KENANSVILLE — Preparations are currently being made for Duplin County to celebrate the 2010 N.C. Muscadine Harvest Festival. The event will be held Friday-Saturday, Sept. 24-25 at Duplin Commons. Two major competitions are slated to take place during the festival, the Amateur Wine Making Contest and a Muscadine Cooking Contest. The specifics for the contests are as follows:

Amateur Wine Making Contest

Amateur wine markers lined tables with more than 75 entries for the 2009 Muscadine wine-making contest held as part of the annual Muscadine Harvest Festival and this year’s competition is set for Sept. 24-25 in Kenansville.

Aspiring amateur vintners are encouraged to enter their best wine by following details for the 2010 contest. Last year’s wine makers came from Iredell County east to coastal North Carolina, and included some from the Virginia Beach, Va. area.

Categories:

1. Muscadine Red

2. Muscadine White

3. Muscadine Blush

4. Blend, Fruit, or other.

Judging Criteria:

The wines will be judge on color, clarity, bouquet, and flavor. Wines will be judged blind. Judges will not see the wine bottle (label), nor will they receive any indication of which exhibitor entered the wine.

Rules:

1. Wine may be delivered to: Duplin County Cooperative Extension, 165 Agriculture Drive, Kenansville, NC 910-296-2143.

2. Delivery dates and time: Friday, Sept. 24 between 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. or Saturday, Sept. 25 between 8:30 a.m. – 11 a.m.

3. Winners announced at the Festival after judging. Estimated time for announcement is 3 p.m.

4. No fee to enter.

5. Each entry must include one 750 ml bottle or two 375 ml bottles, corked and capped bottles.

6. Only one entry per category per entrant.

7. No commercial wineries, please.

Prizes and Ribbon for Each Category:

• First 6 tickets to 2011 festival

• Second 4 tickets to 2011 festival

• Third 2 tickets to 2011 festival

If no wines in a category merit 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place, ribbon or tickets will not be awarded.

Contact Lynn Davis at 910-296-1000 if you have questions.

Win With Your Muscadine Creations

Put on your chef hat and bring your favorite recipe featuring Muscadine grapes for entry in the fifth annual harvest festival cooking contest, Sept. 24. You can win up to $100 in each of the five contest categories.

The fifth cooking contest held in conjunction with the annual North Carolina Muscadine Festival welcomes amateur or professional cooks to submit entries. Recipes are required to contain at least one cup of Muscadine grapes, juice or wine to qualify for entry in one of the following five categories.

1. salad and appetizers

2. breads, muffins,

3. dessert (cobblers, cakes, pies, pastries, etc.)

4. jams, jellies, preserves

5. entrees and main dishes

There is also a contest category for homemade Muscadine wine. Each category offers a $100 first place, $75 second place and $25 third place prize.

Entries are accepted between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Sept. 24. All cooked entries must be prepared at home and brought to the kitchen of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension office in the Lois G. Britt Agricultural Center at Duplin Commons (across from James Sprunt Community College) where judging takes place. A written copy of the recipe, including preparation details and cooking instructions, must accompany the entry and list the participant’s name address and phone number.

Additional contest information is available from the Cooperative Extension Service office 910.296.2143 or visit the festival website www.muscadineharvestfestival.com. The Duplin County Agribusiness Council sponsors the annual North Carolina Muscadine Festival in Kenansville and this cooking contest.

For more information on the 2010 Muscadine Harvest Festival activities and events go to www.muscadineharvestfestival.com.