Author: Wendy Taylor

Categories
Courtyard Members Corner

Events at the Fair and Courtyard

Courtyard Feature Winery and Seminars

Click the chart to enlarge

Hanger Concerts

July 19

Start Making Sense
The Talking Heads Tribute

July 20

Hollywood U2
The World’s Greatest U2 Tribute

July 21

One More Night
Phil Collins and Genesis Tribute

July 24

Dead Man’s Party
The Oingo Boingo Tribute

July 25

Ticket to the Moon
The World’s Best ELO Tribute

July 26

Red Corvette
A Prince Tribute

July 27

Atomic Punks
A Tribute to Early Van Halen

July 28

24K Magic
#1 Bruno Mars Tribute

July 31

Elton – The Early Years
A Tribute to Early Elton John

August 1

Don’t Look Back
The Boston Experience

August 2

Listen to the Music
A Tribute to The Doobie Brothers

August 3

Live From Earth
Pat Benatar and Beyond

August 4

Mariachi Ambassadors
Sol de Mexico de Jose Hernandez

August 8

Queen Nation
A Tribute to the Music of Queen

August 9

No Duh
The World’s Greatest Tribute to No Doubt

August 10

Which One’s Pink?
Tribute to Pink Floyd

August 11

I Am King
The Michael Jackson Experience

August 14

The Long Run
Experience The Eagles

August 15

Devotional
The Depeche Mode Experience

August 16

Twisted Gypsy
Fleetwood Mac With A Twist

August 17

Zeppelin Live
America’s #1 Tribute to Led Zeppelin

August 18

TUPUA
The Spirit of Aloha

Categories
Commercial Competition Home Wine Competition

Event Wrapups

Commercial competition wrapup

The 48th annual Commercial Wine Competition was held on June 1-2 at the Hilton Hotel in Costa Mesa. The weekend found 88 professional winemakers and winery principals from throughout California judging 2,518 wines in the largest California-only wine competition in the world.

The high caliber of the wines was clearly evidenced by the awarding of 19 Best of Class designations, 147 Double Gold medals, 439 Gold medals, and a plethora of silver and bronze medals.

The Competition Committee worked tirelessly for nine months prior to the actual event to bring to fruition another unbelievably successful competition. Following are the committee members who put their hearts, sweat and tears into making the competition a reality:

Kevin Coy, Director of Judges

Bill Redding, Facilities Coordinator

Teri and John Lane, Head of Cataloging

Liz and Lloyd Corbett, Cataloging

Robyn and Dean Strom, Volunteer Coordinators

Rochelle Randel, Judges’ Liaison

Dave Stancil, Data Entry Supervisor

Marcy Ott, Scoring Verification Coordinator

George Ott, Move Coordinator

Dave White, Bagging

Greg Hagadorn, Sort Coordinator

George Cravens, Assist Extraordinaire

Carol Frank and Sam Puzzo, Label/Bottle Competition Coordinators

Carolyn Christian, Marketing

And the hundreds of volunteers who stewarded, staffed the kitchen, dried glasses, directed traffic, verified scores, input data entries, coordinated judges’ food, etc.

Each year I seem to marvel yet again at the dedication and cohesiveness of the hard-working committee members and volunteers. The competition is a living testament to what we can, and do, accomplish as a team. My heartfelt gratitude goes out to everyone who played any part in the success of the 2024 competition!

For competition results check out WineCompetition.com and look to enjoy some of the fruits of the labors of the winemakers who enter and support the competition and the OCWS.

—Fran Gitsham, 2024 OC Fair Commercial Wine Competition Chair

 

 Home competition wrapup

The 48th annual Home Wine Competition was held on June 8 at the OC Fairgrounds Huntington Beach Building. Five-hundred and 21 wines were judged and 462 awards were handed out to 183 winemakers.

It is amazing how the overall quality of the wines get better and better every year, since our winemakers founded the OC Wine Society in 1976, and held our first competitions in 1977. Although home winemakers cannot sell their wines, we tell our judges to evaluate each home wine as if it had a retail value of $20.  Many of our wines would sell for far more, with some of them possibly even competing with wines selling for over $100.

