Category: Members Corner

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

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:

1. 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.
2. 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.

Damian J. Christian, Scholarship Chair

Let’s road trip to wine country

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 50^th anniversary with a return to wine country.

—Greg Risling, editor, The Wine Press

By Carolyn Christian

The holiday season kicked off in style last month with the annual OCWS Holiday Dinner Dance. This year over 100 guests enjoyed the event at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Costa Mesa with wines from the OCWS Cellar and their own private collections. Marc from Sterling DJ spun tunes until the very end of the event and the dance floor was never empty.

As a special treat, the photography committee set up a festive backdrop by the Christmas tree and provided a printed copy of photos with members donning silly festive glasses and hats. New this year, we also had a drawing for door prizes to those in attendance, including gift cards to the Wine Lab and tickets to South Coast Repertory Theater.

Thank you to all the attendees who brought toys for the Spark of Love Toy Drive. The Costa Mesa Fire Department was so appreciative of the donation that filled two tables.  These donations will make a difference in the lives of less fortunate local children.

A special thank you to those who helped make the event possible:  Damian Christian, Adrienne Amico, Tricia Shelton, Kelly Haggard, Rochelle Randel, Dino Amico, Sue England, Kevin Coy and a great group of volunteers who helped with setup, check-in, photo booth and clean-up. We greatly appreciate everyone’s efforts and hope everyone who attended had a great time. Look for a special Holiday Dinner Dance in 2026 to commemorate our 50^th Anniversary.

As we approach the 50^th anniversary of our esteemed organization, let’s reflect on the year that was and the accomplishments that were reached.

As always, OCWS was graced by a stellar slate of wineries from across California, featuring their finest offerings at dinners in Costa Mesa. Whether it was the Bushong Vintage Company or Wildeye Winery, members were treated to a bevy of beverages while gaining valuable insight into the winemaking process.

OCWS also was fortunate to have a series of new events. In January, a handful of members boarded trains bound for Los Angeles and were treated to the Uncorked LA Wine Festival at Union Station (and will again this January, see article inside). The year is being capped with a visit to Old Town Orange this month where members will make candles for the holiday season with wine provided by Seis Soles.

Not to be outshined, everything was coming up roses at the Vines in Bloom Spring Social in May and bellies were filled with chili in October at the Hoedown Fall Social.

The annual auction was another rousing success as more than 4,300 wines went to loving homes where barren racks and cellars needed to restocked. Gross revenues were nearly 10 percent more than was projected.

The Commercial and Homewine competitions once again took Herculean efforts by dozens of OCWS members and recognized the top winemakers across the state.

The OC Fair was another successful endeavor as more than 200 members volunteered for a slew of shifts. There were more than 7,500 tastings of award-winning wines, the Featured Winery Program took in just over $30,000 that will be directed toward the Scholarship Fund and 10 of the 16 wine seminars were sold out.

Sprinkled throughout the year were some unique events. There was an enjoyable road trip to Sycamore Ranch Vineyard & Winery near Lake Arrowhead. Members puckered up for a citrus winemaking course. Others refined their senses at the wine defect workshop. And the beloved Mini-Tastings that ranged from guests detecting which wines were from Coastal or Inland California to featuring women winemakers was enjoyed by all who attended.

All of which is to say – there’s a fair share of events and 2026 promises to showcase the very best of what OCWS has to offer. So raise a glass to OCWS and have a happy holidays.

By Fred Heinecke

The  holidays … they are the best time of times and the busiest of times. Thanksgiving leftovers have been fashioned into turkey and cranberry sandwiches and heartily consumed. The holiday decorations are out of the box and in their December niches. The parking at the mall is actually worse than you remembered and each day your mail box has enough catalogues to sink a small battleship.

With all the hustle and bustle, it is all too easy to forget the holidays are about friends and family. For 49 years the Orange County Wine Society has been bringing friends together over a glass of wine, often with a fine meal. We should not forget that there is always a wine that pairs well with beef, lamb and difficult relatives.

