Had it not been for a small band of like-minded, wine-loving people, the Orange County Wine Society would not be hosting the 49th annual OC Fair competitions today. In 1976, 16 people, out of their love of wine and interest in winemaking, began meeting the first Friday of each month in the back room of Brant’s Wine Rack, a wine and beer supply shop in Orange, where the store’s owner advised the group on winemaking. Soon, with friends wanting to sample the wines, the wine drinkers began to outnumber the winemakers. From there, the Orange County Wine Society was born and the dream of wine competitions became a reality.
More than 90 winery employees and professional winemakers judge over 2,600 wines during the Commercial Wine Competition. Many of these wines are poured during the OC Fair.
Jerry Mead, who went on to become a renowned wine writer and Brant Horton helped establish the first commercial wine competition. The OC Fair wholeheartedly embraced the idea and provided the OCWS with a 10’ table during the then-one week run of the fair.
The Commercial Wine Competition had a whopping 83 individual wines entered comprised of three varietals which, to the best of our knowledge, were mostly Chenin Blanc and Gamay Beaujolais, with the third varietal still a now long-forgotten mystery to this day.
No one could have imagined that the creation of a small wine competition would evolve into the largest California-only wine competition in the world today, with over 90 winery principals and professional winemakers blind judging over 2,600 wines a year.
The competition has been comprised of more than 176 varietals, the number of which continues to increase year after year, with 14 new ones added already just this year alone.
One can only imagine what the founding members of the OCWS would think of the evolution of the organization and competitions to this day and think of what their amazement and pride in the reality of their visions almost 50 years ago would now be, all for the love of wine!
One of the greatest parts of leading this organization is working with so many individuals who are passionate about wine and about our organization. Like me, they have a long tradition of being fascinated by wine and choosing to donate their time. My introduction to OCWS was perhaps not the most typical path. At 16 years old, I worked my first summer job at the OC Fair selling programs in the parking lot. I had never heard of the OCWS and had no idea that Orange County was such a large wine consumer market. When I attended Cal State Fresno, I had my first formal introduction to enology, and unbeknownst to me, my friends in the enology program received scholarships from OCWS. It was 1984 and the fourth year of the OCWS Scholarship Program. When I returned to Orange County, I visited the OC Fair and was thrilled to learn of the existence of OCWS and the opportunity to continue my wine education. At only 21 years old, I was the youngest member at that time.
Over the years, I have seen so many changes in the wine industry – from the exponential increase of small family-owned and boutique wineries, to the development of large corporate wine portfolios. And today, micro-wineries and limited production wineries appear to be all the rage. OCWS has grown too; when I first joined, the organization had a few hundred members. Since the 1990s, we have remained steady at several times that amount. For more details on the growth of OCWS, I refer you to Linda Flemin’s history of the OCWS Membership in this issue.
OCWS has expanded not only with its membership, but with its activities as well. Our flagship event, the OC Fair Commercial Wine Competition, has grown from a few varietals in the 1970s to over 100 varietal categories today, with each year bringing us new and unusual varietals. Fran Gitsham currently leads the competition committee which relies on hundreds of volunteers for over nine months of the year. It appears that this year will see an increase in wine entries. You can learn more about the trajectory of the commercial competition in Fran’s article in this issue.
A look at OCWS would not be complete without mention of the Winemakers’ Group, which started the organization back in 1976. Today there are over 240 enthusiastic home winemakers in the group, with more being mentored each year. As hosts of the OC Fair Home Wine Competition, the Winemakers’ Group is also poised to beat last year’s entry numbers.
What we do as an organization would not be possible without our incredible partnership with the OC Fair. We are truly honored to be entrusted with the organizing of both competitions on behalf of the fair. And we are grateful to call the OC Fair and Event Center our home.
If you have not already worked at our famous Wine Courtyard during the OC Fair, I hope you have signed up this year. Working at the fair is a great experience that shouldn’t be missed! It is a great way to share your wine knowledge with the public and taste one of the new varietals entered into the competition.
