Competing in wine competitions throughout the United States, Illinois Sparkling Co. (ISC), is living up to their tagline “Perfecting the Bubble.” In 2018, ISC’s traditional method sparkling wines received three top trophies, three double gold medals, eight gold medals and 10 silver medals in state and international wine competitions. What makes this achievement more spectacular is that all these wines are made from 100% Illinois-grown grapes.

We were super excited to hear our Demi Sec Rosé received three trophies during the competition season:

• THE highest honor at the 2018 Jefferson Cup Invitational Wine Competition – a Jefferson Cup trophy! The Jefferson Cup Invitational is an invitation only wine competition where only the best of the best, culled from tastings and competitions throughout the U.S., are pre-selected and invited. Over 700 wines were invited from well-known regions, such as California and Washington, and not so well-known areas like New York, Michigan, Missouri and Illinois.
• The best of the best wines at the 2018 Illinois State Fair Wine Competition – the “Best of Show” trophy!
• The GRAPEVINE Magazine’s “Best of Show” trophy in the specialty/fortified/sparkling category at the 2018 Best of the Midwest Wine Competition.

Here’s a summary of some of the awards we have received so far in the 2018 wine competitions:

Demi Sec Rosé

• Jefferson Cup trophy & Double Gold Medal – 2018 Jefferson Cup Invitational Wine Competition
• Best of Show (all wines) trophy & Gold Medal – 2018 Illinois State Fair Wine Competition
• Best of Show (specialty/fortified/sparkling category) & Gold Medal – 2018 GRAPEVINE Magazine Best of the Midwest Wine Competition
• Gold Medal – 2018 Indy International Wine Competition
• Silver Medal – 2018 Mid American Wine Competition

Brut Ombré Rosé

• Sweepstakes Nominee & Gold Medal – 2018 Mid American Wine Competition (judges nominate the best gold medal wines they taste for the sweepstakes awards.)
• Double Gold Medal – 2018 Illinois State Fair Wine Competition
• Gold Medal – 2018 Indy International Wine Competition
• This sparkling wine was named in USA Today’s EatSipTrip article, The Best Summer Wines to try in all 50 States
• Silver Medal – 2018 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
• Silver Medal – 2018 Jefferson Cup Invitational Wine Competition

Brut Rosé de Saignée

• Sweepstakes Nominee & Gold Medal – 2018 Mid American Wine Competition (judges nominate the best gold medal wines they taste for the sweepstakes awards.)
• Gold Medal – 2018 Illinois State Fair Wine Competition
• Gold Medal – 2018 Experience Rosé Wine Competition, Healdsburg, CA

ISC Brut

• Double Gold Medal – 2018 Illinois State Fair Wine Competition
• Silver Medal – 2018 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
• Silver Medal – 2018 Jefferson Cup Invitational Wine Competition
• Silver Medal – Grapevine Magazine’s 2018 Best of the Midwest Wine Competition
• Silver Medal – 2018 Mid- American Wine Competition

ISC Sec

• Silver Medal – 2018 Jefferson Cup Invitational Wine Competition
• Silver Medal – 2018 Mid-American Wine Competition
• Silver Medal – 2018 Indy International Wine Competition

Other

• Bicentennial Bucket List – Our sparkling wines were named among the top 20 Illinois drinks to try.