As previously reported here, the Austin County Fair had their Non-Commercial Wine competition at the Austin County Fairgrounds on Saturday, October 12, 2013. I was asked to be a judge for the competition which I promptly accepted since it was my first wine judging experience. These are the results of the Austin County Fair wine competition.
Classifications for the competition were:
- Red Wine – Dry
- Red Wine – Sweet
- White Wine – Dry
- White Wine – Sweet
- Fruit/Berry
- Dessert/Port Style
- Kit Wine/Non TX Grapes – Dry
- Kit Wine/Non TX Grapes – Sweet
- Native/Mustang Grape
- Blush
There were not too many kit wines entered in the competition which showed local non-commercial winemakers were definitely making great strides to producing good wine. I did the judging sitting next to Stephen Morgan, owner/winemaker of Saddlehorn Winery, and when done judging he said he was impressed how well the wines had been.

Runner Up Best of Show Michael Goode, Best of Show Martha Tarkington

Best Austin County Produced Wine: Billy Schaffner (Representing Billy was his daughter Laurie Michalke, Granddaughter in Law Lauren Michalke, great grandson Sterling Michalke and granddaughter Michaela Fleming)
Full results are below:
Red Wine – Dry | |
Gold | Scott Greene |
Silver | Michael Goode and Ken Wuensche |
Bronze | David Todd |
Red Wine – Sweet | |
Gold | David Eskins |
Silver | Martha Tarkington |
Bronze | Garry Kroeger |
White Wine – Dry | |
Gold | Michael Goode |
Silver | Jerry Watson |
Bronze | Robert Hensz |
White Wine – Sweet | |
Gold | Martha Tarkington |
Silver | David Todd |
Fruit/Berry | |
Gold | Michael Goode |
Silver | David Eskins |
Bronze | Wayne Richard |
Dessert / Port Style | |
Gold | Scott Greene |
Silver | Danny Koester |
Bronze | Jerry Watson |
Kit Wine – Non TX Grapes – Dry Red | |
Gold | Richard Clayton |
Kit Wine – Non TX Grapes – Dry – White | |
Gold | Garry Kroeger |
Kit Wine – Non TX Grapes – Sweet | |
Gold | Richard Clayton |
Native Grape / Mustang | |
Gold | Billy Schaffner |
Silver | Danny Koester |
Bronze | Brad Klausmeyer |
Blush | |
Gold | Martha Tarkington |
Silver | Michael Goode |
Bronze | Ken Wuensche |
Overall | |
Grand Champion | Martha Tarkington |
Reserve Grand Champion | Michael Goode |
Austin County Overall | |
Grand Champion | Billy Schaffner |
Good job, and how exciting. MJ
Thanks!