International Eastern Wine Competition
Rules & Procedures
2009 International Eastern Wine Competition
Check back soon for information about 2009's event!
Objectives
The IEWC was established in 1975 to judge and promote all wines marketed in the United States and Canada, and to give recognition to the wines produced in the many different wine regions of the world. Today, it is one of the largest and most competitive tastings in North America, annually awarding nearly 50 percent of eligible entrants in a given year. The event has earned a well-justified reputation for the quality of its organization, judgements and awards. Judges are wine-knowledgeable professionals and media specialists who represent major East Coast markets from Miami to Toronto, and include winemakers. They are assembled for their knowledge and interest in wine and their ability to help market or merchandise wines. The International Eastern Wine Competition is proudly sponsored by the trade magazine Vineyard & Winery Management.
Rules and Eligibility
(1) The Competition is open to all commercial wines and grape or other fruit distilled spirits marketed in the U.S. and Canada. (2) All classes of generic, varietals/blends, sparkling, dessert and fruit wines are eligible for entry. 3) Any group of three or more wines of the same kind not listed on the class roster, from two or more producers, will be judged as a group at the decision of the chairman. (4a) Certain classes will be subdivided by price (not revealed to judges). (4b) Certain classes will be subdivided by degree of residual sweetness, and by level of oak flavor to assist judges in their evaluation. Break points in residual sugar percentages are: (0-0.90, 0.91 - 2.0, 2.1 - 4, 4.1) and over. Wines will be presented to judges in ascending order of residual sweetness, as stated by the entrant. CAUTION: Any wine considered by the judging panel to significantly differ from its stated residual sweetness may be marked down by the panel. Please note: residual sugar is notated here as percent of the total, not in g/L (10 g/L = 1%). (5) Products must be available to the consumer in North America at the time of judging. (6) All products must have their label of commerce attached. (7) Batch information must be provided. "Batch" means the entire volume in cases after blending of component cuvées. Wine entered must be typical of entire batch. (8) A product may be entered in a single class only. (9) Wines entered as varietals must be made of the stated varietal, and must concur with applicable U.S. varietal labeling standards (min. 75% of stated varietal). (10) Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc wines will be classed by their relative degree of oak flavor. Please choose accordingly. (11) Entry forms or wines which arrive after stated deadlines cannot be guaranteed placement in class.
Retail Price
Price information required is the suggested retail price per 750ml on the American or Canadian market, whichever is most applicable. Wine available only in other sized bottles should be so specified.
Classifications
Rosé, Blanc de Noirs, Blush: Where color will be a judging factor, label terminology applies, with this knowledge: Rosé is deeper pink than blush, and blanc de noirs is even lighter, made from a varietally labeled red grape. Three or more of the same kind, e.g., "Cabernet Blush," will constitute a class. Sparkling Wines: May be bulk or bottle fermented. Sparkling wines will be classed by residual sweetness regardless of name (Brut, Extra Dry, etc). Separate classes for Methode Champenoise presumes a yeasty sur lie quality as a distinguishing characteristic. Note separate classes for vintage, blanc de blancs and blanc de noirs styles. Dessert Wines: Dessert wines are sherry, port and similar types with alcohol over 15%. Late Harvest including Icewines with natural residual fruit sugar over 5% will be flighted by varietal class in order of residual sugar (except "red vinifera icewine"; all wines of this type use class #399). Fruit Wines: Variety-specific fruit wines are entered under their names, except where sparkling or distilled. Ciders may either be still or sparkling. Blended fruit wines must use class #930. Fruits not listed must use class #995 ("other fruit"). Other Wine Beverages: Reduced alcohol or no-alcohol will be judged in separate classes and further sub-classified as the number of entries in each group warrant.
How to Enter
Fill in the requested information in the blank fields of the entry form, specify the class for each wine, and submit your form; credit card payment must be included for online entries. Entry forms/payments must arrive by April 18th, 2007. If you have any questions regarding your entry, please visit our FAQ (link from heading at left) before calling. No refunds for cancellations can be made after May 10th.
Entry Fees
Fees are $55 for entries sent to either Groskopf or Elmira Distributing. All wineries or their agents must pay in US funds drawn on a US bank.
