Scholarship Program

A historic milestone has been reached—and it’s one worth raising a glass to. With the 2026 scholarship allocations, the Orange County Wine Society has officially surpassed $1 million in total scholarships awarded, reaffirming OCWS’s long-standing commitment to education and the future of the wine and culinary industries.

For 2026, OCWS has proudly awarded $50,375 in scholarships to eight outstanding educational institutions across California. This year’s contributions bring the Society’s total scholarship giving since 1981 to an impressive $1,008,795—a remarkable achievement made possible entirely through the passion, generosity, and dedication of OCWS members.

These scholarship funds are raised through multiple OCWS-supported efforts, including the OC Fair Wine Courtyard tips, Featured Winery Program, OCWS Wine Auction, Commercial Competition Judges’ stipend donations, and generous member contributions. Every dollar represents a shared belief in supporting students who will shape the future of winemaking, viticulture, culinary arts, and wine business.

OCWS extends heartfelt thanks to every member and volunteer whose hard work helped make this milestone possible. Together, we are investing in education, opportunity, and the continued growth of our industry.

2026 OCWS Scholarship Allocations

University / CollegeProgramAllocation
Allan Hancock CollegeViticulture & Enology$6,000
Cal Poly PomonaAgricultural Science$5,805
Cal Poly San Luis ObispoWine & Viticulture$5,805
CSU FresnoViticulture & Enology$5,805
Orange Coast CollegeCulinary Arts$5,845
UC DavisViticulture & Enology$5,905
Napa Valley CollegeViticulture & Winery Technology$9,405
CSU Sonoma / CunninghamWine Business$5,805
Total Disbursements$50,375

Just a friendly reminder that you can make a donation to the OCWS Scholarship Fund anytime.  There are two ways to donate:

  1. Mail a check – Complete your check using the same instructions as above, and mail it to the OCWS office at OCWS, P.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, Scholarship Chair

Current thank you letters from scholarship recipients: