Entries
An official entry shall consist of four (4) bottles, each bottle no less than 750 ml in volume. For containers larger than 1 liter in volume, an official entry shall consist of two (2) units. An official entry of wines, such as dessert wines, that are bottled only in 375 ml bottles shall consist of six (6) bottles, each no less than 375 ml
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Labels
Any wine that is delivered to the competition without a full and proper label will be disqualified from the judging. Please do not send wines with laboratory, temporary, photocopied, or altered labels. Please specify on the entry form how many gallons of wine were produced. A minimum of 100 gallons is required. This rule is to ensure that wines entered in the competition were produced for purchase by consumers.
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Donation
By entering the competition, a winery agrees to donate one case (12 bottles) of each gold medal-winning wine for any trade or consumer event that Sunset may hold within 12 months after the judging event. If additional bottles are requested, Sunset will purchase these at 50% of retail value
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Medals
Please note that only Best of Class winners will be receiving medals automatically. Gold medals will be made available upon request. Digital plaques will be available for all winners for use on websites, social media sites and/or email campaigns.
2022 Judges
Winemakers
- Stephanie Trotter, Trotter 1/16
- Carol Shelton, C Shelton Wines
- Katie Madigan, St. Francis
- Sara Fowler, Peju
- Kristen Barnhisel, J. Lohr Vineyards
- John Allbaugh, Director of Winemaking, Bronco
- Diane Wilson, Director of Winemaking Wilson Artisan Wineries
- Giovanni Balistreri
- Nick Goldschmidt
- Erik Olsen
- Miro Tcholakov
Journalists
- Ziggy “The Wine Gal” Eschliman, Radio and TV Personality
- Christopher Sawyer, Sommelier and Wine Consultant
- Laura Ness, Wine Writer, Journalist, Columnist
- Mike Dunne, Wine Columnist, Publisher
- Ellen Landis, Wine Journalist, C.S., CSWd
- Bob Foster, Asst. Editor California Grapevine
Trade/Education
- Kimberley Charles, Diploma in Wine and Spirits, Founder and Owner Charles Communications
- Traci Dutton, Beverage Manager and Sommelier, Culinary Institute of America
- Liz Thach, Ph.D., Master of Wine, Distinguished Professor of Wine & Management Sonoma State
- Renata Franzia Price, Bronco
- Larry Van Aalst, Sommelier, Host of Sonoma Wine Report
- Barry Herbst, Wine Director, Bottle Barn Liquors
- Chris O’Gorman, Director of Communications, Rodney Strong Wine Estates
- Todd Jolly, Buyer Sonoma’s Best
- Chris Richards, Director, Bricoleur Vineyards
- David Sandri, WSET Certified-Advanced
- Cathy Vicini, Proprietor Tricini Winery
- Spreti Valente, Senior Buyer, Anne’s Boutique Wine Club
- Ken Landis, Chef Consultant, Landis Shores
- Mark Chandler, CSW, Owner Chandler & Company
- Oliver Kohn, Buyer Draeger’s Market
- Josh Kirchhoff, Buyer Bounty Hunter, Napa
- Bill Hayes, Head Buyer, Beverages and More
- Jasper Russo, Director of Wine Education, Sales & Marketing, Sigel’s Fine Wines, Twin Liquors
- Wilfred Wong, Chief Storyteller, Wine.com
- Denise Gill