It is that time once again, time to announce the results of this month’s Monthly Wine Writing Challenge. In all this month, there were a scant seven entries for the theme “Finish” which was supplied by last month’s winner, Jim vanBergen of JVB Uncorked.

I was initially a little alarmed by the lack of entries as it was the lowest total of submissions since we started this challenge almost two years ago, and a far cry from the “high wine mark” of 25 set last year. But a few of you talked me off the ledge, suggesting that this month was just a blip and it was bound to have happened at some point.

Then I read the entries for this month and I was impressed. It seems as though those that submitted this month are truly the cream of the crop when it comes to the Challenge (yes, I entered this month, so that last comment was absolutely self-serving–as well as an observation).

The voting was neither fast, nor was it furious, but it was close.

So without any further ado…

The Wine Raconteur: Finish

As the winner of this month’s challenge, John has the “honor” of choosing the topic for next month’s Challenge.

Congratulations to John, who is a regular contributor to the Challenge and has come in second place numerous times in the past, but this month certainly got over the hump, so to speak. Stay tuned for next month’s theme!