Thousands of entries streamed into our Vermont editorial offices this summer for consideration in the 7th annual WineMaker Label Contest. The staff gathered around our large conference table to evaluate the entries in waves. After much deliberation, some arguing, and a few glasses of wine, we arrived at the winners featured on the next several pages. We hope you enjoy looking at them as much as we enjoyed judging them! Thanks to all who entered and to our prize sponsors.

GRAND PRIZE

JIM DOTSON · Winter Garden, Florida

Jim’s label artwork was hand-drawn and digitally colored by Jeff Morris. Jim wrote that, “The illustration was to represent a sophisticated piece of contemporary art to visually complement the celebration of a great wine.” Well, we’re not sure winning Grand Prize in the WineMaker Label Contest is a confirmation of “sophisticated contemporary art” but it’s sure worth celebrating!

PRIZES: Heron Bay wine kit from Lakeside Wines; Hat, T-shirt and coupons for yeast from White Labs Pure Yeast & Fermentation; Cellar Classic Winery Series wine kit from RJ Spagnols; Coupon for wine yeast from Wyeast Laboratories, Inc.; Gift certificate from Quality Wine and Ale Supply; Wine kit from Winexpert, Inc.

GOLD MEDAL

JOHN CSORDAS · Jefferson, MD

John’s label is an homage to Hamlet’s tragic lover, Ophelia, who drowned herself in the river. As John puts it, “Unlike this tragically forgotten character, we are sure you will remember this wine by immersing yourself in its fine bouquet.” The artwork and photography is all original save the water image (which is from stock). To drink or not to drink...that is the question.

PRIZES: Vinoka sparkling cider kit from Rubino’s Homemade Wine & Beer Supply; Gift certificate from Bader Beer & Wine Supply, Inc.; Coupon for wine yeast from Wyeast Laboratories, Inc.; Gift certificate from Quality Wine and Ale Supply; Wine kit from Winexpert, Inc.; Gift certificate from Grape and Granary

SILVER MEDAL

BRIAN HOFFMANN · Madison, WI

This label’s genesis was a doodle sketch to answer Brian’s beer-loving friends constant questions of “How do you make wine?” We all could use a Wine-O-Matic. By the way, that’s Brian tossing in the grape cluster from the ladder.

PRIZES: Wine kit from Cellar Craft International; RJ Spagnols wine kit from Lakeside Wines; Coupon for wine yeast from Wyeast Laboratories, Inc.; Gift certificate from Quality Wine and Ale Supply; Wine kit from Winexpert, Inc.

Bronze Medal

BRYNN DAVIS · Lawrence, KS

Brynn painted this goanna lizard design in acrylics on canvas. She adores Aboriginal art and lizards, so when she set out to design a label for her dad’s Aussie Cab Sauv she pulled from her passions. Good on ya, Brynn!

PRIZES: Gift certificate from All Seasons Gardening & Brewing Supply; Coupon for wine yeast from Wyeast Laboratories, Inc.; Gift certificate from Quality Wine and Ale Supply; Wine kit from Winexpert, Inc.

HONORABLE MENTION LABELS

Ann & James Woken · Farmington, MN

PRIZE: Wine bottle drying tree from BrewCitySupplies.com

Mitch Wagner · Louisville, KY

PRIZE: Gift certificate from Harrington Press Winemaking & Homebrew Supplies

Bobby Don Johnson · Maurice, LA

PRIZE: Gift certificate from High Gravity Homebrewing and Winemaking

Jessica Voigt · West Chicago, IL

PRIZE: Hat and T-shirt from White Labs Pure Yeast & Fermentation

Joseph A. Hadaway Jr. · Forrest Hill, MD

PRIZE: Counter-pressure bottle filler from Beer & Wine Makers Warehouse

Barbara Bentley · Walnut Creek, CA

PRIZE: Gift certificate from Original Home Brew Outlet

Dave Arrigoni · San Jose, CA

PRIZE: Sweatshirt from White Labs Pure Yeast & Fermentation

Tim Gerst · Boynton, FL

PRIZE: Gift certificate from Bader Beer & Wine Supply, Inc.

Gary Driscoll · Pennington, NJ

PRIZES: Coupons for wine yeast from Wyeast Laboratories, Inc.; Gift certificate from Quality Wine and Ale Supply

Jim McHugh · Holland Landing, ON

PRIZE: Gift certificate from Heron Bay Wines

Rich McCormick · Laguna Beach, CA

PRIZES: Coupons for wine yeast from Wyeast Laboratories, Inc.; Gift certificate from Quality Wine and Ale Supply.

R.J. Bowen · Havertown, PA

PRIZE: Gift certificate from Wine Cellar Supply, Inc.

Laraine Willkie · Bellingham, WA

PRIZE: Gift certificate from The Flying Barrel

Kathy & Lou Panetta · Monterey, CA

PRIZES: Coupon for yeast from White Labs Pure Yeast & Fermentation; Gift certificate from Quality Wine and Ale Supply

Michael J. Richards · Modesto, CA

PRIZES: Coupon for yeast from White Labs Pure Yeast & Fermentation; Gift certificate from Quality Wine and Ale Supply

Julie Bayer · Pittsburgh, PA

PRIZE: 45-bottle drying tree from The Pumphouse

Linda Skinner · Loomis, CA

PRIZES: Coupons for wine yeast from Wyeast Laboratories, Inc.; Gift certificate from Quality Wine and Ale Supply

Martha Adams · Sodus, NY

PRIZE: Gilda Italian hand corker from Rubino’s Homemade Wine & Beer Supply