As part of the Rockton Agricultural Society which promotes and supports all forms of agriculture in Ontario; the Wine Committee is tasked with the promotion and support of individuals making their own wine and the industry around that endeavor. To that end the Wine Committee organizes and oversees a yearly competition for people who have made their own wine either at home or at one of the many area wine shops. That competition occurs every October and is part of the Rockton World’s Fair.
- For an Individual
- For a Wine Shop Owner
- The Competition
Why Should You Enter?
- It’s fun. Everyone who enters gets invited to the evening of judging which includes a free light buffet dinner and you get to sample the winning wines in each category. Our judging sommeliers are known for their whit as well as their knowledge. It is a fun filled evening.
- Throughout the evening the judges and others will provide general hints on how to improve wine making. As for your submission; the competition is structured so that the entries are kept confidential. When you submit; your bottle(s) will be assigned a number that only you will know. That way when the judges make comment only you will know those comments are about your wine. This way it is constructive not embarrassing.
- All entrants receive a gift and there are cash prizes for the top wines of each class.
Why Should You Become Involved:
- Every wine shop that displays one of our competition posters will:
- Be acknowledged on this web site.
- Receive two tickets to the judging event described above.
- At the judging your support will be acknowledged to the crowd both in print and by the Master of Ceremonies.
- If any of the winners were wines made in your shop you will receive a certificate acknowledging that achievement which can be displayed in your shop.
- But most importantly; by supporting the Wine Committee you are helping grow your own industry and client base. – And its FREE.
The categories of wine are:
- White
- Rosé
- Red
- Mead
- Country
- Social
- Dessert
- Sparkling
Refer to the Rockton World’s Fair prize list for the competition rules and regulations. This year’s competition is here they need to be submitted in September.
PAST WINNERS OF THE WINEMAKERS COMPETITION
WINNERS OF 2014
ROCKTON WORLD’S FAIR
AMATEUR WINEMAKER’S COMPETITION
- WHITE TABLE WINES
1st Matthew Hazaras
2nd Dennis Foster
3rd Shirley Conway
4th Lois James ROSE TABLE WINES
1st Lois James
2nd Bill Hughes
3rd John Hazaras
4th James CaveRED TABLE WINES
1st Elenea Jacob
2nd Steve Jacob
3rd Jan Bullock
4th Daina MuellerMEAD
1st James Mckenna
2nd Mark Jamieson
3rd Calvin McDougallCOUNTY WINES
1st Dennis Foster
2nd John Hazaras
3rd Calvin McDougallSOCIAL WINES
1st Calvin McDougall
2nd James Cave
3rd Dennis Foster
4th Mark JamiesonDESSERT WINES
1st John Hazaras
2nd James Cave
3rd Mark Jamieson
4th Calvin McDougall
5th Dennis FosterICE WINES
1st Matthew Hazaras
2nd John HazarasSPARKLING WINES
1st James Cave
2nd Dennis Foster
3rd Bill Hughes
CHAMPION BEST OF SHOW donated by Dennis and Ena Kerr
James Cave
RESERVE CHAMPION donated by Robert and Elaine Pasuta
Calvin McDougal
HIGHEST NUMBER OF POINTS donated by the ladies of the Fair and Palatine Hills Estate Winery
Dennis Foster & John Hazaras
BEST RED WINE
Elenea Jacob
donated by Don Graham
The Amateur Winemaker’s Committee would like to thank judges Patti Polfuss and Peter Ferguson for their professional expertise, talent, and knowledge.
Gratitude is expressed to Jack Travis for capturing both the winners and the highlights of the competition on film.
WINNERS OF 2015
ROCKTON WORLD’S FAIR
AMATEUR WINEMAKER’S COMPETITION
WHITE TABLE WINES
1st Sylvain Carle
2nd Chris Holman
3rd James Cave
4th Calvin McDougall
ROSE TABLE WINES
1st Bill Hughes
2nd Sylvain Carle
3rd James Cave
4th Chris Holman
RED TABLE WINES
1st Calvin McDougall
2nd Fred Waller
3rd Patricia Lee
4th Mark Jamieson
MEAD
1st Calvin McDougall
2nd Mark Jamieson
COUNTY WINES
1st Calvin McDougall
2nd Sylvain Carle
3rd Mark Jamieson
SOCIAL WINES
1st James Cave
2nd Calvin McDougall
3rd Mark Jamieson
DESSERT WINES
1st Sylvain Carle
2nd Mark Jamieson
3rd Calvin McDougall
4th James Cave
ICE WINES
1st James Cave
SPARKLING WINES
1st James Cave
2nd Bill Hughes
CHAMPION BEST OF SHOW donated by Dennis and Ena Kerr
Sylvain Carle
RESERVE CHAMPION donated by Robert and Elaine Pasuta
James Cave
HIGHEST NUMBER OF POINTS donated by the RAS
Calvin McDougall
BEST RED WINE donated by Don Graham
Calvin McDougall
The Amateur Winemaker’s Committee would like to thank judges Patti Polfuss and Peter Ferguson for their professional expertise, talent, and knowledge.
