Jerry D. Mead's New World International Wine Competition Collection, 1993-2010

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Summary

Creators:
Mead, Jerry D.
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.
Extent:
2 boxes
Language:
English
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.

Background

Scope and content:

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

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

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

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged chronologically.

Indexed terms

Subjects:
Wine
Wine tasting

Access and use

Restrictions:

Advance notice required for access.

Terms of access:

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.

Location of this collection:
3801 West Temple Ave.
Pomona, CA 91768, US
Contact:
(909) 869-3775
speccollections@cpp.edu
Website