Indy International Wine Competition

Wines from around the world poured into the Indiana State Fairgrounds Exposition Hall for the twelfth annual Indy International Wine Competition, July 24 to 26.

The largest wine competition outside California, the Indy International brought in 3,300 wines from 15 countries last year. The Indy is also the second largest amateur competition in the country and holds the distinction of largest fruit wine competition.

Seventy judges traveled to Indianapolis from across North America to review upwards of 110 wines a day based on appearance, aroma, taste and aftertaste. Judges receive the wines in numbered glasses, lessening the chance of recognizing a wine by its bottle and label art.

A wine can be awarded a gold, silver or bronze medal, or no medal at all. The very best wines are awarded concordance gold, earning the right to compete for the best of show award. Only 81 wines were chosen as concordance gold winners. Indiana wineries took home 178 medals, five of them a concordance gold.

The Indy International Wine Competition is sponsored by the Indiana State Fair and coordinated by the Indiana Wine Grape Council.