Author: Wendy Taylor

Judges Giving Back

Post author By Wendy Taylor
Post date June 22, 2017

The support of the judges at the Commercial Wine Competition knows no bounds. With the exception of a small stipend, competition judges pay their own way to attend and participate in the judging process. Each year a handful of judges donate their stipends to create a Judge’s Scholarship, which is then granted in their honor by the OCWS. This year we extend our heartfelt appreciation to those judges who collectively donated $1,600.00 toward our mission of scholarship fundraising for grants in enology, viticulture, and culinary arts.

Special thanks to the following judges for their kindness and generosity:

Tondi Bolkan, Francis Ford Coppola Winery
Onodine Chattan, Geyser Peak Winery
John Kane, Fetzer Vineyards
Steve Lohr, J. Lohr Winery
Lisa Russell, Korbel Champagne Cellars
H. Marty Spate, Blossom Hill
Fred Weibel, Jr., Weibel Family Vineyards and Winery
Evelyn Taft, Taft Street Winery

We urge all our OCWS members, whose paths may at times cross with these generous people in their travels, to please thank them personally and relay to them just how much their caring ways mean to all of us.

Thank you!

– Fran Gitsham, Director

Mini Tastings

Syrah & Petite Sirah Mini-Tasting: The Results Are In

Post author By Wendy Taylor
Post date May 26, 2017

On April 22, OCWS members and guests attended the April Mini-Tasting at four host sites. The blind tasting consisted of five flights of two wines each with wines from Paso Robles, Santa Barbara, Santa Rita Hills, Dry Creek, Amador County, Australia’s Eden Valley and Barossa Valley. The tasting, in addition to Syrah, included two Petite Sirahs and two Shiraz from Australia. The top five favorite wines from the host sites were:

Placement	Winery Name	Year	Price	Description
1st	Macchia	2015	$25.00	Petite Sirah, ‘Dubious’ OCWS Gold
2nd	Halter Ranch	2014	$35.00	Syrah, Adelaida District
3rd	Ridge	2014	$35.00	Petite Sirah, Lytton Estate, Dry Creek
4th	EB Winery	2014	$31.00	Syrah, Santa Barbara, OCWS Silver
5th	McPrice Myers	2013	$20.00	Syrah, ‘Right Hand Man’ Central Coast

In addition, attendees brought a delicious dish to share and then voted on a Chef of the Evening. The results of the Chef of the Evening at each host site were:

Hosts Pat and Frank Solis — Eric Kalnes — Tri Tip
Hosts Bob and Judy Koeblitz — Carolyn and Phil Wallace — Asparagus Wraps
Host Linda Bauermeister — Linda Bauermeister — Lasagna
Hosts Kern Vogel & Linda Martin — Bill Forsch & Noel DeSota — Billy’s Crying Tiger Rip with Cilantro Shrimp and Rice Noodles

Congratulations to all of the winners and a big “thank you” to the hosts! Please send your recipes to Bill Redding at Bill@ocws.org for posting on the OCWS website.

– Bill Redding, Director

Winemakers News

Spotlighting a OCWS Winemaker: Ed Szubielski

Post author By Wendy Taylor
Post date May 25, 2017

Ed Szubielski began making wine 13 years ago. It was the following year that Ed decided to join the OCWS Winemakers’ Group to improve his craft – and improve he did!

Being a wine collector since the 1980s, Ed decided to grow grapes in his own backyard. Ed was always determined to make the best wines and sought out the best fruit. It was in Ed’s very own backyard where members of the Winemakers’ Group met Chris Van Alyea of Solterra Winery in Encinitas. To this day, the Winemakers’ Group buys Dry Creek Merlot, Chardonnay, and Alexander Valley Cabernet grapes from Chris.

Ed’s “Eddie’s Backyard” label kept winning awards at the OC Fair Home Wine Competition. He was encouraged to enter the largest amateur winemaking competition in the U.S., an event annually held by Winemaker Magazine.

In 2009, Ed won the “Grand Champion” award with a 2007 Syrah from White Hawk Vineyards in Santa Barbara for best amateur wine in the US. His Syrah was selected No. 1 out of 4,474 entries. Pretty impressive! When Ed arrived at the next Winemakers’ Group meeting, he was greeted with We are the Champions by Queen. But if that were not enough, Ed won Best of Class in the 2013 National Competition for his 2011 Pinot Noir. That’s best Pinot in one year in the US and Best Wine in another year.

After retiring from a successful career as an executive in the automobile parts industry, Ed followed the path of several OCWS winemakers: Doffo, Roadrunner Ridge, Filsinger, Boorman and many others, and decided to “go commercial.” The colorful, amateur “Eddie’s Backyard” label is now an elegant “EB Winery” label in black.

Ed’s wines are available for tasting and purchase at his new store, We Olive & Wine Bar, located in San Juan Capistrano directly across from the entrance to the San Juan Capistrano Mission, or online at EBwinery.com. Eight EB Winery wines are on the tasting menu at We Olive, as well as hard to find domestic artisan wines.

It has been an exciting journey for Ed over the years, and we are quite confident that Ed will continue to produce excellent wines!

– Kevin Donnelly

Members Corner

Graber Olive House, Longtime Supporter of the OCWS

Post author By Wendy Taylor
Post date April 23, 2017

The Wine Society would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge Graber Olive House for their friendship, generosity and continued support over the years.

Graber Olive House has provided their specialty olives to the Commercial Wine Competition for many years. As you know, palate assault can be extreme even though wine judges may expectorate every sip. The acidity in white wines and tannins in red wines can be a painful experience after a full day of tasting. A small cup of Graber olives placed along side each judge neutralizes the elements in both reds and whites, works wonders for the palate and tastes fantastic, too.

C.C. Graber purchased land in Ontario and discovered olives, cured by the early ranchers, to be one of the finest food delicacies of California. It was the tradition of early Californians to set their tables with plenty of fruits and wine, and olives. Mr. Graber began to cure several barrels himself after a successful growing season.

Graber olives are different from typical olives sold in grocery stores. Graber olives are hand picked when they’ve ripened to a cherry-red color, then “cured in covered vats without being oxidized,” according to Graber Olive House. After the curing and canning processes, the olives are of varying shades of nut-like color.

Graber Olive House is located in quiet, serene surroundings. Visitors will be delighted to discover a bit of early California when they visit. Along with olives, Graber Olive House offers many other products, such as crisp California almonds and pistachios, California dessert fruits, olive oils and elegant gift baskets. When in or driving through Ontario, visit Graber Olive House and pick up a few cans of olives and other items. You can also visit their website at GraberOlives.com to have products shipped directly to you.

Graber Olive House is located at 215 E. Fourth Street,

Commercial Competition

Hotel Reservations for Commercial Wine Competition

Post author By Wendy Taylor
Post date March 22, 2017

If you plan on staying at the Costa Mesa Hilton hotel for the weekend of the Commercial Wine Competition, please make reservations no later than May 19, 2017. The OCWS has booked a block of rooms for OCWS members at a discounted rate and this rate is guaranteed only until that date. The special rate […]