My wine club, The Greater Kansas City Cellarmasters, puts on an amateur wine
contest every November. We have several hundred entries and judge all types
of grape and fruit wines as well as all types of meads. This year the
Best-Of-Show winner was a Vignoles made from grapes grown by the winemaker.
However, the 1st Runner Up was a Barolo kit, 2nd Runner Up was a peach wine
(made from fresh peaches) and 3rd Runner Up was an Oregon Pinot Noir kit.
Some have asked whether wines made from fresh or frozen fruit should be
judged together with kit wines. The reason being that there is a lot more
work, expense and science/art involved making wine from grapes and/or fruit
compared to the relatively easy steps required to make kit wine.

We plan these wine contests a year in advance. I thought I would poll the
readers of rec.crafts.winemaking to see what you think. Should kit wines
made be judged with fresh and/or frozen grape and fruit wines (Together) or
should there be separate classes for the two types of wine (Separate).
Thanks for your input.

Bill Frazier
Olathe, Kansas