About Us
The Orange County Wine Society, a non-profit organization that promotes the knowledge and appreciation of wines, is dedicated to raising funds for college scholarships for institutions throughout California. The volunteers of the organization, while enjoying social events, wine tastings and trips throughout the year, is best known for coordinating the OC Fair Commercial Wine Competition and running the wine courtyard at the fair each year. Within the OCWS lies an active home winemaking group which, along with their passion for making fine wines, runs the Homewine Competition which is also highlighted annually at the OC Fair.
The varied interests and social opportunities offered through the OCWS has something for everyone, from people just beginning to find enjoyment with wine in their lives and wanting to learn more to the well versed fine wine lover looking to share their passion with others of like mind.
Latest News
- Corner Cellar
When Tom and Laureen Baldyga moved into their Cowan Heights home in 2011, they had a set of priorities: a house with a view, a three-car garage and a wine cellar. While the home had sweeping views of Orange County and Catalina Island as well as the three-car garage that… Read more: Corner Cellar - President’s Message
It is a great honor for me to serve as the president of the OCWS. Watching the organization develop over the past several decades has been a great highlight of my life. With the summer over, we begin a new board year in October and plans for 2025. Annual Business… Read more: President’s Message - Gold Medal Mini-Tasting Results:
According to Sam Puzzo, the first Mini-Tasting was 35 years ago this month. The 2024 Gold Medal Mini-Tasting is the largest one we’ve had, with 11 sites (member’s homes) across the county, and nearly 170 people enjoying 10 wines in a blind tasting. The attendees each contributed a dish, and… Read more: Gold Medal Mini-Tasting Results: - Chef of the Evening – Recipe
Neapolitan Ingredients1/2 17.3-oz. package puff pastrysheets (1 sheet), thawed3 oz. instant vanilla pudding andpie filling mix1 cup milk1.5 cups thawed frozen whippedtopping1.25 cups sliced strawberries2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar InstructionsHEAT oven to 400°F.UNFOLD pastry sheet on a lightlyfloured surface.CUT pastry sheet into three strips.CUT each strip into four rectanglesand place the… Read more: Chef of the Evening – Recipe - Mini-Tasting – Chefs of the Evening
Gold Medal Mini-Tasting attendees brought a delicious dish to share at our and then voted on a Chef of the Evening. The results at each host site are:   Donna Hisey – Carol Shelton Duck Beth Marie Nierman – Vegan Kabobs Tie – Rochelle Randel – Mediterranean Cod with Blistered Tomato… Read more: Mini-Tasting – Chefs of the Evening - Spotlight: Fresno State University
OCWS funds scholarships for eight California colleges and universities, including California State Polytechnic University, Pomona or CalPoly Pomona. CalPoly Pomona (CPP) supports California wine making with a beverage program that spans three colleges and includes a campus vineyard, called Horsehill Vineyard, which is a collaborative wine project between CPP and… Read more: Spotlight: Fresno State University
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