This year, I am happy to announce our Best of Show winners in five categories:

Don Sowers, Newport Beach, Best of Show Red Wine, for his 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon
Adam Gomolin, Oakland, Best of Show White Wine, for his 2023 Chardonnay
Thad Rodgers, Auburn, Best of Show Dessert Wine, for his 2022 Merlot Port
Rochelle Randel, Huntington Beach, Best of Show Fruit Wine, for her 2024 Estate Lemon Wine
Chris Miller, Fallbrook, Best of Show Label, for his 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon label.

We had 78 judges taste the entries and were supported by 82 people who worked behind the scenes before, during, and after to support such a complicated event.

As in years past, our OC Wine Society Cooks’ Caucus provided a hot breakfast and lunch for our volunteers. Both were FABULOUS, and we want to thank the 12 people who started weeks ago preparing the menu, purchasing the supplies and starting out early in the morning to make our competition such an enjoyable event!

Thank you to all of you who helped us on competition day and the weeks before and after. And special thanks to our Home Wine Competition leadership group, including Stacey and Wendy Taylor, John and Teresa Lane, Ed Reyes, Cheryl Knapp and Lynda Edwards for their weeks of involvement.

Because of all of your contributions, we were able to, once again, provide the high-quality competition that we are so proud of.

—Kevin Donnelly, OC Fair Home Wine Competition Chair

 

Wine Defect Identification Workshop Wrap-Up

The first OCWS Wine Defect Identification Workshop was held on June 15 with nearly 40 people attending. This event was designed to compare the Faulted “A” bottle, identified by the OCWS Commercial Wine Competition judges against the Non-Faulted “B” bottle. Attendees had the opportunity to experience 42 different faulted wines and learn about the defects. Working in groups, lively discussion ensued as the blind tasting made the identification of the faulted wine challenging. To make the task more interesting, each group also had to identify the varietal of the wine.

The collective energy of the groups was stimulating for everyone, regardless of the attendee’s experience level. Several members of the Winemakers’ Group attended as did several new and long-time OCWS members, all seeking to improve their wine knowledge. Each group collectively evaluated seven different wines, then all participants were invited to sample any of the 42 wines. The feedback from the participants was very positive, with a strong recommendation to make this an annual event.

Thank you to OCWS members CL & Adrienne Keedy, Mary Ann Mayer, Carolyn and Damian Christian, and Ed Reyes, who helped me make this inaugural event a great success. We hope to see you all at next year’s workshop.

 —Don Mayer

Categories
Courtyard

Plan Now For OC Fair Visits, Volunteer Opportunities

The 2024 OC Fair is right around the corner. The fair, with the theme “Always a Good Time,” runs from Friday, July 19 through Sunday, August 18, with Monday and Tuesday dark. Just as last year, the daily attendance will be limited, so make your plans early.

The Courtyard is, by far, our largest fundraiser and each year brings in many of our new members. The committee has been making all the preparations for a smooth and fun summer. The set-up team plans to have everything ready to go the week before the opening.

This year, The Courtyard will look much the same as last year, with high top tables and a tasting area near the Featured Winery Bar. There will be plenty of the fabulous award- winning wines to taste.

For members new to The Courtyard and anyone wishing to attend, training for servers is scheduled for Saturday, July 13 at 11 a.m. in The Courtyard. For experienced servers who would like to train as a steward, training is scheduled for the same day at 10 a.m. in the Courtyard. Cashier training will be July 11 at 6 p.m. in The Courtyard. Managers will receive information regarding training and meetings.

Fair credentials, parking passes and information will be mailed to reach everyone during the first part of July. Your credentials are valid for everyday of the fair, including sold out days. However, if you are bringing someone who needs a ticket, it must be purchased in advance.

Check out ocfair.com for up-to-date information on entertainment and ticket purchases. Plan for a fun summer and “Always a Good Time.” See you at the fair!

—Fred Heinecke,
OCWS Director and Co-Chair of The Courtyard Committee

Categories
Courtyard

Help With The Courtyard Set Up, Tear Down, Decorating

Courtyard Set-Up

If you enjoy using power drills and stepladders, and wearing clothes you don’t mind getting grubby, this event is for you. We are already working to get The Courtyard for the OC Fair and you can be a big part of it all too.