Shipping Your Wine
Save a photocopy of your entry form as an inventory debit memo and for the shipping manifest. We recommend requesting a confirmation of receipt from your shipper. Western and other wineries concerned about reciprocal rules: As a convenience, IEWC is using a bonded California consolidator. If you prefer, ship your wines to arrive at Groskopf Warehouse in Sonoma, CA by April 18, 2008.
Otherwise ship direct to the NY wholesaler (Elmira Distributing Company, a bonded wholesaler) with wines to arrive no earlier than March 15 and no later than May 2, 2008. You do not have to be brand-registered in New York to enter.
Wineries using Groskopf Warehouse must mark their shipments as follows:
I.E.W.C., c/o Groskopf Warehouse, (BW 514720580) 8th St., Sonoma, CA 95476, 800-573-9192.
Wines must arrive here by April 18, 2008.
Wines not shipped to Groskopf should be sent to:
I.E.W.C., /o Elmira Distributing, (NYS LL00103 28), 374 Upper Oakwood Ave, Elmira, NY 14902, 800-573-9192
Wines must arrive here by May 2nd, 2008.
For specific shipping requirements via private shippers, visit Shipping Protocol for Carriers.
U.S. West Coast and Pacific imported wine may be consolidated in California and shipped en masse by bonded carrier to a New York wholesaler at the entrants' convenience, or shipped directly to the New York consolidator, whichever is more convenient. Overseas wineries: consult with your importer on whether to ship entries to the East Coast or West consolidation points, and be sure to comply with the Bioterrorism Act protocols (see FAQs below). Canadian wines will NOT be consolidated in Canada for shipment to the States. Canadian wineries must arrange for shipping through licensed U.S. importers, or investigate consolidation and shipment through provincial organizations, where available.
Please ship 4 bottles of 750 ml entries, 5 each for 500 ml and 6 for 375 ml. This ensures sufficient volume for tasting through the final "Sweepstakes" round, and for any off-bottles. All customs, transport or broker fees for any delivery of wines to the consolidation points must be paid by the winery or their agent, or wines may be returned or refused. Neither Groskopf Warehouse, Elmira Distributing, nor Vineyard & Winery Management will accept C.O.D. shipping charges.
Notification
Medal recipients will be notified by mail or fax immediately after the competition, not later than 6/30.
Internet
Winners will be posted on the Results page on this web site. You may hotlink all of your results to your home page for a one-time $55 fee. See Promotional Items to order a link.
Medals & Stickers
Double Gold, Gold, Silver and Bronze medals with neck ribbons will be awarded. They read "International Eastern Wine Competition" with the name of the medal level. Pressure-sensitive black and gold embossed foil medallions 1 1/2" in diameter will also be available to medal recipients for use on their wine bottles in commerce. The pressure sensitive foil medallions have the same appearance, distinguished by double gold, gold and silver designations. Price is $50 per roll of 1,000 but quantity discounts are available. Order forms will be faxed to medal winners on notification.
Special Awards
Double gold medal wines will be eligible to compete for sweepstakes awards in five broad categories; White, Red, Dessert, Sparkling and Fruit categories.
Riesling Championship
The eighth Riesling Championship will provide prizes and special publicity for winners of four categories of still Riesling; dry, semi-dry, semi-sweet, and sweet.
Frequently Asked Questions
What class do I enter it in?
Answer: First read broad category headings like “vinifera red (or white)”, “interspecific varietals”, or “dessert, fruit wines” to find individual varietal classes.
1. The wine has two different grapes, each 50%, or it has several varieties.
Answer: Consider the larger category. There are various classes for blends, whether in vinifera or hybrid generic categories (all non-varietal hybrids and labrusca wines use red or white generic or blend options), stylistic blend categories in vinifera such as red Rhone, Bordeaux or Italian blends, white Bordeaux blends, cabernet/shiraz/syrah blends(#370) or “other white (or red) blend” classes. Cabernet/merlot blends should use class #380 or #385 depending on price. All blended fruit wines use class #930.
2. How are apple wines entered?
Answer: There are classes for still and sparkling apple cider, and still apple wine. Apple wine is usually higher than 7% alcohol, and has residual sugar; check the legal labeling parameters for “cider” vs. wine.
