Thanks to all of our members who joined the virtual Annual Business Meeting on Friday, September 11. Highlights of the year’s past events and the financial health of the organization were reviewed. A recording of this meeting will be available on the OCWS website to those of you who missed the live meeting. Special thanks […]

In looking to find some fun alternatives to The Courtyard at the OC Fair that, sadly, were not able to  be held this year, Summer Sunday Seminars were created. Ten weeks of entertaining seminars were developed by a talented team of people who combined their passion for the OC Fair seminars and their love of […]

While our most volunteer-intensive events weren’t held this year, there were still a number of members who put in significant time helping plan and run the events that we did have. As the organization has only part-time employees, it relies on our volunteers for everything from guiding and managing our organization to planning and running […]

Scholarships are important to the core of the OCWS, especially to the dedicated students we support. Due to COVID-19 and the cancellation of scholarship fundraising sources, the scholarship account has only 10% of what we funded last year at this time. We have lost the top three and more of five sources that account for […]

These past months have been challenging for all of us in the Orange County Wine Society. This has caused the OCWS to rely more heavily on our older methods and get creative with new ways to keep in touch with our members. Our last in-person Quarterly Meeting was held in February, and we all miss […]

August 21, 2020 Dear Leslie Hodowanec, I want to express my sincere gratitude for selecting me to receive the Orange County Wine Society, Inc scholarship. I was excited to be chosen and I am deeply grateful for your support, especially because I took a great class Fall 2019, Bar Management with Professor Yates, and I […]

Cameron Wilson OCC Student July 14, 2020 Dear Mrs. Leslie Hodowanec,             I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for selecting me for the Orange County Wine Society scholarship. I am grateful to you and your organization for selecting me.             I am currently enrolled in the advanced baking and pastry program […]

It is my sincere hope that everyone is staying safe, staying busy, and drinking great wines! I am pleased to report that at the August BOD meeting, it was unanimously approved to extend all memberships an additional four months.  In last month’s issue of The Wine Press, I highlighted some of our virtual seminar offerings. […]

As everyone is aware, due to COVID-19, the OCWS has been restricted from hosting any in-person membership events since our February monthly meeting. While we have adapted to hosting weekly wine education seminars virtually during the summer months and will continue to do so going into the fall and winter, the Board understands and appreciates […]

As we have anticipated to be the case, the 2020 OCWS Annual Business Meeting will take place in a virtual Zoom platform this year. The Annual Business Meeting will take place on Friday, September 11, beginning promptly at 7 pm and lasting approximately one hour. There is no limitation on the number of members who may […]