Orange County Wine Society (OCWS), in partnership with the OC Fair, is pleased to announce the winners of the 2025 OC Fair Commercial Wine Competition.
The 49th annual competition received 2,465 entries from hundreds of wineries this year. Wines were divided into 132 varietal categories and then judged by price range and sugar level. Wines were judged by 90 professional winemakers and winery owners.
In addition to the 19 Best of Class medals (listed below), the competition also awarded 150 Double Gold medals and 484 Gold medals in addition to silver and bronze medals. This year’s top varietals were Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay. Entries included some unique varietals such as Arinto, Biancolella, Blaufrankisch, Dobricic, Greco, Marquette, Marselan, Peloursin, Saint Laurent, Schippentino, Tinta Cao, and Trebbiano. Of note making a comeback this year was non-alcoholic wine!
BEST OF CLASS WINNERS
Best of Class – Red Varietals
Premium Price Level
ONX Wines, 2020 “Reckoning” (Templeton Gap District AVA) 96 Points
High Price Level
Pear Valley Estate Wine, 2022 Charbono (Paso Robles Geneseo District AVA) 97 Points
Medium Price Level
Country Road Wine Cellars, 2023 Malbec (Clarksburg AVA) 95 Points
Low Price Level
1924 – Delicato Family Wines, 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Bourbon Barrel Aged (Lodi AVA) 95 Points
Best of Class – White Varietals
Premium Price Level
Navarro Vineyards & Winery, 2024 “Deep End” Pinot Grigio (Anderson Valley AVA)95 Points
High Price Level
Wiens Cellars, 2024 Arneis (Temecula Valley AVA) 97 Points
Medium Price Level
Cannonball – Share A Splash Wine Co., 2023 Chardonnay (California) 95 Points
Low Price Level
McManis Family Vineyards, 2024 Viognier (River Junction AVA) 95 Points
Best of Class – Rosé Wines
Premium Price Level
Wine Guy & Wine Gal Family Wines from Sonoma, 2024 “Judith Ann Rosé” (Rosé of Pinot Noir) (Russian River Valley AVA) 96 Points
High Price Level
Bella Grace Vineyards, 2024 “Bella Rosé” (Rosé Rhone Varietals) (Amador County) 97 Points
Medium Price Level
Langhart & Hill, 2022 Rosé (Rosé of Merlot) (Russian River Valley AVA)91 Points
Low Price Level
TwiningVine LLC, 2023 Rosé (Rosé of Merlot) (Livermore Valley AVA)93 Points
Best of Class – Dessert Wines
Premium Price Level
Rancho de Philo Vineyard and Winery, NV “Triple Cream Sherry” (California) 97 Points
High Price Level
Sunce Winery & Vineyard, 2019 Muscat Port (Clarksburg AVA) 95 Points
Medium Price Level
Jeff Runquist “R”, 2024 Muscat Canelli (San Joaquin Valley, River Junction AVA)93 Points
Low Price Level
Bonterra Organic Estates – Fetzer, NV Ruby Port (California)90 Points
Best of Class – Sparkling Wines
Premium Price Level
Big Nose Winery LLC, 2023 “Jan’s Sparkling Rosé” (Napa Valley AVA) 95 Points
High Price Level
pureCru Winery, 2023 Brut Rosé Cuvée XXIII (Lodi AVA) 95 Points
Medium Price Level
Korbel Champagne Cellars, NV Extra Dry, Methode Champenoise (California) 90 Points
OCWS (a 501(c)3 corporation) has been hosting the OC Fair Commercial Wine Competition for over four decades. OCWS boasts over 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, OCWS has donated over $946,000 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 “Find Your Happy” runs from July 18th through August 17th, Wednesday through Sunday. The Wine Courtyard features wine tasting, wine by the glass, wine seminars, and featured wineries.
Go to WineCompetition.com to view all the medal winners from the 2025 OC Fair Commercial Wine Competition (and previous years). 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.
