July 05, 2025

Iowa wine growers recognize DMACC wine competition

Mid-American wine competition given Outstanding Industry Partner Award

By Newton Daily

Des Moines Area Community College Horticulture Professor Randall Vos recently received the Iowa Wine Growers Association Outstanding Industry Partner Award on behalf of the Mid-American Wine Competition. Vos is coordinator of the event held annually at the DMACC Ankeny Campus Iowa Culinary Institute. (Submitted Photo)

Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny Campus Iowa Culinary Institute is the site of the annual Mid-American Wine Competition.

The Iowa Wine Growers Association recently recognized the Mid-American Wine Competition as an Outstanding Industry Partner at its annual Iowa Wine Awards.

“We are thrilled to present the Mid-American Wine Competition with this award and grateful for their support and dedication to not only the Midwest wine industry, but specifically the wine industry in our state,” said Iowa Wine Growers Association President Cassie Bolt. “This competition has helped highlight the quality, award winning wines being produced right here in Iowa.”

The 2016 Mid-American Wine Competition was held July 8-10. This was the 10th year the DMACC ICI has hosted the event. There were more than 600 entries from 13 states. Judges included Doug Frost of Kansas City, one of only three people in the world to earn the title of both Master of Wine and Master Sommelier.

DMACC Horticulture Professor Dr. Randall Vos coordinates the event. He said as wine competitions become more prevalent, the Mid-American Wine Competition continues to set itself apart from the competition by bringing in some of the best judges and wines in the country.

"We are very conscious about getting different viewpoints on the wines," said Dr. Vos. "Judges with different areas of expertise such as wine sales, wine service or winemaking give their opinion on each wine. I also think the competition stands out because of our outstanding volunteers; we always receive positive comments about their professionalism."
Vos said the competition is one of the only in the country to judge wines with carefully selected food pairings prepared at the DMACC ICI.

DMACC Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences Jim Stick said the award from the Iowa Wine Growers Association is an honor and a reflection on the hard work it takes to host the competition.

“DMACC and the Mid-American Wine Competition are working to raise the level of food and wine in Iowa,” said Stick. “The quality of the wines and the carefully crafted food pairings from DMACC ICI make this one of the premier wine competitions in the country.”

The 2017 Mid-American Wine Competition is July 14-16. For more information go to www.midamericanwine.org