As we approach our golden anniversary in 2026, I would like to announce the 50th Anniversary Logo design contest for OCWS. Every five years, we celebrate a milestone, and this one is no exception. The winner will receive 2 tickets to a Winery Program of their choice in 2026. Please submit your print-ready design to history@ocws.org by August 18. Both a color and black and white version are appreciated. The winner will be announced at the Annual Business Meeting on September 12.
In preparation for our big anniversary in 2026, I also invite you to share your memories of the organization and your ideas on events and souvenirs to help us commemorate this major milestone. Use this link to share your ideas: ocws.ws/50th
If you had told my 16 year old self that I would be back working at the OC Fair over four decades later as the president of this amazing organization of volunteers who come together in the name of wine and education, I would have thought you were crazy. But here we are in one of the largest wine markets in the nation, promoting wine enthusiasm and supporting the educational institutions that will produce the next generation of winemakers. What an incredibly lucky path I have traveled to get here, and I thank all of you for this remarkable opportunity. Cheers to you all!
We had a terrific time at the Vines in Bloom Spring Social on May 10. The Silent Auction brought in $1,200 and the Wine Wall brought in $1,100 for the Scholarship Fund! We are so excited to be able to contribute to the scholarships through our socials.The crowd ate fabulous food prepared by the Cook’s […]
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The 49th annual OC Fair Home Wine Competition will be held on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at the OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa. This is one of the largest home wine competitions in California.
Organized and sponsored by the OCWS Winemakers Group, it is run entirely by volunteers from the OCWS. We need your help to make it a success.
The competition is a one-day event and runs from 7:30 a.m. to about 2 p.m. All volunteers will be treated to a hot breakfast and lunch, courtesy of the OCWS Cooks Caucus. You will also get the opportunity to taste many of the award-winning wines after the judging is complete. If you’ve never tasted homemade wines, you may be surprised at the quality and craftmanship of the award winners.
Volunteer positions include registration, stewards, data entry/scoring, food service, glass washing, and cleanup. There will be a brief orientation before the competition begins to familiarize everyone with their positions. No experience is needed and new volunteers will be paired with competition veterans. It’s a fun day and a great way to meet and mingle with your fellow OCWS members. Sign up today using the volunteer form on the OCWS website.
For questions about volunteering contact volunteer coordinator Cheryl Knapp at cknapp@jps.net. For questions about the event contact Event Chairman, Kevin Donnelly, kevindonnelly@OCWS.org.
After more than two decades of dedicated service as the official OCWS Photographer, Jim Burk has decided to retire from his role behind the lens. Jim has done an outstanding job documenting our events and members over the years, leaving us with a rich visual legacy. We are incredibly grateful for his commitment and are pleased to share that he has graciously offered to mentor his successor once identified.
Now, we’re looking for our next OCWS Photographer!
If you have photography experience and are interested in capturing the vibrant spirit of our events, we’d love to speak with you. This volunteer position plays a key role in preserving the memories and milestones of the OCWS.
Responsibilities:
Photograph OCWS events throughout the year
Serve as Chair of the Photography Committee
Help select the monthly Photo Contest winner
Edit and deliver 20–30 top images per event to the Marketing Committee for Facebook and promotional use
Maintain organized electronic archives of all event photos
Take the annual panoramic photograph of the judges at the Commercial Wine Competition
Event Attendance & Benefits:
Complimentary Admission for Photographer +1 at:
Spring and Fall Membership Events
Winery Programs
Wine Auction
Judges’ Dinner (Commercial Wine Competition)
Optional Attendance (Ticket Purchase Required):
Champagne Brunch
Dine with Wine
Installation Dinner
Holiday Dinner Dance
Mini-Tastings
Winemakers’ Group Events
Other events not listed above
If the primary photographer is unavailable for a comped event, a Photography Committee member may attend and shoot in their place.
