It’s that time again! Time to refill your wine cellar with outstanding OCWS Commercial Competition wines at our annual Wine Auction and Pick-Your-Own-Lot (PYOL).

Both events offer a terrific venue to purchase outstanding wines of all varietals at great prices. It gives the OCWS Cellarmaster a chance to empty the cellar to make room for all the wine arriving for the 2010 Commercial Competition. Both events generate funds to help offset the costs we incur during the conduct of the Commercial and Homewine Competitions.

The first of the two events, the Wine Auction, offers four-bottle lots of wine in every varietal imaginable. Plan on participating in a silent auction for several hundred lots of wine and you’ll be able to raise your paddle to bid for many premium lots in the verbal auction. Bidder catalogues will be available the week before and during check-in at the Wine Auction.

It’s an outstanding day, with wine bargains galore! Everyone comes home a winner! Everyone should leave happy as well with a fine selection of wines poured for your pleasure and snacks to keep your stomach from grumbling.

The second of the two events is the PYOL or “Pick-Your-Own-Lot.” You must attend the Wine Auction to participate in this event. I made the mistake of passing on this event for several years—and what a mistake that was! The PYOL offers all of the last remaining wine in the OCWS wine cellar, and it’s not too hard to find several gems among the available wines at this event. And you can’t beat the price at $5 per bottle!

The majority of these wines were entered into the Commercial Competition with a much higher retail price, so it’s a great way to pick up some everyday wines at a very reasonable price.

Please see the sign-up form in this edition of The Wine Press. For your convenience, it is suggested that you bring wine glasses and pens to the Wine Auction. Limited quantities of individual wine glasses will be available for sale. Admission is $20 per member, which includes both events.

One more thing…only OCWS members may attend the Wine Auction and PYOL.  Additionally, please remember that Wine Society events are for adults only. As such, we ask that you please refrain from bringing underage guests and children to our events.

See you at the Auction!

Auction/PYOL Coordinator

Kevin Coy