8th Annual

Sunset International Wine Competition

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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, as well as in a Featured Sunset Article. 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 2025 Wine Competition Awards winners are announced.

The Sunset Magazine International Wine Competition will take place May 21st - May 23rd, 2024, in Santa Rosa, CA. The final deadline for submission is May 7th, 2024. To enter your product, please click here.

Best of the Best - 2022 Trentadue Montepulciano
Best of the Best - 2022 Trentadue Montepulciano

Reasons to Enter

  • Sunset is the definitive lifestyle brand of the modern American West and the single most trusted resource for a national audience aspiring to live the western lifestyle.
  • The Sunset audience is crazy about wine!
    • 93% drink wine at least once a week (and 28% drink wine 6–7 days a week)
    • 115% above average for drinking 4+ glasses of dinner wine in the last week
    • Favorite article on Sunset.com is Wine Awards
    • 7 out of 10 savor food & drink content
    • 1 in 4 report to be medium-to heavy wine drinkers
    • 83% above average for typically drinking wine with dinner
    • $229,619 Average HHI
    • $959,263 Average HH net worth
    • Visiting wineries 82%
  • Sunset has a circulation of 230K in print and digital with 1.2MM+ site visits per month. Average page views are 1.57MM.
  • Sunset’s social audience is 1.1M
    • Facebook: 536,000
    • Pinterest: 298,000
    • Instagram: 242,000
    • Twitter: 70,300
    • YouTube: 8,900
    • 4MM+ Total Cross-Platform Reach
    • 2.5% - 3.5% Industry-Leading Social Engagement
    • 103% YOY - Total Social Audience Growth
    • 120% YOY - @SunsetMag Instagram Community Growth
    • 80% of Sunset readers make decisions on brands and product choices based on ads seen in Sunset
  • Sunset readers appreciate Sunset‘s commitment to the wine industry and count on the magazine to expand their wine knowledge.
  • Sunset readers are 106% above average for being enthusiastic consumers of wine.
  • Sunset readers are 54% more likely to try new and different wines, and 96% say they enjoy exploring new wines.
  • With their passion and knowledge, Sunset readers have a wide sphere of influence. They are 81% above average for being super influential consumers of wine.
  • The 2012 Sunset International Wine Competition was the most successful launch of a wine competition in U.S. history and the competition has grown each year since. The 2023 Sunset International Wine Competition will be bigger and better than ever, with more promotion, more social media integration, and more buzz!
  • Westerners drink over 60 million glasses of wine each week!

Sources: 2018 MRI Doublebase. 2019 Sunset Digital Survey, 2022 & 2023 Sunset Media Kit, 2022 VinePair article, Mordor Intelligence, Gallup, Statista, and Park Street

Frequently Asked Questions

Early Bird Deadline: April 23rd, 2024 *$99 per entry online

Regular Deadline: May 7th, 2023 *$119 per entry online 

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Official Rules

2024 Judges

Jennifer Kelly Named Honorary Chief Judge for 2024 Sunset International Wine Competition.
Jennifer Kelly Named Honorary Chief Judge for 2024 Sunset International Wine Competition.

Winemakers

  • Adam Savitskas, Winemaker - Big Dog Vineyards
  • David Vergari, Winemaker
  • David Sundberg, Winemaker
  • Drew Damseky, Owner / Winemaker - Palmeri
  • Julie Schreiber, Consulting Winemaker
  • Kerry Damskey, Wine Consultant and Winemaker
  • Maureen Martin, Senior Winemaker - Clos Du Bois
  • Michael Beaulac, Winemaker - Foley Family Wines
  • Penny Gadd-Coster, Winemaker - Breathless Wines
  • Stephanie Trotter, Owner / Winemaker - Trotter 1/16, D.O.S. at Tedeschi Family Winery

Journalists / Media

  • Christopher Sawyer, Wine Writer and “Sommelier to the Stars”
  • Dan Berger, Wine Journalist
  • Larry Van Aalst, Radio Host of "The Sonoma Wine Report", CRN Digital Talk Radio
  • Peg San Felippo, Wine Journalist
  • Ziggy Eschliman, Radio and TV Host, Blogger - Ziggy The Wine Gal

Trade / Education

  • Alexandria Sarovich, Founder & CEO - Own Rooted Hospitality
  • Amanda Johnson, Sommelier
  • Barry Herbst, Wine Director - Bottle Barn Liquors
  • Bekah Burnett, Wine Educator & Consultant
  • Debbie Zachareas, Wine Expert, International Judge, and Lecturer
  • Denise Gill, Educator / Consultant
  • Elliot Herrod, Maitre'D / Sommelier - Le Dîner
  • Emily Carlson, Wine Director - Barndiva
  • Homer Mitchell, Sommelier & Wine Wall Manager - The Matheson
  • Hope Albers,Hospitality Ambassador - Bricoleur Vineyards
  • Jay Bileti, Wine Educator - Deep Sky Vineyard
  • Jennifer "J.B." Kelly, Honorary Chief Judge, Sommelier, Consultant, and Spirit Expert
  • Petya Elitch, VIP Luxury Sales - Foley Family Wines
  • Sherrie Holzer, Wine Consultant - Sherrie Holzer Consulting LLC
  • Traci Dutton, Educator, Sommelier, Wine & Beverage Judge - Public Wine and Beverage Studies, Culinary Institute of America

Bottoms Up!

Reach a perfect audience.

Wow an esteemed judging panel.

It's your time to shine!