This year, December presents three fun get-togethers; the Holiday Dinner Dance on Dec. 5; the Seis Soles Wine Tasting and Candle Making on Dec. 10; and the Winemakers holiday party on Dec. 20. Next year, we celebrate the organization’s golden jubilee starting with the 50^th Anniversary Champagne Brunch on January 11.

All of these events keep with the OCWS holiday traditions and thus I would like to offer a toast.

May your year be full with good friends

May your glass be full with good wine

May your heart be filled with joy

May you always have a good time

Cheers and Happy Holidays!

P.S.  There is one long-standing tradition in our home that has evolved. In days of old, chocolate chip cookies and cold milk were dutifully left out on Christmas Eve. In modern times, an open bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon and a glass are placed near a charcuterie board.

Spotlight on Two Dedicated OCWS Members

By Carolyn Christian – Past President

Earlier this year at the annual business meeting, I had the honor of awarding the coveted President’s Award to two very deserving individuals. The President’s Award is given each year to an individual who has shown commitment to the organization over an extended period of time and always goes above and beyond when volunteering for OCWS events. I wanted to share more information on each of the recipients to recognize them for their long-time dedication to the organization.

Jim Burk

Jim Burk joined OCWS in 2001 quickly became the official OCWS Photographer, following in the footsteps of Kevin Lite and George Hammond. He served as our photographer for nearly 25 years, making him the longest-serving individual in this position. He has documented our organization over the years, taking photos of our membership BBQs and socials, the OC Fair competitions, winery programs and more.  When Jim first started as photographer, OCWS printed duplicate sets of photos and brought a set to each event for members to go through and take home their favorite shots. Now in the digital age, photos are stored on hard drives, and the best photos of each event are posted on Facebook.

Ed Reyes

Ed Reyes joined OCWS in 2006 after enjoying The Courtyard tastings and seminars for several years. Ed served as an OCWS board member from 2010 to 2013, wanting to help recruit and retain members. He organized several bus trips and helped start the New Member Mixers.  Mentored by members of the Winemakers’ Group like Rich McCormick, Ed began making his own wine in 2010 and won his first medal in 2013 – a silver for Nero d’ Avola.  For the past several years, he has served as the head of the Winemakers Group, helping elevate their visibility within the organization.

When you see either of these individuals at OCWS events, please join me in thanking them for their commitment and service to this organization. It takes a village of volunteers to keep this organization running smoothly and as we near our 50^th anniversary, I am very proud to have had the opportunity to recognize these two deserving individuals with the President’s Award.

Who wants to hit the road in 2026? In recognition of our organization’s 50^th anniversary, we are considering visiting one of the wine regions. In past years, trips have been taken to Napa, Paso Robles, Temecula and the Santa Barbara region.

To get a better idea if members are interested and what they would like from a trip, here is a survey link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BBBLTDG. Please fill it out if you are interested and the results will be posted in the January newsletter. The survey will close on Dec. 15, so please let us know.

Also, if there is enough interest, a committee will be created to help with various aspects of the trip. If you are interested in filling a role, please email editor@OCWS.org.

—Greg Risling, Co-Executive Editor, The Wine Press

Shepherd’s Pie

Ingredients
3 lbs. ground lamb (can substitute
with hamburger meat)
1 large yellow mild onion
2 jars of beef gravy
1 bag frozen peas and carrots
Mashed potatoes
Grated sharp cheddar cheese

Directions
BROWN the ground lamb in frying
pan. Add a little water to make juice.
HALF way through browning, add
chopped onion into pan with meat to
simmer in meat juice.
DRAIN excess juice/grease, place in
oven-proof pan.
BLEND in beef gravy then peas and
carrots.
PUT layer of mashed potatoes on top
of meat
COVER pan with aluminum foil and
cook at 350 degrees for 55 minutes.
REMOVE from oven and add grated
cheese on top of potatoes.
RETURN for 3-5 minutes for cheese
to melt.
—Recipe courtesy Kevin Donnelly