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.
According to SUNSET, 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 2022 Wine Competition Awards winners are announced.
Reasons to Enter
Sources: Forbes 2018 Wine Institute, March 2012; 2012 Ipsos Mendelsohn Affluent Survey, HHI $100k+; 2012 Doublebase GfK MRI
Frequently Asked Questions
The judging will take place June 9 - 11 in Sonoma County, CA.
The deadline for entry and shipment is May 28th, 2021.
Please follow the instructions located on the paper entry form.
We will accept wine shipments from until June 1, 2021. 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 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 2021 Wine Competition Awards winners are announced.
Please contact Debra Del Fiorentino at: debra@winecompetitions.com
(415) 640-6337.
Official Rules
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Deadline
Shipping Deadline: May 28th, 2021
Judging: June 9 - 11, 2021
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Fees
Regular: $119 per entry online / $129 by paper entry form
Early Entry (by May 21st, 2021): $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 on line 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
WINE SPECIAL ISSUE: Available mid-October a special non-print, digital edition with supporting microsite will launch. The ad opportunities will include digital edition directory ads and full page ads along with a paid digital listing with label or logo image included on Sunset.com page with URL link to your website and a “Buy Button” included on Awards page on Sunset.com. Also, there is a logo award licensing program available that allows entrants to use the logo award in several ways on several platforms.
For more information, please contact Debra Del Fiorentino at debra@winecompetitions.com
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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 wines receiving a silver or bronze medal designation will have access to download a pdf certificate for Achievement in Winemaking in recognition of this award in lieu of an actual medal. Pdfs will be available on the competition page at winecompetitions.com
2020 Judges
Honorary Chair
Mark Hanson
Founder & CEO Bricoleur Vineyards
Winemakers
- Marta Kraftzek, Scheid
- Stephanie Trotter, Trotter 1/16
- Andria Shirk, Laelaps Wines
- 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
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
- Elsie Wolfe, Sales Manager, Alcohol, Buyer, Safeway
- Chris O’Gorman, Director of Communications, Rodney Strong Wine Estates
- Kerrie Cook, Wine Educator, Sommelier
- Melanie Mann, Wine Director, Buyer Northern Division Whole Foods
- Todd Jolly, Buyer Sonoma’s Best
- Curtis Mann, Director Wine, Beer & Spirits, Buyer Raley’s Fine Foods
- 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