Now accepting entries.
The 2026 American Heritage Wine Competition
Libation is proud to announce the launch of the First Annual American Heritage Wine Competition, a new national competition created to celebrate the wines, grapes, and producers that tell America’s own wine story.
As America prepares to mark its 250th anniversary, we believe there has never been a better time to honor the uniquely American grapes, traditions, and regional wine styles that have helped shape our nation’s wine heritage.
This one-of-a-kind competition will focus on American native, hybrid, and heritage wine varietals — including the historic grapes and regional styles that have defined winegrowing across the United States.
For too long, American heritage wines have been underrepresented in traditional competitions. The American Heritage Wine Competition was created to change that.
This event is designed to recognize excellence among wines made from grapes such as Norton, Catawba, Concord, Niagara, Chambourcin, Vidal Blanc, Traminette, Seyval Blanc, La Crescent, Frontenac, Marquette, and many other native and heritage varietals that continue to define American wine regions from coast to coast.
Benefits to entering include: an event exclusive to wineries in the Great Lakes Region, 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, August 17th, 2026
Judging: Tuesday, August 18th – 21st, 2026