We are embarking on our 44th year with the OCWS which was already jam-packed with events in January. Our members attended the Winery Program featuring Dark Star Cellars, the Wine Education Seminar—Intro to Wine and Wine Tasting, and a Dine with Wine event at Pescadou Bistro. This time of year brings the start of a […]

The OCWS guidelines allow awarding of scholarships to students in the Viticulture, Enology, and Culinary Arts programs at select California degree colleges and universities. At present, seven colleges and/or universities are chosen; they are: Allan Hancock College, Orange Coast College, Cal Poly-Pomona, UC Davis, Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, Napa Valley College of Enology, and CSU at […]

We all love to see beautiful vineyards at harvest – green, full vines with abundant clusters of red or green grapes. Harvest is an exciting time as the vines bring forth their bounty and then take a deep sigh of relief. Following harvest, the vines decorate the landscape with vibrant hues of yellow and orange. […]

It’s time to start thinking about recertifying your TIPS certificate. If you are a new member, or have never taken TIPS training, you will need to attend a TIPS training class if you plan to volunteer at The Courtyard during the 2020 OC Fair. Class schedules will be available on the OCWS website in March. […]

The very busy month of December is in the books. The fabulous Annual Holiday Dinner & Dance was once again enjoyed by our members with a record turnout. See Brian’s article for details on this amazing evening. Our members showed off their dance steps even to the last song with great music from the “Three […]

On Saturday, November 23, over 102 members and guests attended the November Big Reds Mini-Tasting at seven host sites. The blind tasting included five flights of two wines each. The flights covered Proprietary Reds, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Zinfandel, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Six of the ten wines finished in the top three at one or more […]

As this edition of The Wine Press reaches everyone, we will have made it through Thanksgiving and moved on to the next round of holidays. The OCWS website lists Director Responsibilities which identifies major/key events and administrative committees and assigned Chairs. In addition to the Committee Chairs and their OCWS member assists, a great deal […]

The holidays are the perfect time of year to celebrate with a glass of bubbling sparkling wine. Those little bubbles in your glass give rise to an explosion of festivities, sparkles, and celebrations – maybe even a few giggles! Sparkling wine is a holiday favorite because it can be found in many different styles, which […]

At this year’s Annual Installation Dinner, newly elected Board members Linda Mihalik, Rich Skoczylas, and returning member George Cravens were introduced, as well as this year’s officers: President—Bill Redding, Vice President—Ken Scott, Treasurer—Mel Jay, and Secretary—George Cravens. Board member contact information is listed in every edition of The Wine Press. The assignments for Director Responsibilities […]

The OCWS Chili Cook Off & BBQ was held on September 21 at The Courtyard under clear skies and comfortable fall temperatures. It was a sold out event with 28 teams competing in the Chili Cook Off and over 200 members and guests attending.  Everyone enjoyed the 28 amazing and unique homemade chilis, grilled foods […]