Submitted by Yavapai College
Yavapai College’s Southwest Wine Center revived a cherished tradition in Clarkdale in April. Winemakers, viticulture experts and talented students gathered for competition, education and an energetic exchange of ideas as The Emerging Winemakers Competition & Symposium returned to the Verde Valley Campus.
The 2027 competition and symposium already has been scheduled for April 10 next year.
“The 2026 Emerging Winemakers Competition & Symposium returned with momentum, highlighting the growing impact of Yavapai College’s students and alumni,” Southwest Wine Center Director Ryan Avery Follensbee says. “By providing professional feedback and hands-on education, we help aspiring winemakers turn their passion into skill and strengthen Arizona’s vibrant wine community.”
Hosted by Yavapai College’s Grand Crew student organization, the competition and symposium celebrated noncommercial, aspiring winemakers from across the region. Competitors from three states participated, and new wine and mead makers claimed top honors with many using fruit grown at the Southwest Wine Center vineyards.
Competitors included current students, program graduates and amateur winemakers from Arizona, with a few Colorado and California entries as well.
Their wines were judged by two-person teams, with each team including a winemaker and an industry professional to balance technical and professional feedback. High-scoring wines were re-evaluated by all judges to determine the medal winners.
2026 Medal Winners
Fruit
- SILVER: Dates — Cody Burkett (co-winemaker: Pippin)
- GOLD (2025): Pomegranate/Grape – Russell Pritchett (co-winemaker: Jeremiah Prough)
Sweet
- SILVER (NV): Fortqueria Splendens (Fortified Ocotillo flower mead) — Cody Burkett (co-winemaker: Pippin)
Mead
- SILVER (2023): Semillion Pyment — Tyler Stout
- GOLD (NV): Wildflower & Orange blossom honey / Sangiovese — Marian Benton (co-winemaker: Matthew Hackbert)
- DOUBLE GOLD (2025): Lingonberry Mead — Mike Aliotta (co-winemaker: Autumn Aliotta)
Rose
- SILVER (2025): Zinfandel — Don Hudson
- GOLD (2025): Cab Franc — Jonathan Purcell (Co-winemaker: Kelsey Brennan)
- DOUBLE GOLD (2025): Refosco — Jonathan Purcell (co-winemaker: Kelsey Brennan)
Red
- SILVER (2023): 50% Primitivo / 50% Durif — Louis Maconi
- GOLD (2025): Refosco — Cody Caruolo
- DOUBLE GOLD (2024): Sangio/Cab/Petit Verdot/Aglianico/Cab Franc/Syrah — Ron Wisniewski
The event also included presentations from three winemaking professionals: SWC alumnus and Omphalos Winery owner Tom Messier spoke on The Road from Winemaking Curiosity to Crafting Winning Wines; Dr. Rich DeScenso, microbiology group leader at ETS Labs, discussed the use of nonsaccharomyces ‘bio-protective’ yeast during cold soak; and Susie Selby, owner of Selby Winery in Healdsburg, California, presented on Sonoma County zinfandels.
