Mid-Atlantic Challenge

Now accepting entries for the Mid-Atlantic's premier wine competition

The 2026 Mid-Atlantic Winemaker Challenge

The Mid-Atlantic Winemaker Challenge highlights the Mid-Atlantic wine industry like no other competition.

Benefits to entering include: an event exclusive to Mid-Atlantic wineries, a six-tier promotion program for all winners, your entry adjudicated in a standalone evaluation rather than through comparison against other submissions, and four ways to win in addition to standard medaling.

Our panel of esteemed judges include winemakers, sommeliers, beverage trade professionals, and media personalities.

We look forward to your entry into this year’s event!

Registration and Entry Samples Received by: Monday, June 8th, 2026

Judging: June 9th - 12th, 2026

<<<<DOWNLOAD FULL REGISTRATION PACKET HERE>>>>

Registration

<<<<DOWNLOAD FULL REGISTRATION PACKET HERE>>>>

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST in this year’s Mid-Atlantic Winemaker Challenge produced by Libation Wine, Beer, and Spirits Awards!

If you have any questions please send an e-mail to info@libationawards.com.

ELIGIBILITY AND CONDITIONS

1. Any commercial wine produced by a professional DE, MD, NJ, NY, PA, VA, WV, DC winery.

2. There is no limit to the number of wines entered. However, no wine may be entered in more than one class category.

3. Wines entered in Competitions from previous years are welcome.

4. The Competition reserves the right to photograph any entry and reproduce it in catalogs, posters, publications, on our website, and in publicity issued by the Competition.

JUDGING CRITERIA

The Mid-Atlantic Winemaker Challenge uses a modified 100-point Davis system. Entries will be adjudicated across 5 categories: Appearance, Aroma & Bouquet, Taste & Texture, Aftertaste, and Overall Impression. Each category is worth up to 20 points.

Medals are awarded as follows:

Gold: 90-100

Silver: 80-89

Bronze: 70-79

TASTING COMPETITION

Our quality-based scoring system allows for medals to be awarded through independent evaluation, rather than through comparison against other submissions. It is possible, and likely, that multiple gold, sliver, or bronze awards will be awarded in each category. Each entry also has 3 additional ways wineries can win in the competition. See panel below.

AWARDS AND RESULTS

Winners will be notified by e-mail during the week following the Competition.

FOUR WAYS TO WIN

There are FOUR WAYS for wineries to WIN for every submission:

Gold, Silver, & Bronze: Our panel of judges will score each submission using a double blind, modified Davis scale. This point-based scoring system allows for multiple Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards per category. By using this method of scoring and medaling, producers are not competing against each other, but rather being evaluated on an individual basis.

Best in Class Double Gold: The top Gold medal recipient in each category will be recognized as "Best in Class" and upgraded to Double Gold.

Winery of the Year: Submitting four or more entries will automatically enter you into the running for Winery of the Year. The average score of each eligible winery’s submissions will determine winery of the year.

Best of Show Bottle Art & Label Design Gold: You spend a lot of time designing your labels- opt to have them adjudicated so they get the credit they deserve!

<<<<DOWNLOAD FULL REGISTRATION PACKET HERE>>>>

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