Kentucky Commonwealth Commercial Wine Competition and Commissioner’s Cup

With a goal of public awareness and education through promotion and recognition, the Kentucky Commonwealth Commercial Wine Competition & Commissioner’s Cup is the quintessential yearly guide to the best wines produced throughout the state. Eligible only to licensed Kentucky Small Farm Wineries, the KCCWC & CC assembles panels of expert judges comprised of industry leaders to systematically assess and score entries. All wines are judged blind based on individual merit and awarded gold, silver, or bronze medals.

Sponsored by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture and the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund, the Commissioner’s Cup is the highest recognition awarded in the Commonwealth to the top Kentucky wine of the year in each of the following categories: Dry Red Wine (max 0.2% RS), Dry White Wine (max 0.2% RS), Rose/Blush, Sweet/Dessert Style/Fruit Wine and Boutique (Small Production) Wine.

To be eligible for the Commissioner’s Cup, a wine must be awarded a gold medal in the Kentucky Commonwealth Commercial Wine Competition and must be produced from a minimum of 75% Kentucky fruit. Additionally, we request that a minimum of 100 cases be available for sale to the general public for Dry Red Wine, Dry White Wine, Rose/Blush, and Sweet/Dessert Style/Fruit Wine categories. Any gold-medal-winning wine under the 100-case minimum will be eligible for entry in the Commissioner’s Cup under the Boutique (Small Production) Wine category.

Every Commissioner Cup qualifying wine is tasted and individually scored. Scores are tallied, and the highest-scoring wine in each class is awarded as a Commissioner’s Cup Winning Wine.

2024 Kentucky Commonwealth Commercial Wine Competition & Commissioner’s Cup

Entries for the 2024 Kentucky Commonwealth Commercial Wine Competition and Commissioner’s Cup are now open! Please submit your entries by October 21st. You may enter as many wines into the competition as you like.

Each wine entry requires a fee of $45 (e.g. if you submit two wines, your total fees are $90). Entry fees support the costs of the competition and can be paid to the Kentucky Wineries Association via PayPal in the entry form or check/money order payable to the Kentucky Wineries Association.

For each wine you enter into the competition, please send 2 bottles to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (c/o Kentucky Commonwealth Commercial Wine Competition, 111 Corporate Drive, Frankfort, KY 40601). Wines must be received by October 28th. Along with your wine shipment, please include a copy of the entry form confirmation email along with the PayPal receipt or check/money order payable to the Kentucky Wineries Association.

Winners will be announced shortly after the competition date of November 9, 2024. For questions, please contact Anne Harney