Meet the 2026 Governor’s Cup Winner & Top State Fair Pours
August is officially here, and that means one thing: the Iowa State Fair is right around the corner! Before we head to the fairgrounds, we are thrilled to celebrate the outstanding talent of our local grape growers and winemakers.
The results are officially in for the 2026 Iowa State Fair Commercial Wine Competition, held this past June. A panel of six expert judges evaluated 156 entries from 24 Iowa wineries in a rigorous blind sensory tasting. In total, 132 wines earned medals—including 35 Gold, 52 Silver, and 45 Bronze—proving once again that Iowa Wine Country is producing world-class pours!
Read on to meet our 2026 Governor’s Cup Trophy winner, discover the top "Best of Show" wines across seven categories, and find out how you can taste these champions at Grandfather's Barn from August 13–23!
The 2026 Governor’s Cup Winner: Fireside Winery’s Fizzy Firefly
The highest honor in Iowa winemaking—the Governor’s Cup Trophy—is awarded by the Iowa Wine Growers Association to the single "best of the best" wine selected from the sweepstakes round.
This year, top honors go to Fireside Winery in Marengo for their sparkling specialty creation, Fizzy Firefly! 🍾✨
Fireside Winery is no stranger to the trophy, having held it for their Blu wine from the 2025 competition. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds will officially present Fireside Winery with the 2026 Governor’s Cup Trophy during a special ceremony at the fair on August 17th.
The 2026 "Best of Show" Champions
Out of 132 medaling entries, 26 top wines advanced to the sweepstakes round. Judges reevaluated these elite pours to select the standout winner in each division (including an exciting tie for Dry White!):
Wine Competition by the Numbers
156 total wines entered from 24 Iowa wineries
132 total medalists awarded
35 Gold Medals
52 Silver Medals
45 Bronze Medals
26 "Best of Show" finalists nominated
Scroll down for the full wine competition results!
Taste the Winners at the Iowa Wine Experience (Aug 13–23)
Want to try these medal-winning wines for yourself? You don't have to travel the whole state to find them—we are bringing them directly to you at the Iowa State Fair!
Make your way to the historic Grandfather's Barn at the top of the hill (pro-tip: take a refreshing ride on the Sky Glider 🚡) from August 13–23. Step inside, relax indoors, or savor the beautiful view outdoors, and enjoy our full summer menu:
🏅 The Award Winners Flight: Sample 7 top-scoring wines from the Commercial Wine Competition, including Best of Show & Governor’s Cup winners!
🍷 Dry & Sweet Wine Flights: Sample 4 targeted pours tailored to your palate.
🧊 Famous Wine Slushies: The ultimate icy, sweet fair staple to beat the mid-day heat.
🍎 Canned Hard Cider & Craft Pours: Enjoy cold ciders or a full glass of your favorite local wine.
🧀 Grazing Cup: Pair your flight with our brand-new Grazing Cup! It is a beautiful, charcuterie-inspired treat loaded with artisanal cheeses, fresh fruit, veggies, crackers, and nuts—perfect for snacking on the go or enjoying inside the barn!
Track Daily Featured Wines on Facebook
Because our rotating menu features a huge variety of award-winning Iowa bottles, our selection changes throughout the fair! Be sure to follow Iowa Wine on Facebook and check our daily Facebook Stories to see exactly which wines are on the menu each day.
Powered by Our Volunteers (and Tips for a Great Cause!)
The Iowa Wine Experience is organized by the Iowa Wine Growers Association and brought to life by over 240 volunteer shifts! When you stop by for a flight or slushie, be sure to give a warm thank you to the friendly faces behind the counter making it all happen. Tips for a Cause: This year, we will have tip jars out on the counters, and 100% of all tips collected during the fair will be donated to the non-profit Foster SQUAD! Foster SQUAD provides crucial resources, support, and community to Iowa foster families as they care for our state’s most vulnerable children. Learn more about their amazing mission at fostersquad.org.
Meet the Winery Team Behind the Bar: Want to meet the people who craft the wine? Stop by on these special dates to chat with featured winery teams while they serve up your favorite pours:
🍷 August 14 & 22: Come see the crew from Van Wijk Winery volunteering!
🏆 August 17: Come see the crew from Fireside Winery (2026 Governor's Cup Winners!) volunteering!
