Wisconsin State Fair Presents Judges for Professional Wine Competition

Wisconsin State Fair will host the third annual Professional Wine Competition on Thursday, June 27, which features over 150 of Wisconsin’s best wines from 27 of Wisconsin’s finest professional wineries. A special highlight of this completion is the naming of the Best Wisconsin Wine grown from 100% Wisconsin fruit or grapes. The prestigious award is sponsored by the Wisconsin Grape Growers Association and the Wisconsin Winery Association. All Double Gold selected wines will be displayed at the Wisconsin State Fair, presented by U.S. Cellular®, Thursday, Aug. 1 through Sunday, Aug. 11.

A panel of distinguished judges will critique and evaluate wine entries based on several criteria, including aroma, body, flavor and astringency. The challenging task of selecting the 2013 Wisconsin State Fair award winning wines falls on the taste buds of the following six judges:

Katie Cook earned her master's degree in Enology from the University of Burgundy, located in central France. Cook has been the Enology Project Leader at the University of Minnesota since 2012, where she has been involved in the development of new grape cultivars and provides outreach for wineries in the state. Prior to her current post at UMN, Cook gained valuable vintner experience working in wineries around the world.

Amber Mihna spent her childhood working in restaurants where she developed a passion for food and wine, which has encouraged her to pursue a career in the restaurant industry. In addition to consulting in the wine industry, Minha merchandises, educates and consults for a statewide wine distribution company. She is highly respected by her peers for her creative and auspicious approach to marketing the wine industry.

Gordon Rouse has been involved in amateur winemaking since 1990. He is actively involved with the Minnesota Grape Growers Association, Purple Foot Wine Club and the American Wine Society. Rouse is an American Wine Society Certified Wine Judge and has judged wine competitions throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and in the American Wine Society Amateur and Commercial Divisions.

Heather Harrison developed a passion for wine as an adult which led her to begin a successful Wisconsin Wine and Beer Tour business. She enjoys educating people about Wisconsin’s booming wine industry and viticulture. Harrison is looking forward to this opportunity to further broaden her appreciation of Wisconsin wines.

Jaclyn Stuart is the co-author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Wine & Food Pairing and is a certified sommelier with accreditations from the Court of Master Sommeliers, the Wine & Spirits Education Trust and the French Wine Society. Stuart is currently the owner of Vintage Elkhart Lake and teaches wine courses for the Midwest Wine School. In 2011 Stuart was named the Top New Sommelier in the Great Lakes Region from the prestigious Guild of Sommeliers.

Ellie Butz has an extensive history evaluating competition wines and a plethora of experience educating others about wine through her role of Enology Extension Specialist at Mississippi State and Purdue Universities. Butz is also the co-author of WINEMAKING – From Grape Growing to Marketplace.