3. How many bottles do we need to submit?
Answer. Please submit four bottles of 750 ml wines, five of 500 ml wines, and six of 375 ml wines. The quantity is necessary for two reasons; to replace any bottles which may be corked, and to have sufficient quantity to last through the final sweepstakes round, when all 30 judges are tasting the wines to determine Best of Category awards. Recently, a wine which won a Best of Category award had a corked bottle and barely had enough to pour for the sweepstakes round.
Will unopened bottles be returned to me?
Answer. Vineyard & Winery Management does not have a shipping license for alcohol (only licensed three-tier members are eligible), and does not receive the incoming wine, which is sent to a NY State licensed distributor, Elmira Distributing.
How do I send the wines?
Answer: Wines should be shipped by commercial carriers (not via the USPO), following their protocols for packaging liquid and glass contents. FedEx has a fleet license to ship into New York, and for qualified shippers holding a bonded winery license, FedEx has a protocol to follow that will ensure the shipment satisfies legal requirements as well as packaging requirements. Wineries are asked to contact their local FedEx account executive and apply for the protocol to ensure compliance. We recommend doing this by early March at the latest to ensure meeting the shipping deadline to Elmira Distributing by April 27th (entry forms must be received online or by fax by the same date). UPS policy is to ship intra-state (not across state lines), but does ship intra-state in New York. Please consult other carriers directly for their policies.
Where do I send the wines?
Answer: Save a photocopy of your entry form as an inventory debit memo and for the shipping manifest. We recommend requesting a confirmation of receipt from your shipper. Western and other wineries concerned about reciprocal rules: As a convenience, IEWC is using a bonded California consolidator. If you prefer, ship your wines to arrive at Groskopf Warehouse in Sonoma, CA by April 13th at the latest. Otherwise ship direct to the NY wholesaler (Elmira Distributing Company, a bonded wholesaler) with wines to arrive no earlier than March 15 and no later than April 29. You do not have to be brand-registered in New York to enter.
What is the shipment protocol for Canadian wines?
Answer: Canadian wines will NOT be consolidated in Canada for shipment to the States. Canadian wineries must arrange for shipping through licensed U.S. importers, or investigate consolidation and shipment through provincial organizations, where available. Entry fees for Canadian wineries have been lowered to the standard rate in view of wineries’ shipping costs. Be sure to get a FURLS number and have your winery registered with the U.S. FDA to comply with the Bioterrorism Act of 2002.
Do I send payment with the wines?
Answer: DO NOT send payment with the wines. Payment can either be by credit card on the entry form, faxed or entered online, or mailed in with the entry copy after being faxed, to: IEWC c/o V&WM, P.O. Box 2358, Windsor, CA 95492. Payment should be received by April 29. No refunds or cancellations can be made after May 9.
Customs and Bioterrorism Act information for non-U.S. producers: What are the requirements of the Bioterrorism Act of 2002 and how does it affect wine imports?
Answer: In addition to existing customs paperwork, producers or import agents for all wines entering the U.S. from abroad need to acquire a FURLS number from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (identifying them as a specific producer). This number is then used to comply with the Act: all individual wines and quantities of same must be described on importation paperwork and refer to the FURLS number that identifies the specific producer. This number is available free by visiting the FDA website and registering at http://www.fdaregistrar.com/new1/signup_land.jsp, making sure to read documentation on how to be in complete compliance.
What if I cannot get my wines through customs?
Answer: Please note that the IEWC does NOT provide customs clearing services and will not accept charges for same. All customs, transport or broker fees for any delivery of wines to the consolidation points must be paid by the winery or their agent, or wines may be returned or refused. Neither Groskopf Warehouse, Elmira Distributing, nor Vineyard & Winery Management/IEWC will accept C.O.D. shipping charges. You do not have to be brand-registered in New York to enter, but the brands must be processed through customs at the time the entry form is submitted to be eligible. If the wines are held up in customs, IEWC accepts no responsibility and will issue no refunds after May 9.
When will results be released?
Answer: Medal recipients will be notified by mail or fax immediately after the competition. Be sure the fax number and name of person to receive award notice are on your entry form. Results will be posted on this website within 10 days of the competition’s completion (6/5). You may hotlink all of your results to your (brand-specific) home page for a one-time fee.