👉 Plan Your State Fair Visit & Explore the Iowa Wine Experience Here
Full Results: 2026 Iowa State Fair Commercial Wine Competition
Gold Medal Winners:
Blueberry – Winterset Cidery, Winterset
Bubbles Under the Bridge – Covered Bridges Winery, Winterset - BOS Nominee
Burlington Blush – Lindon Wines, Burlington
Dear Carl, – Oscar Carl Vineyard, Sioux City - BOS Sweet White
Destiny – Lubben Vineyards & Wines, Anamosa – BOS Nominee
Dog Days White - 42 North White, Vinton
Extra Brut Blanc de Blanc - Dosaage Winery, Grimes - BOS Nominee
Fireside Brianna - Fireside Winery, Marengo - *Tie BOS Dry White
Fireside Fizzy Firefly - Fireside Winery, Marengo - BOS Specialty Grape & 2026 Governor’s Cup Winner
Fireside Marquette Rosé - Fireside Winery, Winterset - BOS Nominee
Fireside Storyteller - Fireside Winery, Marengo - BOS Nominee
Foch Barrel Reserve - Lubben Vineyards & Wines, Anamosa - BOS Nominee
Frontenac - Lindon Wines, Burlington
Frontenac Gris - Covered Bridges Winery, Winterset - *Tie BOS Dry White
Goldenrod - Soldier Creek Winery, Fort Dodge - BOS Nominee
Grape White - Haynes Homestead, Winterset - BOS Nominee
I Can’t Believe It’s Not Red - Backyard Wines, Traer
Iowa La Crosse - Tabor Home Vineyard & Winery, Baldwin - BOS Nominee
Karel Sue - Oscar Carl Vineyard, Sioux City - BOS Nominee
La Crescent - Iowa State University Winery, Ames
La Crosse - Tabor Home Vineyard & Winery, Baldwin - BOS Nominee
Marquette - Dosaage Winery, Grimes - BOS Rosé
Marquette - Soldier Creek Winery, Fort Dodge - BOS Nominee
Marquette - Dosaage Winery, Grimes - BOS Rosé
Melomel: Blackberry Mead - Van Wijk Winery, Sully - BOS Non-Grape
Oskyfizzante Pink - Tassel Ridge Winery, Leighton
Peach - Winterset Cidery, Winterset
Petite Pearl - Covered Bridges Winery, Winterset - BOS Dry Red
Rattlesnake Red - Covered Bridges Winery - BOS Sweet Red
Red Sunset - Three Sons Vineyard, Columbus Junction- BOS Nominee
Red, White, & Blue - Tassel Ridge Winery, Leighton
Rhuby Slippers - Red Cedar Wines, Vinton - BOS Nominee
Rosé - Iowa State University Winery, Ames
Rosette - Soldier Creek Winery, Fort Dodge - BOS Nominee
Rubra 2022 - Soldier Creek Winery, Fort Dodge - BOS Nominee
Summer Breeze - Lubben Vineyards & Wines, Anamosa
Wild Blackberry - Tabor Home Vineyard & Winery, Baldwin
Silver Medal Winners
Applause - Tabor Home Vineyard & Winery, Baldwin
Brianna - Soldier Creek Winery, Fort Dodge
Brianna - Tabor Home Vineyard & Winery, Baldwin
Brianna Belle - Rustic River Winery, Lake View
Brut Rosé - Dosaage Winery, Grimes
Burlington Kiss - Lindon Wines, Burlington
Caught Red Handed - Wide River Winery, Clinton
Cedar Ridge Amber - Cedar Ridge Winery, Swisher
Crimson Pearl - Covered Bridges Winery, Winterset
Doc Otto’s Raspberry Hard Cider - Soldier Creek Winery, Fort Dodge
Double Jeopardy - Wide River Winery, Clinton
Dry Blanc de Blanc - Dosaage Winery, Grimes
Dry Marechal Foch - Lubben Vineyards & Wines, Anamosa
Extra Brut Blanc de Gris - Dosaage Winery, Grimes
Fireside Blu - Fireside Winery, Marengo
Fireside Glo - Fireside Winery, Marengo
Fireside Rhubarb - Fireside Winery, Marengo
Fireside Sparks Sangria - Fireside Winery, Marengo
Flight Path Rosé - Airport Road Vineyard, Mount Pleasant
Fortissino - Soldier Creek Winery, Fort Dodge
Francesca’s Folly - Covered Bridges Winery, Winterset
Frontenac Blanc - Covered Bridges Winery, Winterset
Frontenac Blanc - Olathe Creek Vineyard & Winery, Le Claire
Frontenac Gris - Soldier Creek Winery, Fort Dodge
