Fireside Winery’s sweet white wine “Blu” won the Governor’s Cup, the top prize at the 2025 Iowa State Fair Commercial Wine Competition, the Iowa Wine Growers Association announced.
The Eastern Iowa winery’s entry also received the Best of Show Sweet White award. The competition featured 134 entries.
“Fireside Winery’s ‘Blu’ stood out as being exceptional and truly embodies the quality, creativity, and craftsmanship that Iowa wineries are bringing to the table,” said Christie Jensen, executive director of the Iowa Wine Growers Association, in a release.
Winemaker Zach Bott and assistant winemaker Mark Germany created Blu, which the winery describes as having notes of limoncello, honeysuckle, pear and lychee berry, with flavors of pear, stone fruit, honey and Meyer lemon.
Gov. Kim Reynolds presented the Governor’s Cup trophy to Fireside Winery Aug. 13 outside Grandfather’s Barn at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Roy and Melanie Olsen of Oscar Carl Vineyard, who won the 2024 Governor’s Cup, also attended the ceremony.
Fireside Winery operates on the Wyant family farm, a fifth-generation farming operation in Marengo. Bill and Rona Wyant run the winery with Zach and Cassie Bott. The family planted its first grapes in 2006 and established the winery in 2007.
