July 15, 2025
Raise your glasses, wine lovers! The 2025 Missouri Wine Competition results are in.
This year saw 260 wines from 30+ wineries across Missouri competing for top honors. Eight expert judges spent two days blind tasting and evaluating each entry.
Prestigious judges with a variety of different skill sets, experiences and qualifications from across the United States awarded 56 gold, 116 silver and 53 bronze medals. This year we asked our judges to describe the qualities of a bronze, silver and gold medal wine.
Bronze awards indicate a wine is a good solid example and is something worthy of enjoying on any given day.
Judges award a silver medal to complex wines that are balanced, well made and a good example of the varietal or style. Enjoy these wines with a nice meal.
Gold wines are exceptional and tell a story of craftsmanship. These bottles stand out and are something that should excite and make you want to sip more. Stock up on gold medal wines to share with friends and family frequently.
"It is always an honor to see the exceptional quality of wines produced in the Show Me State at our competition. Recognizing and celebrating the quality wine from Missouri is essential,” stated Jim Anderson, Executive Director, Missouri Wine & Grape Board. “We will share and display these wines at national and local events while highlighting the skill, dedication and passion of our wineries and winemakers, ensuring that Missouri wines are appreciated and enjoyed.”
Join us in congratulating and celebrating this year’s Best of Class winners for each of the following categories:
Sparkling: Bubbly | Adam Puchta Winery
Dry White: 2024 Estate Vignoles | Jowler Creek Winery
Semi-Dry White: 2024 Dry Vignoles | Adam Puchta Winery
Sweet White: 2024 Vignoles | Stone Hill Winery
Dry Red: 2024 Chambourcin | Adam Puchta Winery
Semi-Dry Red: 2024 Sweet Hadley Jo | Shamrock Hills Vineyard & Winery
Sweet Red: Cats Meow | Adam Puchta Winery
Dry Rose: Dry Rosé | Adam Puchta Winery
Semi-Dry Rose: 2024 The Pinnacle | Defiance Ridge Vineyards
Sweet Rose: Pink Catawba | Stone Hill Winery
Dessert: 1855 | Adam Puchta Winery
Fruit: Apple Cranberry | Stonehaus Farms Winery
Late Harvest/Ice Wine: 2022 Collector’s Series Late Harvest Vignoles | Les Bourgeois Vineyards
The winner of the 2025 Governor’s Cup is 2024 Dry Vignoles, Adam Puchta Winery.
“It’s been 25 years since we have been honored with this award, and I can’t express how meaningful it is. Being able to make this a reality again is incredibly humbling. I want to give special recognition to my father, Tim Puchta, for reviving the winery and carrying forward the legacy of our family’s name. His vision and passion laid the foundation for where we are today. This year marks the 170th anniversary for our winery, making this honor even more special.” Said Parker Puchta, President and Owner of Adam Puchta Winery in Hermann, Missouri. “This is truly a team effort. From the dedicated growers who supply us with high-quality grapes, our hardworking vineyard crew, our talented wine production team, and our marketing and sales staff — every person plays a role. Of course, none of this would be possible without the support of our outstanding customers, who continue to believe in us year after year. I’m incredibly proud of the village we’ve built here and all we have achieved.”
The C.V. Riley Award for best Norton also went to Spencer Manor Winery, 2023 Norton. The C.V. Riley award recognizes the Best Norton, which is the state grape and is named after the first state entomologist, who also helped save the French wine industry.
The Husmann-Jaeger award for best white varietal was won by: Jowler Creek Winery, 2024 Estate Vignoles. This award is named after George Husmann and Hermann Jaeger. Both influential men who were crucial in the early development of the Missouri wine industry.
In addition to Governor’s Cup, C.V. Riley, Husmann-Jaeger, and Best of Class distinctions, judges awarded gold, silver, and bronze medals. Find the complete list of the 2025 Award-Winning Wines here.
Cheers to this year’s Label Competition winners for each of the following categories:
Best Traditional Label: 2022 Bethelehem Valley Norton | Noboleis Vineyards
Best Contemporary Label: 2023 Crunchy! | Eagles’ Landing
Best Wine Series: Explorer Collection: 2022 Estate Norton, 2024 Vignoles, 38 Degrees North, Project 1970 | St. James Winery
People’s Choice Award: Sweet Backroads White | Shamrock Hills Vineyard & Winery