Harvest Red - Three Sons Vineyard, Columbus Junction
Hogback Bridge - Covered Bridges Winery, Marengo
Iowa Edelweiss - Tassel Ridge Winery, Leighton
Itasca - Lubben Vineyards & Wines, Anamosa
Janice Louise - Oscar Carl Vineyard, Sioux City
La Crescent - Soldier Creek Winery, Fort Dodge
Loesscato - Oscar Carl Vineyard, Sioux City
Luis Porch - Airport Road Vineyard, Mount Pleasant
Maréchal Foch Reserve - Oscar Carl Vineyard, Sioux City
Marquette - Iowa State University Winery, Ames
Marquette - Lindon Wines, Burlington
Mead: Golden - Van Wijk Winery, Sully
Norton - Covered Bridges Winery, Winterset
Paragon Pink - Soldier Creek Winery, Fort Dodge
Pearl Z - Dosaage Winery, Grimes
Petite Pearl - Three Sons Vineyard, Columbus Junction
Petite Pearl Estate - Olathea Creek Vineyard & Winery, Le Claire
Pineapple Orange - Winterset Cidery, Winterset
Piracy - Dosaage Winery, Grimes
Pizzeria & Pasta, Too! - Tassel Ridge Winery, Leighton
Pommel - Eagles Landing Winery, Marquette
Razzle Queen - Haynes Homestead, Winterset
Red Blend - Lubben Vineyards & Wines, Anamosa
Rubra 2023 - Soldier Creek Winery, Fort Dodge
Sabrevois - Tassel Ridge Winery, Leighton
Star Spangled White - Tassel Ridge Winery, Leighton
Strawberry - Winterset Cidery, Winterset
Bronze Medal Winners
Antique Aronia - Rustic River Winery, Lake View
Apple Pie Cider - Winterset Cidery, Winterset
Blowfish - 42 North Winery, Vinton
Brianna - Dosaage Winery, Grimes
Brianna O - Dosaage Winery, Grimes
Bubbly Doug - Airport Road Vineyard, Mt. Pleasant
Burlington Mist - Lindon Wines, Burlington
Candleglow White - Tassel Ridge Winery, Leighton
Cedar Ridge La Crescent - Cedar Ridge Winery, Swisher
Coyote Call - Rustic River Winery, Lake View
Crimson Pearl - Three Sons Vineyard, Columbus Junction
Dirty Deed - Rustic River Winery, Lake View
Doc Otto’s Blueberry - Soldier Creek Winery, Fort Dodge
Doc Otto’s Original Hard Cider - Soldier Creek Winery, Fort Dodge
Extra Dry Rosé - Dosaage Winery, Grimes
FireCiders Blackberry - Fireside Winery, Marengo
FireCiders Oktoberfest - Fireside Winery, Marengo
FireCiders Strawberry Rhubarb - Fireside Winery, Marengo
Fireside Apfelwein - Fireside Winery, Marengo
Fireside Elderberry - Fireside Winery, Marengo
Fireside Hearthstone - Fireside Winery, Marengo
Foxy Red - Olathea Creek Vineyard & Winery, LeClaire
Frontenac - Lubben Vineyards & Wines, Anamosa
Frontenac - Olathea Creek Vineyard & Winery, LeClaire
La Crescent - Three Sons Vineyard, Columbus Junction
Landmark Corner - Airport Road Vineyard & Winery, Mt. Pleasant
Lime Habanero - Winterset Cidery, Winterset
Marquette - Airport Road Vineyard, Mount Pleasant
Marquette Reserve - Soldier Creek Winery, Fort Dodge
Metheglin: Mead with Almond & Natural Flavors - Van Wijk Winery, Sully
Midnight Moon - Rustic River Winery, Lake View
My Love - Red Cedar Wines, Vinton
Nick Nacs - Red Cedar Wines, Vinton
Noiret - Soldier Creek Winery, Fort Dodge
Outlaw White - Eagles Landing Winery, Marquette
Petite Barrel Reserve - Lubben Vineyards & Wines, Anamosa
Petite Rosé - Covered Bridges Winery, Winterset
Repeat Offender - Wide River Winery, Clinton
Riverboat Red Reserve - Olathea Creek Vineyard & Winery, LeClaire
Rivers Rainbow - Rustic River Winery, Lake View
Rockbottom Red - Rustic River Winery, Lake View
Runway Rosé - Airport Road Vineyard, Mount Pleasant
Semi Sweet Red Blend - Lubben Vineyards & Wines, Anamosa
Swampwater - Sweet Honeymoon Winery, Lohrville
Windmill Whisper - Rustic River Winery, Lake View