Volunteers will be needed to set up over three days to make this special place, which serves award-winning wines, ready for fairgoers. The Courtyard is one of the biggest sources of funds that are used for OCWS scholarships.

Set-up is scheduled each day, from 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. on July 9-11. The scheduled tear-down date is Monday, August 19 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

During the shifts, we will not be handling any wines. It is not the same as server shifts and RBS is not required.

Members can sign up for any or all four dates with me at Les@ocws.org, and lunches and parking will be provided. Please contact me with any questions.

Thank you for making 2024 Always a Good Time at The Courtyard!

—Leslie Hodowanec, 2024 Courtyard Set Up/Tear Down Coordinator

Categories
Scholarship News

Scholarship Spotlight

OCWS funds scholarships for eight California colleges and universities, including Allan Hancock College (AHC), which offers multiple degrees and certificates in viticulture, enology, wine and food pairing, and wine business. AHC’s viticulture & enology programs typically has about 120 students per year and has a four-acre “practice” vineyard in Santa Maria. Recently, AHC Winery won Best of Class in the 2024 OC Fair Commercial Wine Competition for their 2022 Pinot Noir Rosé (90 points).

In May, I had the good fortune to attend the 2024 Scholarship Awards Ceremony at AHC. The OCWS scholarship was distributed to three students. and we met with one of them, Jacob Tobin. Jacob became very interested in winemaking after reading the books his mother had from an online wine course during the pandemic and he has graduated with his degree in enology this year. He shared with us that he helped make the 2021 Malbec that earned a Double Gold at last year’s OC Fair Commercial Wine Competition. Jacob (shown in photo) will continue his studies at Fresno State this fall and greatly appreciated the OCWS support.

The 2024 recipients for the OCWS Scholarships at AHC are:

  • Paul Heald
  • Scott Melton
  • Jacob Tobin (pictured)

Next month we will be highlighting another one of the colleges/universities supported by the OCWS Scholarship Fund. Just a friendly reminder there is always time to donate to the OCWS Scholarship Fund for 2024.  There are two ways to donate:

  1. Mail a check – Make your check out to OCWS and mail it to the OCWS office at OCWS O. Box 11059  Costa Mesa, CA 92627  Attn: Scholarship Fund  A donation letter will be sent to you.
  2. Donate Online – Logon to your account at ocws.org and go to the scholarship donation page: ocws.org/product/scholarship-donations/ You can make your donation online and print a receipt for tax purposes at the same time.

—Damian Christian, OCWS Scholarship Chair

 

Categories
Winemakers News

Bitten by the Winemaking Bug

After months of preparation, the 48th annual OC Fair Home Wine Competition is in the history books.  (See Kevin Donnelly’s accompanying competition “wrap up” article).

Now, my work starts for next year’s competition. No, I don’t mean the planning that goes into the actual event. I’m talking about the planning and work that will go into making the wine that, hopefully, I will enter into next year’s competition.

You see, I’ve been bitten by the winemaking bug. I know there are other OCWS winemakers who’ve been bitten too. The bug always bites me after the competition. I get the itch to make more wine. It doesn’t matter how much is in my cellar or if I have the space to make it. There’s just something about the competition that inspires me each year to make more.

I’m inspired this year by two of our OCWS winemakers who won Best of Show awards: Don Sowers who won Best of Show Red Wine for his 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon and Rochelle Randel who won Best of Show Fruit Wine for her 2024 Lemon Wine.

I’m always inspired by seeing so many wines from winemakers all over California. Maybe it’s something about tasting the fruit (pun intended) of all the hard work that went into each bottle. Maybe it’s the pride that winemakers, including myself, have for their wines. I’m humbled to think all those winemakers have put their trust in the Orange County Wine Society and our competition when they submit their wines for evaluation.

Maybe the latest Home Wine Competition will also inspire others to begin or continue their winemaking. There are lots of opportunities to make wine and this is the best time of year to start.

The grape harvest will be happening in a few months. The Winemakers Group annually sources a variety of high-quality grapes for our members. Look for more information on our grape purchase program in upcoming newsletters and in emails to our members.

Wine can be made from almost any kind of fruit too. Summer brings a bounty of backyard fruit which can make excellent wine. This is an easy and low-cost way to learn or hone winemaking skills.