Gratitude is expressed to Lynden Weggener for capturing both the winners and the highlights of the competition on film.
WINNERS OF 2016
ROCKTON WORLD’S FAIR
AMATEUR WINEMAKER’S COMPETITION
WHITE TABLE WINES
1st Roger Loucks
2nd Bill Hughes
3rd Ena Kerr
4th Lois James
ROSE TABLE WINES
1st Chris Holman
2nd Bill Hughes
3rd Lois James
4th Calvin McDougall
RED TABLE WINES
1st Bill Hughes
2nd Steve Jacob
3rd Calvin McDougall
4th Susan MacGregor
MEAD
1st Calvin McDougall
COUNTY WINES
1st James Cave
2nd Calvin McDougall
3rd Allison Prowse
SOCIAL WINES
1st James Cave
2nd Calvin McDougall
DESSERT WINES
1st Alfy Rebelo
2nd James Cave
3rd Calvin McDougall
4th Dennis Kerr
ICE WINES
1st James Cave
SPARKLING WINES
1st James Cave
2nd Bill Hughes
CHAMPION BEST OF SHOW donated by Dennis and Ena Kerr
James Cave
RESERVE CHAMPION donated by Robert and Elaine Pasuta
James Cave
HIGHEST NUMBER OF POINTS donated by the RAS
James Cave
BEST RED WINE donated by Don Graham
Bill Hughes
The Amateur Winemaker’s Committee would like to thank judges Patti Polfuss and Peter Ferguson for their professional expertise, talent, and knowledge.
WINNERS OF 2017
ROCKTON WORLD’S FAIR
AMATEUR WINEMAKER’S COMPETITION
WHITE TABLE WINES
1st Lois James
2nd Micheal Tambolini
3rd James Cave
4th Ena Kerr
ROSE TABLE WINES
1st Ruth Lee
2nd Bill Hughes
3rd Calvin McDougall
RED TABLE WINES
1st Roger Loucks
2nd James Cave
3rd Ena Kerr
4th Alfy Rebelo
MEAD
1st Mark Jamieson
COUNTY WINES
1st Calvin McDougall
SOCIAL WINES
1st Calvin McDougall
2nd James Cave
3rd Bill Hughes
DESSERT WINES
1st Mark Jamieson
2nd James Cave
3rd Calvin McDougall
SPARKLING WINES
1st Bill Hughes
2nd James Cave
Celebrating Canada`s 150th Birthday
A wine containing maple syrup
1st Mark Jamieson
& Roger Loucks
CHAMPION BEST OF SHOW donated by Dennis and Ena Kerr
Ruth Lee
RESERVE CHAMPION donated by Robert and Elaine Pasuta
Mark Jamieson
HIGHEST NUMBER OF POINTS donated by the RAS
James Cave
BEST RED WINE donated by Don Graham
Roger Loucks
The Amateur Winemaker’s Committee would like to thank judges Patti Polfuss and Peter Ferguson for their professional expertise, talent, and knowledge.
WINNERS OF 2018
ROCKTON WORLD’S FAIR
AMATEUR WINEMAKER’S COMPETITION
White Table
- Roger Loucks
- Ena Kerr
- Brenda Spencer
- Ted Dredge
Red Table
- Ruth Lee
- Brenda Spencer
- Scott Lowell
- Steven Jacob
Red Wine Special
Ruth Lee
Mead
- Michael Tombolini
Social
- Alan Rogers
- Terry-Ann Betzner
- James Alton
- Alfy Rebelo
Dessert
- Brenda Spencer
- Scott Aird
Sparkling
- Bill Hughes
Champion Best of Show
Bill Hughes
Reserve Champion Best of Show
Michael Tombolini
Most Points in Wine
Brenda Spencer
WINNERS OF 2019
ROCKTON WORLD’S FAIR
AMATEUR WINEMAKER’S COMPETITION
White Table
- Bill Hughes
- Brenda Spencer
- Alan Rogers
- Sherrie Kerr Riesling
Rose Table
- Brenda Spencer
Red Table
- Lana Squizzato
- Larry Squizzato
- James Alton
- Fred Waller
Mead
- Brenda Spencer
- Elvis Podvorac
- Jordan Scott
- Brenda Spencer
Dessert
- Brenda Spencer
- Scott Aird
- Terry-Ann Betzner
Sparkling
- Bill Hughes
White Wine Special
Sponsor Wine Kitz Ancaster
Bill Hughes
Red Wine Special
Sponsor Don Graham
Lana Squizzato
Champion Best of Show
Sponsor Dennis & Ena Kerr
Bill Hughes
Reserve Champion Best of Show
Sponsor: Robert & Elaine Pasuta
Bill Hughes
Most Points in Wine
Sponsor R.A.S.
Brenda Spencer
Committee Members
Dennis & Ena Kerr – Co-chairs
Jim Alton
Terry Betzner
Marie Cowlin
Ruth Lee
David & Janis Leslie
Robert & Elaine Pasuta
Kayla Pasuta-Lacey
Beth Robertson