FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 11, 2025
Michigan Wine Collaborative Announces the 2025 Taste Michigan Governor’s Cup Competition
The Michigan Wine Collaborative (MWC) is excited to the 2025 Taste Michigan Governor’s Cup Competition. This event represents Michigan’s only statewide industry driven wine competition and is an opportunity for the Michigan wine industry to unite, engage, compete, and celebrate the premium wines representative of our wine industry.
MWC has once again partnered with the Beverage Testing Institute (BevTest) for the official third annual Taste Michigan Governor’s Cup Awards in 2025. Following some discussions with participants from past competitions MWC has been working with BevTest to improve upon the previous expectations of this competition to offer an enhanced experience for wineries entering wines including more intentional and technical feedback, transparency on the professionals tasting the wines and rating them, and opportunities to increase funding for Michigan Wine Collaborative marketing and promotional projects. We also updated the competition logo to showcase the Taste Michigan brand.
BevTest will conduct a series of professional blind tastings to rate and rank a set of Michigan produced wines, meads, and ciders at the BevTest Chicago testing facility. The final tasting results with all wine’s scores, medal ranks, constructive criticism, Best of Category, Governor’s Case Winners, and Governor’s Cup winners would be prepared for and provided to MWC by May 31, 2025.
The Competition will have the following award categories and corresponding ‘Best of’ awards:
Vinifera Red
Vinifera White
Hybrid Red
Hybrid White
Fortified (Port)
Sparkling
Rosé
Fruit
Sweet/Dessert (R.S. ≥5%)
Specialty Wine
Best of Show Awards: Best of Category, Governor’s Case Winners (highest ranking overall top 5 white wines, top 5 red wines, top rosé and top sparkling wine), Governor’s Cup goes to the wine with the highest overall score.
Following the results of the wine evaluation and in conjunction with the Taste Michigan brand, MWC will be coordinating events and promotional opportunities for the winning wines of the competition including a prestigious award ceremony where we will gather to transfer the Taste Michigan Governor’s Cup Trophy from Verterra Winery to 2025’s champion. The official trophy will be housed at the 2025 Best in Show winner tasting room for one year. MWC provides personalized plaques to signify each year’s winner. This physical award is sure to become an iconic part of tasting rooms around the state for the wine industry and consumers alike.
MWC is excited and honored to be able to market Michigan wine through this event via retail and restaurant marketing projects, Taste Michigan campaigns, media opportunities, and more!
Entries can be submitted HERE!
Wineries must have entry samples submitted no later than March 21, 2025. The full details of timeline, entry requirements, competition and review package options and competition updates will be offered on the BevTest Taste Michigan Governors Cup landing page as well as the MWC website and also promoted via informational email blasts, social media, and reinforced by BevTest communication channels.
MWC is honored to have the opportunity to promote the world class wines made in the state of Michigan through this event as we showcase the Taste Michigan brand. We are confident that this will be a unifying event and year for the Michigan wine industry along with projects including Taste Michigan Invades, The DREAM/Inclusion & Expansion Educational Fund, and more.
We would like to formally thank our membership for making these events and projects a reality and invite the whole of Michigan wine producers and grape growers to consider joining our organization as well as suppliers and vendors to the industry, educators, members of the trade, and all other industry affiliates and supporters. We have many opportunities available for membership and sponsorship of our organization with each allowing us to continue producing projects to increase and reinforce the Michigan grape and wine industries.
Join or Sponsor the Michigan Wine Collaborative Here!
The Michigan Wine Collaborative is the voice of the Michigan wine industry. Our mission is to enhance the sustainability and profitability of the Michigan wine industry by supporting wineries, growers and other businesses and individuals connected to the industry – today and for future generations.
For more information, contact us by reaching out to [email protected] or send us a message on social media.