Wine can be made from kits any time of year. John Lane from our Winemakers Group just conducted another kit winemaking class. Many of our OCWS winemakers started this way.  Excellent wine can be made from kits including Best of Show winners in past years.

No matter what kind of wine you make, The Winemakers Group can help. Our winemaking mentors will be happy to guide you through the process.

There are many opportunities to make wine.  No matter your experience level, now it’s time to start planning the wine that you’ll enter into next year’s OC Fair Home Wine Competition. Maybe you’ll be bitten by the winemaking bug too.

—Ed Reyes, ed@ocws.org

Categories
Education Wine Education

Wine Wisdom

YOUR MISSION, SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO ACCEPT IT …

  1. The first vitis vinifera grape, known as the Mission grape, was planted in the “New World” in the 1500s which country:
    1. Peru
    2. Mexico
    3. Argentina
  2. When the Mission grape was first planted in the United States in the early 1600s it was planted in an area that was to become which state:
    1. California
    2. Arizona
    3. New Mexico
  3. The Franciscan monks who built the California missions planted Mission grapes to fulfill their need for wine. Where was the Mission grape first planted in California in 1769?
    1. Mission San Diego de Alcala
    2. Mission San Luis Rey de Francia
    3. Mission San Juan Capistrano
  4. The Mission grape, having originated in Spain, came from which Spanish wine region?
    1. Galicia
    2. Castile-La Mancha
    3. Rioja
  5. In 2007 DNA analysis determined that the Mission grape was the same as an ancient Spanish grape: Listan Prieto (which can mean Dark, Black or Red Palomino). However, the same grape has different names in different South American Countries. Which pair of these Countries/Grape Names is correct:
    1. Peru/Negra Criolla
    2. Argentina/Criolla Chica
    3. Chile/Pais
    4. All of the above
  6. The Listan Prieto is no longer grown in Spain but is grown only on which of these European islands that has 71 acres of the grape? (Hint: It has the highest vineyards in Europe at 5,780 feet above sea level on the slopes of Mount Teide volcano.)
    1. Canary Islands
    2. Azores Islands
    3. Balearic Islands
  7. The oldest living Mission vine, planted in 1770 and known as both the Trinity Vine and the Vina Madre, is planted at which mission that in the 18th century was making 35 million U.S. gallons of wine:
    1. Mission San Gabriel Arcangel
    2. Mission San Miguel Arcangel
    3. Mission San Rafael Arcangel
  8. You can see an old Mission vine, planted in the early 1800’s from a cutting of the Trinity Vine, that is still bearing fruit, and covers a 400 square foot pergola at:
    1. Mission San Gabriel Arcangel
    2. The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens
    3. The Avila Adobe, Olvera Street, Los Angeles
  9. The historical, typical wine made from Mission grapes is a fortified, sweet, high alcohol, dessert wine. What is it called:
    1. Marsala
    2. Angelica
    3. Maderia
  10. In the 1880s, Mission vine acreage in California was estimated at 30,000 acres. By 2019 that acreage had been reduced to an estimated 400 acres. Which of these wineries/vineyards have old vine Mission vineyards?
    1. Gypsy Canyon Winery, Santa Barbara County
    2. Deaver Vineyards, Amador County
    3. Somers Vineyard, San Joaquin County
    4. All of the above

Bonus Question

What year did the show Mission: Impossible first air on TV:

  1. 1964
  2. 1966
  3. 1968

This Wine Wisdom will not self-destruct in five seconds. Don’t disavow all knowledge of this mission. If you find the wine, enjoy it. Cheers!

—CL Keedy, Wine Education Committee

Answers

  1. b
  2. c
  3. a
  4. b
  5. d
  6. a
  7. a
  8. c
  9. b
  10. d
  11. Bonus: b

 

 

Categories
History

The Orange County Wine Society and the OC Fair (Part 1)

Since the inception of the Orange County Wine Society in 1976, there has been a mutually rewarding association with the OC Fair.

COMMERCIAL WINE COMPETITION DEBUTS

In 1977, the first OC Fair Commercial Wine Competition was held at the new Westin South Coast Plaza Hotel and the first OC Fair Home Wine Competition was held on the grounds of the OC Fair.  It was chaired by Jim Graver, the first President of the Orange County Wine Society. Thirty-six (36) entries were judged followed by a potluck lunch.

