Arkansas Quality Wine Program
In 2020, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture (UA System) developed the Arkansas Quality Wine Program (AQW), a two-year program funded by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop Block Grant Program to address issues of wine quality and advance the Arkansas grape and wine industry. Additional funding was provided by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop Block Grant Program to expand the AQW (2022-2025).
The AQW program follows the example of other quality assurance programs that focus on advancing the quality of grape and wine characteristics unique to a particular growing region while preserving the sense of place of the product. A network of UA System food science and horticulture experts laid the groundwork for the AQW program to set quality standards for Arkansas-made wine, providing outreach to help grape growers increase crop production, improve techniques for home and commercial wine production, as well as creating marketing materials to raise public awareness of Arkansas wines.
Each year, there will be a wine competition for commercial wines produced in Arkansas made from 90% Arkansas-grown grapes. Not only will the appearance, aroma and tastes of the wines be evaluated by expert wine judges, but the wines will also have to meet composition standards and mandated regulations.
New This Year! Fruit Wines Allowed in Arkansas Wine Competition
Wines can be entered in the Arkansas Wine Competition (Arkansas made wines, limit of 5 wine entries/winery) or the AQW Wine Competition (Arkansas grown and made, no limit wine entries).
AQW Annual Wine Competition will be held at the UA System Food Science Department August 7-9, 2024. The deadline for wine entries is July 31, 2024.
AQW Wine Competition Rules Flyer Click here for printable form
AQW Wine Competition Entry Form Click here for printable form Click here for a fillable form
Wine Entry Form: Use one form per wine and forms should be sent with wines. For additional AQW Wine Competition entry forms, print a form or make photocopies of this form.
Payment: Pay for entries to the AQW wine competition by credit card on the AAGG website by clicking on “Online Payments” or send check payable to AAGG to the shipping address.
Ship or Bring Wines and Entry Forms to: Dr. Renee Threlfall, AQW Wine Competition, UA System Food Science Department, 2650 N. Young Avenue, Fayetteville, AR 72704, 479-575-4677, rthrelf@uark.edu
Results from the AQW Annual Wine Competition May 17-19, 2023.
Six wineries submitted 33 wines made from 90% Arkansas-grown grapes. Thirty wines received medals (bronze, silver, gold, or double gold. Nineteen wines earned AQW designation.
Click here for a printable presentation of results from the wine competition.
2023 AQW Designated Wines
Keels Creek Winery: 2022 Valvin Muscat (Gold medal), 2022 Embarrassed (Silver medal), 2022 Muscat (Silver medal)
Mount Bethel Winery: Vignoles (Gold medal)
Post Winery, Inc: Ives Noir (Double gold medal), Pink Muscadine (Double gold medal), Red Muscadine (Double gold medal), White Muscadine (Double gold medal), Blue Parachute (Silver medal), 2021 Chambourcin (Silver medal),
Rusty Tractor Vineyards: 2019 Valvin Muscat (Double gold medal), 2019 Vignoles (Gold medal), 2020 Traminette (Gold medal), 2020 Chambourcin (Silver medal), 2020 Cynthiana (Silver medal), 2020 Muscadine (Silver medal)
Wiederkehr: White Muscadine (Double gold medal), Blush Muscadine (Gold medal), Red Muscadine (Silver medal)
Results from the AQW Annual Wine Competition May 19-21, 2022.
Four wineries submitted 30 wines made from 90% Arkansas-grown grapes. Twenty-five wines received medals (bronze, silver, gold, or double gold. Fifteen wines earned AQW designation.
2022 AQW Designated Wines
Keels Creek Winery: 2021 Vignoles (Gold medal), 2021 Ozark Truck Dessert Wine (Gold medal), 2021 Muscat (Silver medal)
Post Winery, Inc: Blue Parachute (Double gold medal), 2020 Ives Noir (Double gold medal), Pink Muscadine (Double gold medal), Red Muscadine (Double gold medal), Prophecy (Silver medal), White Muscadine (Silver medal)
Rusty Tractor Vineyards: 2020 Muscadine (Double gold medal), 2019 Valvin Muscat (Double gold medal), 2020 Chambourcin (Gold medal), 2019 Vignoles (Silver medal)
Results from the AQW Annual Wine Competition May 19-20, 2021.
Eight wineries submitted 52 wines made in Arkansas. Thirty-two wines received medals (bronze, silver, gold, or double gold. Fifteen wines earned AQW designation for wines made 90% with Arkansas-grown grapes.
2021 AQW Designated Wines
Chateau aux Arc Vineyards & Winery: 2018 Dahlem’s Red (Silver medal)
Keels Creek Winery: 2014 Port, Big C (Silver medal)
Mount Bethel Winery: Viognier (Double gold medal) and Vignoles (Gold medal)
Post Winery, Inc: Blue Parachute (Double gold medal), Pink Muscadine (Gold medal), Prophecy (Gold medal), 2018 Chambourcin (Silver medal), Ives Noir (Silver medal), and White Muscadine (Silver medal)
Rusty Tractor Vineyards: Enchantment (Silver medal), Valvin Muscat (Silver medal), and Vignoles (Silver medal)
Wiederkehr Wine Cellars: Cynthiana (Silver medal) and White Muscadine (Silver medal)