The Finding Aid of the Jerry D. Mead's New World International Wine Competition Collection 0045

Natalie Zagami
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Special Collections and Archives
2010
3801 West Temple Avenue
Pomona, CA 91768
speccollections@cpp.edu
909-869-3775


Title: Jerry D. Mead's New World International Wine Competition Collection
Creator: Mead, Jerry D.
Identifier/Call Number: 0045
Contributing Institution: California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Special Collections and Archives
Language of Material: English
Physical Description: 2 boxes
Date (inclusive): 1993-2010
Abstract: Jerry D. Mead was a wine columnist and advocate who established Jerry D. Mead's New World International Wine Competition in 1990. The competition was open to wines from North and South America, Australia, and South Africa and was unique in that it allowed competition of wines within the same price class. The collection includes wine awards booklets, yearly entry rule forms, programs, medals and aprons from the competitions.

Conditions Governing Access

Advance notice required for access.

Conditions Governing Use

Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.

Preferred Citation

[Box/folder# or item name], Jerry D. Mead's New World International Wine Competition Collection, Collection no. 0045, Southern California Wine and Wine Industry Collection, Special Collections and Archives, University Library, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The collection was donated to California State Polytechnic University, Pomona by Bill Anthony in 2010.

Biographical / Historical

Jerry D. Mead (1939-2000) was a wine columnist and advocate for the average wine consumer. Mead began his column at the Anaheim Bulletin in 1971 while working as a dispatcher for the Anaheim Fire Department. His column was popular and was eventually syndicated in over a dozen newspapers. Mead also founded the magazine The Wine Trader, which was published six times a year. At the time of his death, the magazine had a circulation of 85,000.
Mead was a staunch advocate for consumers and often referred to himself as "the wine curmudgeon," even abbreviating the nickname to TWC. He toured the world to judge wine contests and in 1990 established the Jerry D. Mead's New World International Wine Competition based in San Bernardino, California. The competition was unique in that it allowed competition of wines within the same price class. Mead intended for the competition to help consumers select quality wines within their own budget.
The competition is open to all wines of the "New World," which includes North and South America, Australia, and South Africa. Wines are categorized by price range and by type. There is also a separate award category for wine label art and packaging. Winning wines are compiled in a booklet given out at the end of the competition and then featured in the "Jerry D. Mead's Inland Empire Wine Extravaganza, Gold Medal Showcase and Auction," which is held about a month after the competition; proceeds from the Extravaganza would go to different charitable organizations. The competition recently celebrated its 28th year in February 2020.

Scope and Contents

This collection contains many of the rules booklets, programs, awards booklets, medals and aprons for many of the years from 1993 to 2010.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged chronologically.

Related Materials

Anaheim Bulletin. Anaheim, CA.
Los Angeles County Fair Wines of the Americas Collection, Collection no. 0032, Southern California Wine and Wine Industry Collection, Special Collections and Archives, University Library, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.
Rancho Cucamonga Grape Harvest Festival Collection, Collection no. 0075, Southern California Wine and Wine Industry Collection, Special Collections and Archives, University Library, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.
Wine Trader. Wine Investigation for Novices and Oenophiles: San Francisco.

Processing Information

The collection was processed by Natalie Zagami in 2010. The collection number was changed from 2010.001 to 0045 in 2020.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Wine
Wine tasting

 

Box 1

Physical Description: 1 boxBox 1: • "Wine Competition Handbook including Official Rules and Entry Forms" (1994- 2010) • Wine Awards Booklet (1993-1995, 1997-2002) • Wine Extravaganza Program (1997-1998) • Gold Medals (1997, 1999-2006, 2008) • Silver Medals (1996-1999, 2002-2004, 2006-07, Three for 2007) • Bronze Medals (1995-2002, 2004-2008)
 

Box 2

Physical Description: 1 box• Burgundy color apron with "Jerry D. Mead's NWIWC," white logo and year, 2010 • Soft faded-Levi apron with "Jerry D. Mead's NWIWC," white logo and year, 2009 • Bright Orange apron with "Jerry D. Mead's NWIWC," white logo and year, 2008 • Purple-Blue apron with "Jerry D. Mead's NWIWC," white logo and year, 2007 • Red apron with "Jerry D. Mead's NWIWC," silver logo and year, 2006 • Black apron with "Jerry D. Mead's NWIWC," white logo and year, 2005 • [NO apron available for the year 2004] • Blue apron with "Jerry D. Mead's NWIWC," white logo and year, 2003 • Teal apron with "Jerry D. Mead's NWIWC," black logo and year,2002 • Dark Green apron with "Jerry D. Mead's NWIWC," silver logo and year, 2001 • Black apron with "Jerry D. Mead's NWIWC," white logo and year, 2000 • Yellow apron with "Jerry D. Mead's NWIWC," black logo and year, 1999 • Green apron with "Jerry D. Mead's NWIWC," white logo and year,1998 • Red apron with "Jerry D. Mead's NWIWC," light pink logo and year, 1997 • Purple apron with "Jerry D. Mead's NWIWC," white logo and year, 1996 • Dark Burgundy apron with "Jerry D. Mead's NWIWC," white/ burgundy logo and year, 1995 • Grey Apron with "Jerry D. Mead's NWIWC," burgundy logo and year, 1994 • Blue Apron with "NWIWC," white logo and year, 1993