What’s it like for someone who is fortunate enough to blend his love of wine with an occupation of building custom wine cellars?
Just ask Jason Scott who joined the Orange County Wine Society last summer.
The former medical sales representative and a DIY guy landed an opportunity to work in the wine industry when he was hired at Vintage Cellars, a company headquartered in San Diego, which builds luxury wine cellars in a variety of styles, spaces and applications.
Whether the design is traditional, contemporary or modern – or something more unique – the company, which just celebrated its 35th anniversary , works to bring a client’s vision to life.
“Basically we’re making a very large refrigerator and it has to work,” Scott said. “There are so many different options and it really comes down to aesthetics versus capacity.”
Scott, who grew up in Orange County, has been with the company for about five years and has seen a wide array of wine cellars across Southern California. The job is more of a hybrid of sales and design, while dealing with probably the most challenging part of the job – explaining the cost to customers.
“The biggest challenge is having them understand the cost,” he said. “It’s fitting the cellar to what they want and can afford. It’s that expectation and trying to match it to reality.”
Scott said the average cost of a cellar designed and built by his company is around $50,000, but added cellars can be built for less, depending on the space. And for those with no budget … the sky is the limit!
Scott recalls a cellar in Newport Coast that cost $500,000 and another in Rancho Santa Fe that had a 10-foot-high wine wall that was modern and had space for the owner’s magnum bottles. The company also works with wineries who need their own cellar space. Scott said Vintage Cellars is working with Paso-based Daou Family Estates, which has purchased land in southern Tuscany.
Frequently in the higher end homes, Scott says some of his customers don’t care as much about the wine but they know having a wine cellar will help boost a home’s eventual resell value. “It’s kind of expected for certain types of homes,” Scott said
The 50th annual Orange County Fair Commercial Wine Competition is fast approaching. This marquee event is put on by us, the Orange County Wine Society. The judging will be held May 30and 31 at the Costa Mesa Hilton. Many members volunteer for this huge event that will feature around 2,500 entries with about 100 wine professional judges in panels of five to taste the entries.
There are miles and miles of effort that goes into the logistics of this behemoth event. But the real magic is how all the entries show up in brown paper bags just in the right box and in the right order for the correct judging panel.
The footwork for this near impossible outcome is done by the cataloging crew, headed by Teri and John Lane with past crew chiefs Liz and Lloyd Corbett. The wineries enter their wines online and then ship the entries to the OCWS office. There is no fee to enter; the wineries only need to ship six bottles (yes, you counted right, that is 15,000 bottles of wine to deal with).
The cataloging crew labels each of the six bottles with the correct entry category and a letter A-F. This means, for example, they must know if the 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 5% Malbec goes in as a Cabernet Sauvignon varietal or as a Meritage (this may take a telephone call to the winemaker to confirm their desired category). After the wines are labeled, they are sent to a correctly numbered and lettered box for temporary storage. The A and B boxes are the boxes for the Commercial Wine Competition. The A boxes are for serving the tastes to the judges and the B boxes are transported to the hotel to be available if a bottle has a fault such as a bad cork. Each year we use a handful of the B bottles.
All the boxes are double checked to confirm all the bottles are in the correct box. With the help of the Commercial Competition computer program, the pouring orders are set up with varietals and residual sugar content and new box labels are printed.
During the week before the competition volunteer crews place the 2,500 or so bottles into the labeled paper bags and get them into their final box that is labeled with the panel number and the day it will be served. On Friday, the 5,000 A and B bottles are transported to the hotel and end up on the correct steward table.
If you want to have some fun, meet other members and interesting wine makers and be amazed how it all comes together, volunteer for the 50th annual Commercial Wine Competition.
The results from the Jan. 31 Mini Tasting are in, and it was a dominant night for South American reds. The competition was fierce among the 10 featured wines, but Domaine Bousquet Cabernet Sauvignon from Argentina emerged as the clear victor. Sweeping the board with the top vote in five of six host sites.
