June 27, 2022 Orange County, California — Orange County Wine Society (OCWS), in partnership with the OC Fair, is pleased to announce the winners of the 2022 OC Fair Commercial Wine Competition. The 46th annual competition received 2,516 entries this year. In addition to the 20 Best of Class medals (listed below), the competition also awarded 65 Double Gold medals and 605 Gold medals.
BEST OF CLASS WINNERS
Best of Class – Red Varietals
- Premium Price Level
- Dubost Winery, 2019 “Jacob’s Ladder” Estate Syrah Blend ($75) 95 Points
- High Price Level
- Wilson Family Winery, 2019 “Knotty & Twisted” Zinfandel ($30) 97 Points
- Medium Price Level
- Macchia, 2020 “Mischievous” Old Vine Zinfandel ($23) 95 Points
- Low Price Level
- McManis Family Vineyards, 2020 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon ($12.99) 91 Points
Best of Class – White Varietals
- Premium Price Level
- Schug, 2021 Sauvignon Blanc ($28) 97 Points
- High Price Level
- Engine House, 2021 Sauvignon Blanc ($25) 95 Points
- Medium Price Level
- Clos du Bois, 2021 Pinot Grigio ($14.99) 95 Points
- Low Price Level
- Oak Grove, 2021 Viognier ($8.99) 93 Points
Best of Class – Rosé Wines
- Premium Price Level
- Ledson, 2021 “Counoise” Rosé ($40) 93 Points
- High Price Level
- Sky Valley Cellars, 2021 Rosé Wine (100% Sangiovese) ($30) 95 Points
- Medium Price Level
- Wyethia Flame, 2021 Rosé of Dolcetto ($21) 90 Points
- Low Price Level
- Scotto Family Cellars, 2021 Reserve Dry Sangiovese Rosé ($13.99) 90 Points
Best of Class – Dessert Wines
- Premium Price Level
- Navarro, 2019 Late Harvest Riesling ($39) 97 Points
- High Price Level
- Milliaire Winery, 2018 “Clockspring” Zinfandel Port ($34) 94 Points
- Medium Price Level
- Lewis Grace, 2019 Late Harvest Cabernet Sauvignon ($25) 93 Points
- Low Price Level
- Gibson Wine Company, NV Cream Sherry ($12) 94 Points
Best of Class – Sparkling Wines
- Premium Price Level
- Ammon’s Horn, 2018 Brut Rosé ($44) 96 Points
- High Price Level
- Black Girl Magic, NV Sparkling Brut ($24.99) 92 Points
- Medium Price Level
- Korbel, NV Brut ($14) 90 Points
- Low Price Level
- Barefoot Bubbly, NV Peach ($9.99) 91 Points
OCWS has been hosting the OC Fair Commercial Wine Competition for over four decades. OCWS boasts approximately 1,000 wine enthusiast members who volunteer their time to present the largest competition of California only wines in the world. In addition to running the OC Fair Commercial and Home Wine Competitions, the OCWS has donated over $740,000 in scholarships to eight California institutions with wine-related educational programs. This wine competition is unique because of its double-blind judging by commercial winery owners and winemakers. The competition also has no entry fee, making it accessible to all California wineries, large and small.
Wine entries from the OC Fair Commercial Wine Competition can be enjoyed during the OC Fair at the Wine Courtyard, which is also hosted by the OCWS. This year’s OC Fair “Feel the Sunshine” runs from July 15th through August 14th, Wednesday through Sunday.
Go to WineCompetition.com to view the medal winners from the 2022 OC Fair Commercial Wine Competition. This results website allows consumers to search for award-winning wines based on several search categories including varietals, award, price level, winery name, and more.
For more details, contact Fran Gitsham, Competition Chair and President of the OCWS at fran@ocws.org.
