The Winning Wine & Spirits Edition
The Sunset International Wine & Spirits Competition is specifically designed to drive exposure for all wine and spirits producers interested in reaching consumers that live and love a western wine, spirit and food lifestyle.
Wining producers will be featured in Sunset's dedicated Wine and Spirits digital special editions. with supporting microsites on sunset.com, promoted across Sunset eNewsletters and social channels for 12 months.
Don't wait... Enter Today and save with Early Bird Pricing!
Reach the West's most engaged wine and spirits community!
Sunset is the definitive lifestyle brand of the modern American West and the single most trusted resource for a national audience aspiring to live the western lifestyle.
Sunset readers appreciate Sunset‘s commitment to the wine and spirits industry and count on the magazine to expand their wine and spirits knowledge.
The Engagement
1.2MM+ site visits per month. Average page views are 1.57MM.
4MM+ Total Cross-Platform Reach
2.5% - 3.5% Industry-Leading Social Engagement
103% YOY - Total Social Audience Growth
The Readers
Sunset has a readership of of 960K in print and digital
$229,619 Average HHI
$1.65 Million Average HH net worth
80% of Sunset readers make decisions on brands and product choices based on ads seen in Sunset.
Enter the Competition Today!
Take advantage of early bird pricing until May 19th
The 2026 Sunset International Wine & Spirits Competition Is On!
Sunset Magazine is thrilled to announce the call for entries in the newly combined Sunset International Wine & Spirits Competition!
The competition is designed to attract all wineries and spirit producers interested in reaching the Western wine drinker and is juried by the best judges in the industry, who understand and appreciate the Western palate and lifestyle.
Enter for your chance to be considered the Best in the West!
Final Hours to Enter the 2025 Competition!
The Sunset International Wine Competition will take place June 10th - 12th, 2025. The final deadline for submission is Tonight, May 22nd at Midnight
What Sets Us Apart
Esteemed Judging Panel: The competition boasts a panel of highly respected judges, including Master Sommeliers, Masters of Wine, seasoned winemakers, and influential wine journalists. This ensures that each wine is evaluated with a high level of expertise and discernment.
Comprehensive Promotion for Winners: Winning wines receive significant exposure through Sunset magazine's digital platforms, including a dedicated Wine Special digital edition, features on Sunset.com, and promotions across Sunset’s social media channels. This extensive coverage helps winners reach a broad audience of wine enthusiasts.
Diverse Categories: The competition recognizes excellence across various categories, from traditional red and white wines to sparkling, rosé, dessert, and even innovative formats like canned and boxed wines.
Influential Audience: Sunset magazine's readership is known for its passion for wine, with a significant portion of readers being regular wine consumers who enjoy exploring new and diverse wine options. This makes the competition an attractive platform for wineries aiming to connect with an engaged and knowledgeable audience.
The Sunset International Wine Competition is one of the most influential wine programs in the country — and there’s still time to enter at the discounted rate.
We’ve extended our Early Bird Deadline Until Midnight Tonight, May 12.
As the leading voice of the Western lifestyle, Sunset is uniquely positioned to help you reach the Western wine drinker. Our competition is judged by some of the most respected professionals in the industry — including Master Sommeliers and Masters of Wine — who understand and appreciate the Western palate.
Winners Receive Year-Long Exposure:
The Sunset Wine Awards Special Digital Edition (October release)
A dedicated microsite
A Featured Sunset Article
Promotions across sunset.com, our eNewsletters, and social platforms
(Available online for 12 months!)
Competition Dates: June 10–12, 2025
Location: Santa Rosa, CA
Final Entry Deadline: May 22, 2025
Don’t miss your chance to stand out!
Early Bird Pricing Ends Thursday, May 8th!
Entry Fee: $99
Early Bird Pricing until May 8
The Sunset International Wine Competition will take place June 10 - 12, 2025.
The final deadline for submission is May 22nd, 2025
What Sets Us Apart
Esteemed Judging Panel: The competition boasts a panel of highly respected judges, including Master Sommeliers, Masters of Wine, seasoned winemakers, and influential wine journalists. This ensures that each wine is evaluated with a high level of expertise and discernment.