Our panel of expert judges were able to identify the crowd-pleasing profile that balanced Argentina’s signature ripeness with the structure of a classic Cabernet.
Taking the second-place silver was another Argentine standout, the El Enemigo Cabernet Franc, which finished five of six sites identifying this wine as their second favorite. This result highlights the rising popularity of Argentine Cabernet Franc, known for its herbal complexity and elegant tannins.
Rounding out the podium in third place was the Nautilus Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand which was the highest rated white wine of the evening, narrowly edged out the Australian Filius Cabernet Sauvignon by just one point. The Nautilus, is praised for its bright acidity and “textural component,” providing a refreshing counterpoint to the heavier reds that led the pack.
Warranting a mention is the South African Chardonnay from Glenelly, which was the only wine other than the Domaine Bousquet to receive top honors at a host site.
As is typically the case with our group, each of the 10 wines were enjoyed and recognized across the six host sites. Despite the variety of regions represented—from the Uco Valley to Marlborough—the evening ultimately belonged to Argentina, which claimed the top two spots and reaffirmed its status as a powerhouse for bold, high-scoring varietals.
I hope everyone enjoyed our little trip around the world. While these wines featured grapes we know well, their unique terroir, altitude, and cultural history should have made them feel simultaneously familiar and entirely new.
Described as the perfect prescription for Port lovers since 1979, Prager Ports Works in Napa has been family owned and operated for three generations. Of the third generation, John Prager, along with six siblings, comes from a legacy of not only fine port purveyors, but long-time supporters of the OC Fair Commercial Wine Competition. John’s father, James Prager, was one of the original judges of the competition for 25 years and John, now following in his father’s footsteps, has been one of our judges for, what will be this year, 15 years. Recently I had an opportunity to chat with John about Prager Port Works, the OC Fair Commercial Wine Competition and the current condition of the wine industry as a whole.
When asked about what he would tell wineries about entering the commercial competition, John was quick to say “Enter your wines, Californians. Enter it. It is inexpensive, as the cost to enter is just 6 bottles of wine. It’s one of the oldest competitions in the state judging your wines. Before Spectator and all the others, they were the original. Come on in. You won’t regret it.”
Reminding John that this year is our 50th Anniversary, he emphatically reassured me that he has all intentions of continuing to judge the most prestigious competition of California wines by saying, “I love that the competition keeps making changes as needed and looks to the judges for advice and input. There are nice changes in the tasting and things are always run professionally and kept current.”
When asked what the best aspects of the wine business are for him, he laughingly shared that “It’s not a bad lifestyle to make alcohol and pair food with it and make a living at it. That’s fun in itself. People just love the camaraderie, and I get to meet people from all over the world. I never get tired of it. After 46 years, it’s always interesting and everything comes easier today because I’ve been doing it for such a long time. As long as my dad was doing it. It’s what I know.”
And, lastly, when talking about the current state of the wine industry, John said, “It’s certainly changed over the years and it’s not particularly easy these days. Today’s industry environment is somewhat of a waiting game. We’re trying to get more noticed on mass media, which seems to be the direction we need to go. It’s really difficult to know what direction to go these days. There are definitely different challenges in the industry today like us needing to attract new white wine drinkers and, somehow, making wine more approachable.”
Having been to Prager Port Works any number of times over the past 25 years, I can tell you from personal experience, that there is no more approachable winery than Prager nor finer ports to be found anywhere. With walls covered in currency from around the world stapled on by visitors, along with ribbons and plaques attesting to the caliber of their award-winning wines, and only family tending the business, the Prager tasting room, tucked away along Hwy. 128 near St. Helena in Napa is a welcoming warm hug and one not to missed.
What a great start we had to the 50-year jubilee at the sold-out Orange County Mining Company Champagne brunch. Bubbly is the finest way to celebrate the many years of friendship, wine and fun the Orange County Wine Society represents.
