Chili Cook‑Off

Saturday, January 16, 2027, 1 to 5 pm

In the Tasting Room at Fenn Valley Vineyards, Fennville

Bring your best pot of chili and put it in front of our judges, or come hungry and help pick the People’s Choice. Four categories, blind judging and cash prizes.

Registration opens Tuesday, December 1 at 12:01 am

Registration for the 2027 cook-off is closed

Chili entries at the Fenn Valley Chili Cook-Off

Two ways to join in

Enter a chili

$20

per entry

Includes admission for two
Enter as many categories as you like
Blind judging by our panel, with cash prizes awarded

Come to taste

$10

per person, as space allows

Chili samples
A vote for People’s Choice
A chance to win prizes

Pre-registration is required for contestants and tasters alike. Entries are capped at 80 chilis, so register early if you plan to compete.

The categories

Four Legs

Meat that walks on four legs, such as beef or pork.

Two Legs

Fowl that walks on two legs, such as chicken or turkey.

No Legs

No meat or fowl of any kind.

Exotic

Any other meat or fowl, such as venison and other wild game, or seafood.

Schedule

1 pmContestants arrive
1 to 2 pmChili entries accepted
2 pmDoors open for tasters
4 pmWinners announced
4:45 pmLast call

All times Eastern.

Also that day

Our wine sale runs in the Tasting Room during the cook-off, so it’s a good time to stock up.

Contest rules

Every chili must be pre-registered at fennvalley.com. Registration opens December 1, and entries are limited to 80 chilis. No chili is accepted without registration.
Each entry goes in one category: Four Legs, Two Legs, No Legs or Exotic, as described above. You may enter more than one category.
There are no cooking facilities on site, so bring your chili ready to judge. We recommend a crock-pot set as hot as possible.
No garnishes are allowed.
Chilis must arrive between 1 and 2 pm.
Three judges score each category on a 14-point scale, and all chilis are judged blind. Judges consider color, aroma, texture, heat and spice, flavor and overall enjoyment.
The top chili in each category is re-tasted by all 12 judges to choose Best of Show.
Any ingredient that you feel improves your chili is allowed, as long as it doesn’t take the chili out of its category.
This cook-off is not sanctioned by the International Chili Society and is not affiliated with any other organization.