INAUGURAL WINE GARDEN INTRODUCED

As the Commercial Competition grew in number of entries and recognition, more funds were required to cover expenses. In 1981, the first Wine Garden was introduced during the 10-day OC Fair, featuring tastes of award-winning entries. To sell wine, the Fair Board required that some type of food must be available.

THE YELLOW SUBMARINE NOW SERVING

Kathi Horton organized a separate trailer called “The Yellow Submarine” to sell award winning sandwiches and cheese plates. Exhibits, built by member Dick Bird, featured award winning wines and Home Winemaking information. The Wine Garden was located on the main fairway outside the Fine Arts Building. Following the untimely death of Mr. Bird in 1981, Vivien and Charley Owens assumed the responsibility of assembling and setting up the annual display. During the mid to late 80’s, there were additional exhibits, displays and wine tasting in both the Wine Garden and the Flower and Garden Building. Booklets listing the award-winning wines were sold for one dollar.

FAIR EXPANDS FROM 10 TO 17 DAYS

By 1990, the OC Fair was growing and changing. The OC Fair was expanded to 17 days, and the Wine Garden and other display booths were being discontinued. A committee, formed by David Hirstein, planned and designed a new larger venue, originally named the Wine Pavilion.  It was located outside the Flower and Garden Building and provided a temperature controlled wine cellar and storage areas. Every day during the fair, the Pavilion was managed by Marcia Brechtel and at night by John Goodnight or Al Barber. The requirement to sell food with wine was difficult to manage and was discontinued.

WINE PAVILION RENAMED THE COURTYARD

In 1996 the Wine Pavilion name was changed to the Courtyard and seminars were added on weekends featuring either wine varietals or wine regions. Commemorative wine glasses and award books were sold along with tastes of Award-Winning Wines. Varietal wines, wine coolers, and sparkling wine were sold by the glass. The Home Wine Competition was moved from the original Memorial Gardens Building to the Courtyard. Vivian and Charley Owens continued to build beautiful wine displays and exhibits.

FAIR EXPANDS FROM 17 TO 21 DAYS

As the century changed, the OC Fair continued to change as well. It was expanded to 21 days, credit cards were now accepted, and the award book went to a new book format featuring a color photo on the cover chosen from a contest among the OC Wine Society members. Manager specials were added, an Express Bar was created, and Featured Winery Programs were introduced. In 2008, the OC Fair & Event Center changed its name to the OC Fair and Events Center to better clarify the many events that are accommodated.  Also during this period, the Orange County Wine Society served wines at the Barrett-Jackson Automobile Auction which was held at the Events Center.

OCWS CELEBRATES 40TH YEAR

In 2016, Kathy Kramer, the Chief Executive Officer of the OC Fair and Events Center, presented the Wine Society with a plaque commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the organization.

The Couryard Grows to Serve Many Purposes

In addition to the annual OC Fair, the Courtyard is used for many OCWS work parties, like sorting the thousands of wines that are provided for the Commercial Competition, Spring and Fall Festivities, the Chili Cook-off, and the Home Wine Competition.  Over the years, there have been many friendships made, occasions celebrated, and good memories fondly remembered at The Courtyard at the OC Fair.

Thank you to Larry Graham for providing the historical information used in this article.

— Jane Goodnight, OCWS History Committee Member

Categories
Featured Wineries

Featured at the Fair

For the past several years, the dynamic duo of Lloyd and Liz Corbett have delivered an extra special treat for both OCWS members and OC Fair attendees.

Entering its sixth year, the Featured Winery Program has brought some of the top winemakers in California right to The Courtyard. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, from 3-8 p.m., winemakers are providing some of their very best vintages while giving the public an opportunity to learn more about their winery and giving them an opportunity to join their wine club or get discounts if they visit their tasting rooms.

The idea behind the program was simple – to give OCWS another opportunity to contribute to its robust scholarship program. All the proceeds go toward the scholarship program and by last count that amount has swelled to more than $16,000.