Hats off to Rochelle Randel for making the event a true success.
The 50th Anniversary Committee Chair, Carolyn Christian, came across a budget from 1978 that harkens to the very beginnings of the OCWS. It makes me look at the 2025 expenditures and see the head-spinning difference in the current OCWS and the world today. In 1978 there were nine line-items in the budget, with total expenditures of $3,100.
It’s a little difficult to wrap your head around, but the largest 1978 expense was the OC Fair Commercial Wine Competition at $2,000. Fast forward to 2025 and multiply by 100, the Commercial Wine Competition expense was right at $192,000. I’m just going out on a limb, but I expect the 48-year-old version didn’t run three days at the Costa Mesa Hilton with almost 100 judges and 100’s of volunteers with 2,500 entries. The total income for the OCWS in 1978 was $5,750, in 2025 it was $680,103 with expenses of $663,476.
This was a long walk, but it brings me to the main point I want to make that I’m sure every member has noted. Over the years the cost of almost everything has skyrocketed. The OCWS Board of Directors and committee chairs and volunteers work to make our events fun and accessible and revenue neutral. Meaning that we try to keep the event costs reasonable without reaching into reserve funds.
It has been a standing board policy to require events to pay for themselves; that is, have the income equal to the expenses. As hotels, restaurants, vendors, and entertainers have increased their prices (the local CPI is up 24.7% since Nov, 2019), the costs that OCWS must pass on have gone up accordingly. We think the OCWS sponsored events are a great value when you consider that most come with wine or no corkage, tips included and are simply great fun!
Upcoming fun-filled wine tastings (noted here in the Wine Press) include free Varietal Hours; Winery Programs with Trentadue & Miro, Macchia, and Dry Creek; and the Spring Social along with fun opportunities to volunteer at the Commercial and Home Wine Competitions and The Courtyard. I hope to see everyone there with a glass of their favorite!
On another note-the OC Fair moving plans changed since the January edition of the Wine Press. We should, by now, be in the new location, but with our portable office trailer located next to the Ranch Building (Building 33). Rochelle Randel and Lynda Edwards will continue to work in the existing office and Teri Lane and the cataloging crew will be in the new building.
We are very excited to announce that scholarship donations from late December 2025 have increased our 2026 scholarship allocations total to $50,375. This additional amount brings our donation total for 2026 to over $1,008,795 since 1981. This continues the OCWS’s long-standing commitment to education and the future of the wine industry by awarding the $50,375 in scholarships to eight outstanding educational institutions across California.
2026 OCWS Scholarship Allocations
University / College
Program
Allocation
Allan Hancock College
Viticulture & Enology
$6,000
Cal Poly Pomona
Agricultural Science
$5,805
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Wine & Viticulture
$5,805
CSU Fresno
Viticulture & Enology
$5,805
Orange Coast College
Culinary Arts
$5,845
UC Davis
Viticulture & Enology
$5,905
Napa Valley College
Viticulture & Winery Technology
$9,405
CSU Sonoma (Cunningham Fund)
Wine Business
$5,805
Total Disbursements
$50, 375
Help Us Keep the Momentum Going
You can support the OCWS Scholarship Fund at any time of the year and be part of shaping the next generation of wine and culinary arts professionals.
Two easy ways to donate:
By Mail – Mail your check to: OCWS P.O. Box 11059 Costa Mesa, CA 92627 Attn: Scholarship Fund A donation acknowledgment letter will be sent to you.
Online – Log in to your account at OCWS.org and visit: OCWS.org/product/scholarship-donations/ Donate online and print your tax receipt instantly.
Together, we’ve crossed the $1 million mark—let’s continue building a legacy that supports education, excellence and the future of our industry.
The tribe has spoken! More than 80 people responded to a recent survey about interest on visiting a California wine region in 2026.
