These are all characteristics of the fictional character Clementine Carter, who was Doc Holiday’s one-time love interest in the iconic Western “My Darling Clementine.”

Those same attributes best describe Sonja Magdevski, who drew inspiration from that film for her winery bearing the same name in Los Alamos.

 To say Magdevski has crammed many lifetimes into just one might be an understatement. Her family emigrated from the former Yugoslavia – now known as North Macedonia – and landed in Michigan where Magdevski learned the meaning of hard work and what it meant to run a business with her family owning two ice cream parlors and two dry cleaners.

She earned a political science degree from the University of Michigan, went to grad school at Michigan State University studying journalism and received a Fulbright scholarship.

While her lofty goal was to bring world peace, she took a pause and came to California and her life took an unexpected and fortunate direction.

She worked in a flower shop during what was initially a temporary stay in California as she was finishing her thesis and helped plant a small vineyard in Malibu, which helped lay the foundation of what was to come.

“We approached it from the ground up with no real expectations,” she said. “There was this garagiste group that shared ideas and how to best approach winemaking. It was really fun.”

Before too long, Magdevski found herself in the Santa Barbara region, more specifically in the charming Los Alamos hamlet where one of her friends lived. She also enrolled at nearby Allan Hancock College where she received a scholarship from the Orange County Wine Society that helped her budding interest in wine.

As Magdevski puts it, “I just kept saying yes. I was piecing together my existence, working in restaurants, writing and making wine. There was a spot available in town and I committed to open a tasting room. It was serendipitous.”

Magdevski ended up opening Casa Dumetz in 2011 that primarily focused on Pinot Noir from Santa Rita Hills. A couple years later, she moved down the street to a larger location and not only ran a tasting room but she opened a brewery next door affectionately named after her grandmother.

For some entrepreneurs, running a business can be downright frightening but for Magdevski she was emboldened by the challenge.

“Committing is total freedom,” she said. “You are more of the mindset of ‘how do I survive today?’ Everything can be hard but it’s about finding solutions and keeping true to yourself that helps keep a business like this open.”

So does it come as any surprise that a self-proclaimed fan of Westerns eventually became a Rhone Ranger?

The winery today as Clementine Carter explores the range of Rhone varietals from Santa Rita Hills and elsewhere in the region. She is encouraged and excited by the unique expression and distinction of varietals such as Grenache and Mourvedre. Her 2023 Grenache recently scored a 92 by Wine Spectator.

She also makes a GSM blend she dubbed “The Feminist Party,” which pays tribute to collaboration and radical inclusion.

“Wine is about discovery. If you don’t plant that plot you don’t know if it’s suitable for winemaking,” she said.

The winery produces about 2,000 cases a year and can be found in Texas, Florida, Washington, D.C., and even Hawaii.

Stepping into Magdevski’s tasting room, feels more like walking into someone’s home rather than a storefront. Family photos adorn a wall and mosaic tiles wrap around the room. As she notes in her vision statement: we “share our work in the most welcoming environment for all.”

She also takes it one step further by hosting a speaker series that brings people from all different walks of life to share their experiences. Magdevski also gives back through scholarships to college-bound seniors from Los Alamos where she provides financial support with the help of matching funds from a silent wine club donor for a total of $4,000. She also donates extensively to many Los Alamos and Santa Barbara-based organizations, such as the SBWomen Winemakers & Culinarians, an organization that fosters education, mentorship and collaboration in the culinary and wine industries.

Today, Magdevski is married to Greg Brewer of Brewer-Clifton fame for almost 10 years where they share a collaborative spirit in the business.

Magdevski is excited about what the future holds for Clementine Carter and she hopes more people encounter wines from Santa Rita Hills so they too can join in the excitement.

“Trying new things is not scary for me,” she said. “My risk tolerance is pretty high. I’m just getting started.”

The post Defying Expectation appeared first on OCWS.

Born in Lyon, France, Stephanie was a chemical engineer by trade but she moved to Orange County with the intention of starting her own business — something she had always dreamed of doing. Moving to the U.S. gave her the perfect chance to launch Osprey Boutique Travel, which brought together her two passions: wine and travel.

Tapping into her French roots, Stephanie specifically designs trips for those wanting to explore the various French wine regions. She takes pride in the curated experiences that clients seek, whether it’s visiting centuries-old castles in Loire Valley, enjoying a wellness journey in Provence or discovering hidden wineries in Burgundy. She is able to unlock the gems of each region to a traveler’s liking.