When will we receive our awards?
Answer: Medals should be received by June 30th.
OFFICIAL CLASSES OF ENTRY
VINIFERA GENERIC & SPARKLING
100 Vinifera Red Blends (Economy)
110 Vinifera White Blends (Economy)
120 Vinifera Rosé (dry)
130 Vinifera Blush/Blanc de Noirs (still)
(white zin: use #295)
140 Vinifera Sparkling (Bulk and Transfer)
150 Vinifera M. Champenoise - NV
160 Vinifera M. Champenoise – Vintage
170 Vinifera M. Champenoise – Blanc de Blancs
180 Vinifera M. Champenoise – Blanc de Noirs
VINIFERA WHITE
200 Chardonnay, low/no Oak to $15
201 Chardonnay, low/no oak over $15
202 Chardonnay, Oak Style to $15
203 Chardonnay, Oak Style over $15
210 Chenin Blanc
220 Gewurztraminer
230 Muscat Varieties (Black: use #397)
240 Riesling dry (0 – 0.90% r.s.)
241 Riesling semi-dry (0.91 – 2.0% r.s.)
242 Riesling semi-sweet (2.1 – 4.0% r.s.)
243 Riesling sweet (over 4% r.s )
250 Sauvignon Blanc, low/no Oak
251 Sauvignon Blanc, Oak Style
260 Semillon
265 White Bordeaux Blends
270 Viognier
272 Pinot Blanc/Auxerrois
274 Pinot Gris
275 Pinot Grigio (Italian style)
280 Other Vinifera White Varietal
285 Other Vinifera White Blend
295 Zinfandel, White
VINIFERA RED
300 Cabernet Sauvignon to $25
305 Cabernet Sauvignon over $25
310 Merlot to $20
315 Merlot over $20
320 Cabernet Franc
322 Malbec
324 Petit Verdot
325 Petite Sirah
330 Pinot Noir to $20
335 Pinot Noir over $20
340 Zinfandel, Red to $20
345 Zinfandel, Red over $20
350 Sangiovese
352 Barbera
355 Other Red Italian Varietal/blends
360 Syrah/Shiraz to $20
365 Syrah/Shiraz over $20
370 Shiraz/Cabernet blends
375 Other Rhone Red Varietal/blends
380 Red Bordeaux Blends to $25
385 Red Bordeaux Blends over $25
389 Pinotage
390 Other Red Vinifera Varietal
395 Other Red Vinifera Blends
397 Black Muscat
399 Red Vinifera Ice Wine (all varietals)
INTERSPECIFIC (HYBRID) GENERIC/BLENDS & SPARKLING
400 Hybrid Red blends
410 Hybrid White blends
420 Hybrid Rose blends
430 Hybrid Blush/Blanc de Noir (still)
440 Hybrid Sparkling
INTERSPECIFIC VARIETALS
510 Cayuga
520 Seyval
525 Traminette
530 Vidal Blanc
540 Vignoles
550 Chardonel
560 Other White Varietal (blends use #410)
610 Chambourcin
620 Frontenac
640 Marechal Foch
650 Other Red Varietals (blends use #400)
NATIVE GENERIC/BLENDS AND SPARKLING
710 Labrusca White
720 Labrusca Red
725 Labrusca Rosé/Blush
730 Labrusca Sparkling
740 Muscadine Sparkling
750 Muscadine Red/Rosé/Blush
760 Muscadine White
NATIVE VARIETALS
810 Concord
820 Catawba
830 Niagara
840 Norton/Cynthiana
850 Stover/Blanc du Bois
DESSERT, FRUIT WINES
900 Sherry
905 Port (Ruby, NV blends)
906 Port (White)
907 Port (LBV)
908 Port (Tawny)
909 Port (Vintage)
910 Madeira
915 Other Dessert Wine (over 15% alc.)
920 Low/No Alcohol Wine
925 Honey Wine/Mead
930 Blended Fruit Wine
935 Sparkling Fruit Wine
940 Cider
950 Apple still wine
955 Blackberry
960 Blueberry
965 Cherry
970 Elderberry
975 Cranberry
985 Raspberry
995 Other Fruit
997 Sake
1000 Distilled Beverages—grape
1001 Distilled Beverages—other fruit