New organic, biodynamic wine competition

Organisers of the first American wine competition judged solely by women have announced the first contest open only to organic or biodynamic wines.

Founders of the first annual Green Wine Competition to be held May 5 in Sonoma, California, say the competition is meant to be a roadmap for consumers looking to drink green.

‘This is an exploding category,’ said Lea Pierce, competition director. ‘There is tremendous interest in green products. But it’s hard for wine lovers to find these wines, to know what they’re getting, and to know which ones are great.’

The competition has 100 entries so far, and organisers say they expect between 200 and 1,000 entries. First-year wine competitions typically garner 200-400 entries.

Producers need not be fully organic or biodynamic but can comply with a range of US sustainable certification programs such as Lodi Rules, Oregon LIVE and Certified Salmon Safe.

‘We feel this will help people keep moving to full-tilt organic and biodynamic,’ Pierce said.

The competition is organised by the same group as the National Women’s Wine Competition, judged by women in the wine industry. Now in its second year, it had 1900 entries last year.

Pierce, a wine marketing consultant, created the women’s competition based on the knowledge that women buy 60-70% of the wine sold in the US. She said results would help professional wine buyers and consumers identify wines that women enjoy.

Judges for the Green Wine Competition include Robert Parker biographer Elin McCoy, Jean-Charles Boisset of Boisset Family Wines and Peter Marks MW, wine curator at Napa’s Copia wine centre.

Written by Janice Fuhrman