Good wine starts at the vine, and winemakers from across the state look forward to showcasing the fruits of their labor at the Iowa State Fair Wine Competition. Every year, around a dozen qualified wine judges select medal winners through a blind sensory and tasting evaluation, and the very best wine is honored with the Governor’s Cup Trophy Award, presented by Governor Kim Reynolds herself.
Fireside Winery in Marengo bottles the best of the best in white wine, and its Storyteller has maintained this reputation year after year. With delicate aromas of tropical fruit and pear, the palate is full of pineapple, apple and citrus. Visit the vineyard or host a private group tasting to see for yourself!
The husband-and-wife duo at Oscar Carl Vineyard in Sioux City bottled their very first wine in 2019. Called Loesscato, this Frontenac Blanc wine features flavors of honeyed apple and tropical fruit cup with beautiful aromas of melon, pear, lychee, eucalyptus and tea. The vineyard's Aunt Billie, an incredibly smooth, yet bold, dry Petite Pearl wine has also won awards.
When it comes to fruity wines, Eagles Landing Winery in Marquette is one of Iowa’s very best producers. Its renowned Bluesfest, a semi-sweet blueberry wine reminiscent of berry jam, is one to remember. Sample it for free at the winery, which offers complimentary wine tastings daily.
Sometimes you crave a little sparkle, and Tassel Ridge Winery’s Oskyfizzante Iowa White features just the right amount of fizz. The Leighton winery is renowned for its semi-sweet, sparkling wine with notes of kiwi, peach and citrus on the palate.
Frisky Fox Vineyard and Winery in Riceville’s award-winning Habanero Heat boasts the perfect blend of sweetness from white grapes and spiciness from habanero peppers.