“We wanted to give the wineries – especially the smaller ones with no marketing budget – a means of meeting the public and an opportunity for the public to meet the winemakers,” Liz said. “This establishes a personal bond and an opportunity to learn more about the history of the winemakers, his/her successes and challenges and so much more.”

This year’s lineup boasts some recognizable names and some boutique wineries that are sure to intrigue those who are keen to learn about a winery they may never have heard about.  The opening weekend has a stellar lineup with Macchia Winery, Graveyard Vineyards and Double Bond Winery. The program rounds out on the last weekend with Boisset Collection, Dark Star Cellars and San Pasqual Winery.

So if you are volunteering at The Courtyard on the weekend, make sure to stop by the Featured Winery station and enjoy some of California’s finest offerings while contributing to a good cause.

“We get such a huge feeling of satisfaction when we see the interaction,” Liz added. “We enjoy being part of the OCWS and contributing to its ongoing success.”

List of featured wineries at this year’s fair

July 19                    Macchia Winery

July 20                    Graveyard Vineyards

July 21                    Double Bond Winery

July 26                    Riboli Family Wines

July 27                    Sycamore Ranch Vineyard & Winery

July 28                    Cordon of Santa Barbara

Aug. 2                     Fallbrook Winery

Aug. 3                     Bella Grace Vineyards

Aug. 4                     Cypher Winery

Aug. 9                     San Antonio Winery

Aug. 10                  915 Lincoln

Aug. 11                  Eberle Winery

Aug. 16                 Boisset Collection

Aug. 17                 Dark Star Cellars

Aug. 18                 San Pasqual Winery

Categories
President's Message

President’s Message

By Carolyn Christian

Here we are in June, and it is difficult to believe that 2024 is nearly halfway over. This means that we are in the throes of our busy season!

Our unique relationship with the OC Fair and Event Center provides us the opportunity to host two amazing wine competitions—the OC Fair Commercial Wine Competition and the OC Fair Home Wine Competition. These events helped launch our organization back in the mid-1970s, and they are what make us the organization we are today!

This year marks the 48th annual event for both! We could not possibly put on these events without the amazing volunteers that form the membership and foundation of our organization. It makes me incredibly proud to see the level of commitment from so many people. What takes months and thousands of hours to put together has become a well-oiled machine. My personal thanks to Fran Gitsham and Kevin Donnelly for leading the incredible teams that are making these events happen this year.

On the heels of the competitions, The Courtyard is ramping up for another amazing season of wine tasting, wine by the glass, featured wineries and seminars at the OC Fair. This is another instance of hundreds of people coming together to make something so vast seem effortless. The Courtyard is an event that many mark as their anniversary as members of the OCWS, having joined from “the other side of the counter” after a wonderful experience tasting wine and realizing that the OCWS seemed like a great group to join.

The OC Fair is our main recruiting time and last year we brought in over 250 new members. These new members are already getting involved in events and committees. I would be remiss in not mentioning that Fred Heinecke and Fran Gitsham head the team that makes The Courtyard happen.

As part of our educational mission, we provide events to help those who want to learn to make wine. Don’t miss the Kit Wine Class this month. Along with our traditions, we are trying to add new events as the opportunities arise. Don’t miss this month’s new events – the Wine Defect Identification Workshop and the OCWS Outing with Vinos Unidos (see this issue for more details).

We are approaching our 50th Anniversary in 2026. In preparation for this momentous occasion, we are putting together articles on the history of the OCWS (see Hank Bruce’s article in this issue) and gathering historical information to assemble a comprehensive history of the organization. The OCWS History Committee will be hosting a series of luncheons for our “Vintage Members” to gather historical information.

Each meeting will include members, starting with the longest standing members and moving forward in time. Our first luncheon was a huge success and included original members like Judi Brady and Jane Goodnight. With such a rich history, we have much work ahead of us to gather the untold stories of our organization. In addition to the luncheons, we will have several ways in which you can share your stories with us.

As we move into the summer and our busiest time of the year, let me just say how truly lucky we are to have such great volunteers that help make this organization what it is – a vibrant and resilient group of over 1,000 members, all at a different stage in their wine enthusiast journey, working together to make things happen. We have truly been “Pairing Wine Education and Fun Since 1976!”

Cheers to you all!