Nearly 100 percent of respondents said they either wanted a trip or going to a wine region depending on the cost. More than half of the respondents voted for visiting Paso Robles, followed closely with roughly 40 percent wanting to go to Santa Barbara.
Nearly 60 percent of people wanted to stay overnight, while another 40 percent wanted either a weekend getaway or spend two nights.
It was pretty split when it came to travel: 47 percent said they would drive; 27 percent wanted to take the train; and another 25 percent liked the bus.
Just over half of the respondents were willing to spend between $500-$1,000, while a third would like to spend less than $500.
And it doesn’t come as any surprise that nearly 85 percent of people polled wanted to visit four or more wineries. When it came to meals, roughly 60 percent opted for no meals, while the remain 40 percent said they wanted meals included.
Lastly, April was the frontrunner for a possible trip with 38 percent, May at 26 percent and March and November hovering around 17 percent apiece.
Given the results, it looks like OCWS members want a weekend getaway. There are many components to scheduling a trip and that’s where help is needed. If you are interested in being on a committee to plan such a trip, please reach out to me at editor@OCWS.org. Let’s mark the organization’s 50th anniversary with a return to wine country.
The Black-Tie Holiday parties when everyone wore formal dresses and tuxedos!
The Black and Wine themed “Sparkling Elegance” Champagne event
The Judges’ Dinner at the Commercial Competition that had live fish swimming in the centerpieces
The Judges’ Dinners at the Commercial Competition when John Goodnight played Carnac the Magnificent and we were entertained by stories from Gary Eberle and other winemakers.
The Sven and Ollie Jokes from Kent Rosenblum at any of the many wine events he attended.
The Wine Garden (previous location to the Wine Courtyard) with purple footprints on the ground showing fairgoers the way to our location
The Chili Cookoff with a jail that members had to pay to get out.
The Chili Cookoff with the Wine-ettes dancing to a live band or DJ.
The Komedy Korner jokes in The Wine Press.
Do you have any special memories or fun facts? Send them to us at history@ocws.org
Jane Goodnight, 50th Anniversary Committee
50th Anniversary Fund
Reaching a 50-year milestone is an extraordinary achievement for any nonprofit—and in 2026, the Orange County Wine Society proudly celebrates its 50th anniversary. For five decades, OCWS has grown into a vibrant, volunteer-driven organization dedicated to wine education, camaraderie and community. Along the way, we’ve created a remarkable legacy: hundreds of thousands of photographs, five decades of newsletters and event programs and an incredible collection of wine glasses, buttons, plaques, ribbons and other cherished ephemera that tell our story.
Many members have asked why we are raising funds for the 50th anniversary. The answer is simple: preserving our history comes with real costs. OCWS operates a tight financial ship, offering break-even events that maximize value for our members. What may not be obvious—especially to newer members—is that our history began long before digital photography and the internet. Thanks to the foresight of early members, priceless photos and memorabilia dating back to our founding in 1976 have been carefully saved in albums and boxes for decades.
The 50th Anniversary Committee is committed to ensuring these irreplaceable materials are preserved for future generations. This includes digitizing all photographs, properly storing photographs and artifacts in acid-free archival materials to prevent deterioration and capturing oral histories from longtime members. To support this mission, we established the 50th Anniversary Fund, which will fund archival supplies, digitization services, professional preservation efforts, videotaping and more. Your contribution helps safeguard our memories, milestones and legacy by preserving our history for decades to come.
As part of this initiative, we are also creating a stunning 50th Anniversary coffee table book, showcasing the images, stories and spirit of OCWS from our founding in 1976 to today. This one-of-a-kind keepsake will be a treasured addition to every member’s home. All donation levels will receive one or more 50th Anniversary SWAG as listed below.