“It’s really geared to what people want,” she said. “It’s very customized and personalized to match a client’s preferences. People come to us because we are not doing business as usual.”

From an early age, Stephanie learned about the value of good food as she and others who grew up with her were immersed in agriculture. Eventually with the assistance of a sommelier, she was introduced to the nuanced world of wine and the importance of pairing food with a specific varietal.

When she decided to start her business four years ago, she said the way to separate her business and to really stand out was providing wine journeys that were truly authentic experiences. In that vein, she often travels to France herself and works with Michelin-star chefs or finds off-the-beaten-path wineries that don’t often open their doors to the public. 

Pairing food and wine “is the French way of life,” she said. “It’s social. It’s about community. It’s about understanding how wine from vineyards only five minutes away from each other can taste totally different.”

Just as OCWS seeks to educate those who join the organization, so does Stephanie who says clients come back to the United States with a greater appreciation of the French winemaking ways. Usually, the biggest takeaway is having people understand how vital the terrior – the environmental factors such as climate, soil and location – can influence the wine’s character.

“There are so many regions and you really never taste the same wine,” she said. “For us in France, wine is an agricultural product and there’s a diversity there.”

Stephanie has come to enjoy the array of wines in California. Her favorite is Petite Sirah, a grape that isn’t found in France, and she also enjoys Zinfandels. She said there’s never a bad time to open a bottle of California wine.

As she continues to bridge the path for Americans to visit her native country, Stephanie is grateful she’s able to share her heritage and appreciation of wine with others.

“It’s a product that comes from a fruit and you are able to create something really special,” said Stephanie, who gets the occasional goosebump when asked to describe her love of wine. “Wine is so diverse and has so many possibilities that can be enjoyable.”

The post The French Connection appeared first on OCWS.

For the past several years, the dynamic duo of Lloyd and Liz Corbett have delivered an extra special treat for both OCWS members and OC Fair attendees.

Entering its sixth year, the Featured Winery Program has brought some of the top winemakers in California right to The Courtyard. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, from 3-8 p.m., winemakers are providing some of their very best vintages while giving the public an opportunity to learn more about their winery and giving them an opportunity to join their wine club or get discounts if they visit their tasting rooms.

The idea behind the program was simple – to give OCWS another opportunity to contribute to its robust scholarship program. All the proceeds go toward the scholarship program and by last count that amount has swelled to more than $16,000.

“We wanted to give the wineries – especially the smaller ones with no marketing budget – a means of meeting the public and an opportunity for the public to meet the winemakers,” Liz said. “This establishes a personal bond and an opportunity to learn more about the history of the winemakers, his/her successes and challenges and so much more.”

This year’s lineup boasts some recognizable names and some boutique wineries that are sure to intrigue those who are keen to learn about a winery they may never have heard about.  The opening weekend has a stellar lineup with Macchia Winery, Graveyard Vineyards and Double Bond Winery. The program rounds out on the last weekend with Boisset Collection, Dark Star Cellars and San Pasqual Winery.

So if you are volunteering at The Courtyard on the weekend, make sure to stop by the Featured Winery station and enjoy some of California’s finest offerings while contributing to a good cause.

“We get such a huge feeling of satisfaction when we see the interaction,” Liz added. “We enjoy being part of the OCWS and contributing to its ongoing success.”

List of featured wineries at this year’s fair

July 19                    Macchia Winery

July 20                    Graveyard Vineyards

July 21                    Double Bond Winery

July 26                    Riboli Family Wines

July 27                    Sycamore Ranch Vineyard & Winery

July 28                    Cordon of Santa Barbara

Aug. 2                     Fallbrook Winery

Aug. 3                     Bella Grace Vineyards

Aug. 4                     Cypher Winery

Aug. 9                     San Antonio Winery

Aug. 10                  915 Lincoln

Aug. 11                  Eberle Winery

Aug. 16                 Boisset Collection

Aug. 17                 Dark Star Cellars

Aug. 18                 San Pasqual Winery

The post Featured at the Fair appeared first on OCWS.

Making quality wine that the public enjoys is obviously one of – if not the main priority for a commercial winemaker.

But for some, like Vinos Unidos co-founder Bob Jauregui, giving back to the community and embracing the twists and turns of the journey can be as equally rewarding.

It also doesn’t hurt to get your grapes from the most prestigious and recognizable wine regions in the United States.

“Napa by itself is a brand,” Jauregui said. “It’s a door opener.”