Comprehensive Promotion for Winners: Winning wines receive significant exposure through Sunset magazine's digital platforms, including a dedicated Wine Special digital edition, features on Sunset.com, and promotions across Sunset’s social media channels. This extensive coverage helps winners reach a broad audience of wine enthusiasts.
Diverse Categories: The competition recognizes excellence across various categories, from traditional red and white wines to sparkling, rosé, dessert, and even innovative formats like canned and boxed wines.
Influential Audience: Sunset magazine's readership is known for its passion for wine, with a significant portion of readers being regular wine consumers who enjoy exploring new and diverse wine options. This makes the competition an attractive platform for wineries aiming to connect with an engaged and knowledgeable audience.
Meet Honorary Chief Judge, Jennifer J.B. Kelly!
As a wine and spirits executive, certified sommelier, entrepreneur, and wine judge with 15+ years of industry experience, Jennifer J.B. Kelly is perfectly poised to lend her experience to the Sunset International Wine Competition as Honorary Chief Judge.
Jennifer has represented some of the world’s most prominent wine and spirits organizations working with both domestic and international portfolios.
Jennifer is an aspiring Master of Wine who is currently enrolled in the WSET certification program to earn her diploma.
Winemakers • Sommeliers • Buyers • Wine Journalists
Professional Wine Judges • Wine Educators
Entry Fee: $99
Early bird pricing until May 8
The Sunset International Wine Competition, established in 2012, has rapidly become one of the most esteemed wine competitions, attracting a diverse array of entries from both domestic and international wineries.
What Sets Us Apart
Esteemed Judging Panel: The competition boasts a panel of highly respected judges, including Master Sommeliers, Masters of Wine, seasoned winemakers, and influential wine journalists. This ensures that each wine is evaluated with a high level of expertise and discernment.
Comprehensive Promotion for Winners: Winning wines receive significant exposure through Sunset magazine's digital platforms, including a dedicated Wine Special digital edition, features on Sunset.com, and promotions across Sunset’s social media channels. This extensive coverage helps winners reach a broad audience of wine enthusiasts.
Diverse Categories: The competition recognizes excellence across various categories, from traditional red and white wines to sparkling, rosé, dessert, and even innovative formats like canned and boxed wines.
Influential Audience: Sunset magazine's readership is known for its passion for wine, with a significant portion of readers being regular wine consumers who enjoy exploring new and diverse wine options. This makes the competition an attractive platform for wineries aiming to connect with an engaged and knowledgeable audience.
Entry Fee: $99
Early bird pricing until May 8
The Sunset International Wine Competition will take place June 10th - 12th, 2025. The final deadline for submission is May 22nd, 2025.
Already have an account? Log in instead! Your account will last year after year.
2. Register your Wines
Create a database of your wines to enter into the competition.
3. Enter the Competition
With Enofile's "Easy Enter" you'll enjoy quick and secure competition entry and fee processing
How many bottles need to be sent per entry?
An official entry shall consist of 4 bottles, each bottle no less than 750 ml in volume. For containers larger than 1 liter in volume, an official entry shall consist of 2 units. An official entry of wines, such as dessert wines, that are bottled only in 375ml bottles shall consist of 6 bottles, each no less than 375ml.
Entry Fee: $99
Early bird pricing until May 8
Entry now open for the 2025 competition
The Sunset International Wine Competition will take place June 10th - 12th, 2025. The final deadline for submission is May 22nd, 2025.
Though the Sunset International Wine Competition is in it’s 9th year introducing western wine drinkers to best wines in the industry, this will be the 4th year that we’ve had the category “Best of the Best”.
Beyond Gold, Double Gold, Best in Class and Best in Show is the one wine that’s considered the very best of that competition year.
Take a look at the Best of the Best of the past three years.
The Best of the Best
2022
2018 Wapato Point Cellars Cabernet Franc
2023
2022 Brecon Estate Albariño
2024
2022 Trentadue Montepulciano
Entry now open for the 2025 competition
The Sunset International Wine Competition will take place June 10th - 12th, 2025. The final deadline for submission is May 22nd, 2025.