Donation Levels & Thank-You Gifts
Level
Amount
50th Anniversary SWAG
Bronze
$25+
Essential Wine Tasting Pocket Guide
Silver
$50+
Etched Champagne Flute
Gold
$100+
Insulated Wine Bag
Double Gold
$250+
Cordless Wine Opener + OCWS 50th Anniversary Book
Best of Class
$500+
All 5 SWAG Items
Decades
$1,000+
All 5 SWAG Items + 1 pair of tickets to a 50th Anniversary Event
Legacy
$5,000+
All 5 SWAG Items + 5 pairs of tickets to 50th Anniversary Events
Our goal for the 50th Anniversary Fund is $30,000, and we have raised $3,750 so far. We invite everyone to contribute to the fund and help preserve our legacy for the next 50 years or more!
Donating is simple!
Zelle (members & public): Send funds through your bank to: payment@OCWS.org – Please note “50th Anniversary Fund” on the memo line.
Check (members & public): Mail to: P.O. Box 11059 Costa Mesa, CA 92627. Please note “50th Anniversary Fund” on the memo line.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, donations to OCWS are typically tax-deductible — please check with your tax professional for details.
Together, let’s celebrate our golden anniversary by preserving the legacy that has made OCWS shine for 50 years — and ensure it continues to sparkle for the next 50 and beyond.
Carolyn Christian – Chair, 50th Anniversary Committee
Santa Barbara, sideways? Well, I guess it is! Santa Barbara is unique wine country with its creation beginning around 4 million years ago when the north to south running San Andreas fault turned left. Even prior to this, around 23 million years ago the northwest-southwest mountains started to rotate clockwise which still continues today. The western mountain ranges rotated about 90 degrees while the eastern mountain ranges rotated about 40 degrees creating an unusual, long west-east valley. (As an aside, Catalina Island rotated the most, 120 degrees.)
This twisting and turning of mountains, creating the Transverse Mountain Ranges that extend from west of Point Conception eastward for more than 300 miles into the Mojave and Colorado deserts, opens the region up to the direct influence of the Pacific Ocean. A climate effect that most other California wine regions do not experience. This geographic structure creates a cool, foggy tunnel that provides the ideal climate for cool weather grapes such as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The morning fog, replaced in the afternoon by the warmth of the sun and an ocean breeze, begins its return in the late afternoon. This produces an advantageous climate cycle slowing grape ripening. The western coolness of the valley warms significantly as you move eastward changing the climate and subsequently the grapes that can be grown.
During the same geologic period of continental plate collisions and tectonics 20 million years ago, the ocean floor uplifted leaving behind a highly diverse soil. Santa Barbara’s transverse valley’s soil, composed of calcareous limestone from ancient marine shells and skeletons, diatomaceous earth resulting from the fine powder of fossilized marine life, and sandy soils and clay loams, can respectively provide wine grapes with acidity, concentration, fruitiness and earth with the necessary moisture retention.
However, winemakers did not take advantage of this ideal climate until the late 18th century, when the Franciscan monks planted their grape cuttings from Mexico near the Santa Barbara Mission. By 1804 a large, 25-acre mission vineyard was planted in today’s Goleta. And by the late 1800s there were 45 vineyards in the region including a 150-acre vineyard on Santa Cruz Island. Even though the oldest pre-prohibition vineyard in California was planted in Santa Barbara, prohibition slowed vineyard expansion in Santa Barbara until Santa Barbara’s first post-prohibition commercial winery was stared in 1962, the Santa Barbara Winery.
Today there are almost 300 wineries in the seven American Viticultural Area (AVAs) in Santa Barbara County that grow over 70 grape varieties including from French Bordeaux and Rhone grapes to Italian and German grapes, even though it is best known for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
We are now accepting wine-themed photo submissions for February! This month,we invite you to capture the romance, warmth and character of wine. From richreds to sparkling celebrations, show us how wine enhances your experience.THEME: Wine in All Its Forms, SUBMIT TO: Photo@OCWS.orgRULES: OCWS.org, News, Photos December 2025 Winner: CULTURE & RAILWAYS, Wine glass in hand, […]
This article is only available to members. Please LOGIN HERE to access this article.