The former assistant high school principal best described his venture into the winemaking world seven years ago as an accident and clearly a blessing. His connections were straight from some of Napa’s elite wineries – Opus One, Caymus – and Artesa Cellarmaster Gerry Martinez shared the same passion that eventually led them to co-found Vinos Unidos.

“Gerry knew the process and saw other people do it,” Jauregui said. “We made as many connections as we could and asked them what to do, what they would do different and how to market the wines. We knew we had an inside track to a lot of good fruit.”

Their first venture was a 2018 Atlas Peak rose. The wine was entered into a rose-only competition at a steakhouse in Irvine and it took the top prize. Jauregui knew then that it just wasn’t family and friends who liked their wine.

Although all of the grapes are sourced from Napa and Sonoma, Vinos Unidos – United Wines – is based in Mission Viejo. The name “evokes sitting down with people, sharing stories with one another over a glass of wine,” Jauregui said.

The label also is a touching and sentimental feature. Two friends have an arm around one another as if they are on a walk or sharing a special moment.

The people who drink Vinos Unidos wines are “on a journey with us,” Jauregui humbly notes. While the winery is still relatively small, word of mouth or as Jauregui puts it “liquid to lips” is helping Vinos Unidos grow. He credits family and friends for helping the winery stay afloat during the pandemic.

A big part of the winery’s identity is through the owners’ Hispanic heritage. Both Bob and Gerry’s fathers were from Jalisco, Mexico, and Gerry’s dad worked the vineyards in Napa after the family moved there. Bob says they have been inspired by Hispanic-run wineries like Ceja and Maldonado vineyards, both located in the Napa Valley, which infuse their culture and knowledge into their wines.

“I think we are starting to get some traction,” Jauregui said. “We know the winemaking side very well.”

Bob and Gerry also recognized the importance of supporting the community. They often pour their wines at corporate events, fundraisers, holiday parties and other festive celebrations. They have given donations for a scholarship to three colleges for students majoring in enology, viticulture and culinary arts. Last year, they donated wine, their time or wine tasting certificates to 19 different charity and nonprofit events.

“We are paying it forward and seeing what happens,” he said. “We try to get out there and support different organizations.”

You can say it’s the best of both worlds for Vinos Unidos. They get their fruit from Napa and Sonoma and call home to one of the largest wine markets – Orange County – in the nation.

Jauregui said they recently finished bottling six wines – two roses, two Pinot Noirs, a Sauvignon Blanc and a red blend. The goal is to produce about 2,500 cases and still remain a small winery with ardent supporters.

Their wine club has some unique features: they offer barrel tastings to members so they get to see how the wine evolves over time. There are quarterly tastings, a behind-the-cellar tour and lessons about the history and science of wine.

If the results from the competitions the winery enters are any indication, the good fortune will continue for Bob and Gerry. Each wine in their portfolio has won a medal.

“We want to be a winery that people know and love and look forward to tasting what we make,” Jauregui said. “It’s about having a following where you really get to connect with people.”

The post In Our Backyard – Vinos Unidos appeared first on OCWS.

Chances are – at one time or another – you have joined a wine club.

The inevitable lure for us oenophiles was most certainly the wine itself. Whether it was your favorite varietal that hit your palette just right during a tasting or a varied selection of wines that intrigued you, wine clubs also tend to have a host of benefits that aim at retaining newly minted members.

But what about the clubs that have a special touch – that something extra which might get you to join?

At Sunce Winery in Santa Rosa, members can get a complimentary sunset cruise in San Francisco Bay. Bushong Vintage Company in Paso Robles offers an annual Winter Vinyl Package where customers get three red wines and a new, collectible record picked by owner Jason Bushong himself. How about virtual tastings with comedian Martin Short and late-night TV host Jimmy Kimmel at Hall Wines in Saint Helena? And, over at Eberle Winery, also in Paso Robles, military and law enforcement get a whopping 40 percent off purchases that also applies for the wine club.

Discounts are usually the biggest appeal people are given when they join a club. It often ranges between 10 and 30 percent, often with free shipping or maybe even a local pickup where members get to taste the most recent releases.

Of course, joining a wine club usually means free tastings at the winery itself. And given that some tastings for visitors in Napa, Sonoma or elsewhere can be north of $50-$100, it makes sense to join a club and get shipments 2-3 times a year.

OCWS members Dino and Adrienne Amico have some sage advice for fellow members when it comes to shipping.

“We have our wines shipped to a FedEx store near our home so we don’t have to be home to sign for the delivery,” Adrienne says. “FedEx keeps the box in its air conditioned space and allows us five days to pick it up before returning it to the sender.”