We recognize that this role may be too much for one person alone, so we welcome those interested in covering specific events or sharing responsibilities.
Interested?
Please reach out to Carolyn Christian at carolyn@OCWS.org by June 30 to express your interest or to learn more.
Let’s raise a glass to Jim and find the next great visual storyteller for the OCWS!
“Learning the ropes” is an old nautical term for someone learning how to handle ropes and rigging on a sailing ship. It’s an apt term for someone learning a new skill, like winemaking.
The newest OCWS winemaker, John Kienstra, sat down in his living room with his wife and two guests. They were all there to taste the results of his first batch of wine. After popping the cork and dutifully inspecting it, he poured four glasses.
John’s journey into winemaking wasn’t at the forefront when he and his wife, Mary Dee, joined the Orange County Wine Society in July 2023. Like most members, they joined the organization at The Courtyard at the OC Fair.
They wanted to “expand their wine horizon” and thought the social aspect of the group would be fun. As John and Mary Dee began attending OCWS events, they heard about the Winemakers Group and how winemakers started the organization. John thought winemaking would be a unique way of learning about wine. Though not winemakers, they were impressed by the “warm welcome” they received at winemaker events. John’s interest was piqued and he was about to take the first steps on his winemaking journey.
He took a kit winemaking class, taught by OCWS winemaker, John Lane, in June 2024. A wine kit is a package containing concentrated grape juice, all the necessary ingredients, and instructions to make wine at home. Class participants got hands-on experience as they went through the process of making wine that day.
Participants also learned about the Winemakers Group mentor program where experienced winemakers offer help to new winemakers. Mentors are experienced in white, rose and red winemaking techniques. They can help those who want to make wine from fresh grapes, frozen grapes, fruit (other than grapes), or a kit.
John, the aspiring winemaker, asked Ed Reyes to be his mentor, partly because of Ed’s experience but also because they literally live around the block from each other. “You don’t have to live around the block from your mentor,” says Ed. “Most of the time, help is just a text or phone call away.”
Ed has helped a few other winemakers get started over the years. He describes mentoring as being part teacher and part coach. “I want to instruct and encourage new winemakers. I also want to pass along winemaking tricks that come from experience, things that someone wouldn’t normally pick up from a book or a class.”
After the kit class, John said he “could imagine himself doing it.” He looked at some winemaking videos on the OCWS website and gained more confidence. He was ready to jump in.
After wine is placed in a carboy, the entire unit is stored in a cool area.
From the videos and the class, he knew he needed to order an assortment of winemaking equipment and tools to get started. He also ordered a “Cabernet Sauvignon style” wine kit from Amazon, which included everything he had seen in the kit class.
Before start day in late December, John had prepared a 10’ x 12’ area which was plenty of space to work in. He sanitized working surfaces and tools in advance so everything was ready to go when Ed arrived to supervise. After going over the kit instructions and double checking that everything was sanitized, it was time to begin.
John simply followed the instructions. He added the grape juice concentrate from the kit into a 7.5-gallon fermentation bucket. Then he added purified water to get to six gallons of liquid in the bucket. The oak packet was added next followed by the yeast to begin fermentation.
Starting the kit took less than two hours. John had some questions but Ed could see he already knew what to do. Sometimes a first-time winemaker just needs verification that he or she is on the right track.
A few days later John reported seeing bubbles on the top of the fermentation bucket, evidence of the yeast at work. Wine fermentation happens in an open container. When the yeast converts grape sugar to alcohol it produces CO2 bubbles which give off a wonderful fermentation smell. You really get the sense being in a winery. “You can even hear it,” said John. A few days later, the sugar level was zero. The yeast had done their job.
