Below is a tidbit of insight on how SHW Jubilee wine entries move through the competition.
Wines entered in the Jubilee can earn one of six individual wine awards: Double-Gold, Gold, Silver, Bronze, Honorable Mention, and No Award. Through elimination, entries advance to Best of Class, Best of Division (Red, White, Rose, Sparkler, Fruit-Vegetable, and Dessert), and Best of Show.
When you enter your wines in the Jubilee, you identify a wine classification within a division for your wine to complete in. A zinfandel would be entered into Red Wines Division 2 – Classification 206 Zinfandel.
When 3 or more wines are entered within a classification, then it “makes class”. This means that the 3 or more entries can compete within that class for a Best of Class award. Double-Golds are the highest individual award, and they compete in their Best of Class to move forward to subsequently compete for Best of Division. If no Double-Golds have been awarded in a class, then the Golds compete to move forward.
The Chief Judge creates a new class if one has not been pre-established. Example: 5 Picpoul Blanc entries are received and originally entered as Classification 112 – Misc White Dry. These 5 entries are pulled out of Class 112 and reclassified as a separate Classification 1XX Picpoul Blanc. The highest awarded wine (Double-Gold or Gold) within the Picpoul Blanc class then advances to compete for Best of Division White Wine.
Conversely, if less than 3 candidates are submitted within a pre-established class, then those wines are reclassified. Example: Classification 206 Zinfandel is a pre-established class but only 1 zinfandel entry is received. The single Zinfandel entry is then moved to Classification 260 Misc Red, and the highest warded wines compete for Best of Class within Classification 260.
We don’t know how many wines “make class” until after the entry period has closed and entries verified. If you participated in a group buy or varietal focus group, nudge your peers about entering their wines. Enter yours, too – it just takes 3 to makes class.
Even if you’ve already entered wines into this year’s Jubilee, you can still enter more!