Joining a club also means that you part of a new family. However, with larger corporations snatching up wineries across California, that family feel has been tougher to retain.

At Navarro Vineyards and Winery in Mendocino County, family is the name of the game. Aaron Bennett and his sister, Sarah Cahn-Bennett, run the winery after it was founded in the early 1970s by their parents Ted Bennett and Deborah Cahn.

The winery’s pre-release tasting program centers on a direct relationship between the winemaker and the customer and during each release, Ted and Deborah delve deeper into stories of the 20-25 wines they produce, giving members a behind-the-scenes look of what it takes to make each wine.

Aaron says Navarro tries to make the wines affordable while not cutting corners to ensure people get the highest quality wine.

“It was important for us that access to those wines should not be elitist,” he says. “Additionally, I believe our members generally have an appreciation for multiple varietals and an eagerness to learn and try different wine and different styles. We’re constantly keeping our ears to the ground and experimenting with different approaches.”

The answer is simple for Mike Owen, president and CEO of Crystal Basin Cellars in El Dorado County, when asked to describe the typical club member for his winery.

“Over 21 with lips,” cracks Mike. “Some people are very curious in a wine-centric way and others like the social aspect and our ‘Cheers’-like approach to hospitality.”

Mike added that Crystal Basin allows customers to swap out wines in the same categories to fit their particular favorites; members can skip up to a year of shipments so they can retain club benefits; and there are two programs that reward members referring friends, including a $100 discount on a case of wine.

OCWS members Cathy and Lee Painter belong to several wine clubs. While they have leaned toward smaller, family-owned wineries, they have enjoyed Onx Wines, located in the Tin City area of Paso Robles. Before getting your shipment, Onx lets you order two-once sample bottles and also host a Zoom tasting with the winemakers and cooking classes.

“They provide a bottle of white or rose to drink while cooking and a bottle of red to have with dinner, plus a pack of all the ingredients for the meal,” Lee says. “We’ve done four of these, making seared duck breast, homemade pasta, paella and Christmas cookies.”

Paula Baker, office manager at Fallbrook Winery in San Diego County, says the winery strives to keep its “small town, friendly vibe” – right down to guests getting greeted by Cooper – the winery’s beloved dog that likes to herd folks into the tasting room.

Members at Fallbrook also can swap out different varietals for their quarterly shipment that best suits them. They can get intimate seating in the cave, invites to club parties and small group tastings with winemaker Euan Parker or another member of the production team.

“Friendly, knowledgeable staff make members feel like part of a close-knit family – which they are, really!” says Paula. “We welcome everyone with a smile.”

The good news for those wanting to join a wine club is that there is no shortage of choices and with a little research and ample time to taste, a suitable match is only a click away.

Joining a Wine Club: WHAT TO LOOK FOR

With thousands of wineries
throughout the state of California, choosing the wine club
that’s right for you can be
daunting. Before you commit,
consider the following:
Shipping can really add up. Be
sure yours is included.
• • •
A club that offers quarterly
shipments will typically cost
twice as much as biannual shipments simply because you’re
getting more bottles. Know how
much you’re willing to spend.
• • •
Do you prefer whites over reds
and avoid rose varietals?
Customized allocations may
be just your thing.
• • •
Look into discounts on future
orders, incentives for referring
a friend and even free bottles.
• • •
Private tours, invite-only parties
and lunch in the vineyard are
great reasons to join.
• • •
Consider the cancellation and
return policies before you
decide whether the membership works for you

The post Join the Club by Greg Risling appeared first on OCWS.

The post Finding Frisby appeared first on OCWS.

Our participants are scheduled to present from 1 pm to 7 pm, as featured below.

All proceeds from the Featured Winery Bar go to the OCWS Scholarship Fund.

Please come make new friends, learn more about wines, and enjoy yourself.

– Liz & Lloyd Corbett,
Featured Winery Program Co-chairs

The post Featured Winery Program at the OC Fair appeared first on OCWS.

Our participants so far are:

• Seven Angels
• Double Bond Wine
• Dark Star Cellars
• Big Nose Winery
• Seis Soles Wine Co.
• Ammons Horn Winery
• Mineral Wines
• Shale Oak Winery
• Bushong Vintage Co.

All proceeds from the Featured Winery Bar go to the OCWS Scholarship Fund. Please come make new friends, learn more about wines, and enjoy yourself.

– Liz & Lloyd Corbett,
Featured Winery Program Co-chairs

The post Featured Winery Program at the OC Fair appeared first on OCWS.