The next day, John racked the wine into a six-gallon carboy on his own. Racking is transferring the wine to another container to leave any sediment behind. He degassed the wine and added sulfite to protect the wine, sorbate to prevent fermentation from restarting, and fining agents to help clear particulate matter from the wine. These chemicals were all included in the wine kit. At this point the carboy was completely full and sealed with an air lock to keep oxygen out.
Two weeks later, in mid-January, John and Ed got together to taste the wine. They determined the wine was doing well. It was getting close to bottling time and January 28 was circled on the calendar as bottling day.
Ed arrived on that day with his bottle corker. John had prepared an area outside with tools, hoses, equipment, corks and bottles all sanitized and ready. This time Mary Dee was there to help. With three people it took less than an hour to fill and cork 26 bottles. Some extra wine remained in the carboy but it didn’t go to waste. It was the celebratory drink for a job well done by a first-time winemaker.
About six weeks later, John, Mary Dee, Ed and his wife, Debbie, got together to officially sample the wine and see if it was as good as remembered on bottling day. After sniffing and swirling the wine, everyone tasted it and pronounced it a success. It had been 12 weeks from start to tasting day.
John is already planning his next wine, maybe another red but Mary Dee likes whites. He may even try making wine from frozen grapes. “It would be nice to get some more experience before getting grapes in the fall.”
John is thinking about expanding too. He’s eyeing the extra space in his three-car garage for winemaking equipment. John says Mary Dee is OK with that.
It’s hard to believe it’s time for volunteer signups for the 49th OC Fair Commercial Wine Competition. We have signups online this month, same as in previous years. CLICK HERE TO SIGNUP.
We try to flexible and ask the same of our volunteers. We can work together to make this another fun event. There are many areas where volunteer help is needed, stewarding, glass washing, drying and bagging a few days before the event.
Continuing the efficiency, the computer room, scoring verification and medals mailing will be assigned. A sign-up form is included on the website that identifies stewarding days, bagging nights and other work parties with times and dates. To qualify for stewarding, you are required to sign up for two additional work parties. We offer bagging, moving of wine to and from the competition site and sorting post competition.
We need your support for our work parties to run a successful competition. The good news is that we have hired help for heavy lifting. No training is necessary as newer members will be teamed with competition veterans.
Carrying trays of glasses is required if you volunteer to steward. It’s physical and can get tiring. Along with stewarding, you need to be prepared to assist your steward captain by opening wine bottles at the required time, preparing glasses for tags and cleaning up the judges’ tables as needed, while listening to your captain for direction. We are expecting to have carts this year, more than we had last year, as we found this increased our effectiveness greatly.
It is imperative that the wines are NOT opened first thing in the morning as has happened in the past. We have been asked to have as much consistency in timing for the opening of the wines per flight, so all are open as close to the same time as possible.
If you have any questions, please feel free to phone me at (562) 822-3382 or email at robyn@ocws.org.
We look forward to your participation in this very important event. Thank you.
It is once again fair time. The Orange County Fair is set to run July 18 through August 17 and is our organization’s largest fundraiser of the year. This year’s theme is “Find Your Happy.”Not only does The Courtyard provide operating revenue for OCWS, it is the face of our organization to the fairgoers (1.13 […]
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The OC Fair is just around the corner. The largest OCWS fundraising effort of the year will be taking place for a total of 23 days, Wednesdays through Sundays, July 18 through Aug. 17.Volunteering at The Courtyard is a unique and fun experience. All courtyard volunteers handling wine in any capacity are required to be […]
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The 49th Annual OC Fair Home Wine Competition will be held on Saturday, June 7, at the OC Fair and Event Center. The OCWS Winemakers Group sponsors this event, which is one of the largest amateur winemaking competitions in California.
We need volunteers in many areas to help make this event a success. No experience is necessary. New volunteers will be paired with competition veterans. In return, you’ll get a hot breakfast and lunch, courtesy of our OCWS Cook’s Caucus. You’ll also get the opportunity to taste many of the award-winning wines at the end of the event. LOTS of FUN will be had by all!
