OCWS
Imagine walking into a room of over 100 people and not knowing a single person. It sounds a little daunting! That is currently what happens when a new member attends his or her first Wine Society event. What if that new member knew at least one or two other people in the room? Does that […]
By Fran Gitsham
For most of us the pleasure of tasting and learning about wine is enough, but for that handful of people who want more, savoring the drink is just not enough.
For the brave who venture into the corners of their kitchens, garages, backyards and even bathrooms to experiment with the process of making wine, it becomes an obsession and ultimately a goal to create a taste of heaven in a glass. Amateur winemakers, better known to the OCWS as home winemakers, toil year after year to create wines with hopes of garnering medals and accolades for their entries into the OC Fair Home Wine Competition.
In the case of a rare few who eventually become commercial winemakers, their journeys, more often than not, began with success at the OC Fair Home Wine Competition, giving them the confidence to pursue their dreams. This is the case with a very special handful of microwineries in Temecula that together are working to prove the quality of fruit and wine from the region dispels any negative myths.
They are among the limited production wineries, producing just 500 to 1,000 cases a year each who are creating small batch clean and simple handcrafted wines with no additives and minimal sulfites. Each of them now are garnering numerous Double Gold awards at the OC Fair Commercial Wine Competition, and just this year taking top honors as Best in Class.
Big Nose Winery, owned and operated by Roger and Janice Mattar, who to this day remain dedicated OCWS members, initially learned their trade as OCWS home winemakers and eventually went commercial, now with any number of varietals being served in their welcoming, heartwarming tasting room in the historic Temecula Hotel in Old Towne Temecula. This year, they entered 13 wines, all of which received medals, with one of their Double Gold, Jan’s Sparkling Rose, taking the highest honor as Best of Class.
Mirroring the Mattars’ enthusiasm and passion for winemaking sits both Laura and Mike Wieters of DeCoupage Cellars and Dirk and Michelle Uys (pronounced ACE) of Uys Winery who both boast about their beginnings as home winemakers and proudly display their OCWS home wine medals right alongside their OCWS commercial competition awards, including numerous Double Gold plaques. They welcome you into their homes with open arms and hearts. These are hidden gems not to be missed.
Fran Gitsham, OCWS VP, OC Fair Commercial Wine Competition Chair
Results from the Sept. 6 Gold Medal Mini-Tasting are in. With 10 wines evaluated by 160 people across 10 host sites, the results show a clear hierarchy among the wines. The ratings, which were tallied to determine a total score, highlight several standout performers. The 2023 Petit Verdot by ZD Wines emerged as the undisputed champion, accumulating the highest total score of 111 total points with seven of the 10 sites ranking this wine in their Top 3. The Malbec from Lucas & Lewellen scored the 2nd highest points with a total of 101 with six of the 10 sites placing this wine in the top three. This was followed by a Cabernet Sauvignon by Honig, which scored 81 points, with four sites ranking this wine in the Top 3. The Sauzao, from Lewis Grace is a wine varietal with Portuguese origins that was rated the 4th highest scoring wine, with four sites scoring it very high offset by four sites that scored it very low.
As one would expect from this Gold Medal Tasting, where nine of the 10 wines were rated as Double Gold, each of the 10 wines were rated in the top three when looking across the 10 host sites. In fact, five of the 10 wines received votes for being a No. 1 choice, and seven of the wines received second place votes. Of the 10 wines, nine were scored as a No. 3 choice. These results support the common notion that great wine is what you like.
I hope everyone enjoyed the selection of wines for the event, and look for the article on the next Mini Tasting scheduled for Nov. 15.
–Don Mayer, OCWS Mini-Tasting Chair
CHEFS OF THE EVENING
| Chef | Dish |
| Maia Pehrson | Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms |
| Ann Jay | Ashkenazi |
| MaryDee Kienstra | Egyptian Barley Salad |
| Joe Barrett | Smoked Salmon Appetizer |
| Cherrl Baker | Veggie & Cheese Enchiladas |
| Alexandra Chebil | Blue Fin Tuna |
| Dan Martinez | Lasagna |
| Shelley Cohen | Chicken Parmesan |
| Mark Prendergast | Ratatouille |
| Jim Burk | Cassoulet, Bean Stew with Pork, Sausage, and Duck |
Egyptian Barley Salad with Pomegranate Vinaigrette
Chef was Mary Dee Kienstra using a recipe by Once Upon a Chef, Jenn Segal
Inspired by the flavors of Egypt, this gorgeous barley salad is adorned with feta, scallions, pistachios, raisins and pomegranate seeds.
Servings: 6 to 8
Ingredients
The transportation of wine became an opportunity looking for an answer once wine consumption moved beyond the vineyard and winery locations. The evolution of transporting wine started with using animal skins which often leaked and allowed the wine to oxidize and spoil. Terracotta amphorae quickly became the animal skin replacement and solved many problems. In fact, amphorae were so effective that recently found ship wreaks and uncovered tombs contain amphorae 1000’s of years old that still contain remnants of wine. However, the weight of the amphora filled with wine, which took two people to carry, and its shape with the pointed bottom, which made standing an amphora upright difficult, lead winemakers to look for another solution. Enter the barrel.
The 50-year history of the Orange County Wine Society cannot be told without acknowledging the women and men who have served on its Board of Directors. The board has always been the heart and soul of the OCWS—the ultimate volunteers, dedicating their time and talents to keep the organization thriving. In this overview, I’d like to share some of the remarkable people who have led us over the decades and the incredible commitment reflected in their years of service.
The very first board was made up of just five members: Bill Lawson (President), Bill Owen (Vice President), Brant Horton (Treasurer), Kathi Horton (Secretary) and Boardmember Jerry Mead—yes, that Jerry Mead! By 1977, the board expanded to include Jim Graver (President), Brant Horton (Vice President), Judy Collins (Treasurer), and Kathi Horton (Secretary), along with members Bill Owen and Jerry Mead. From 1978 to 1984, the board grew to seven members, and in 1984 it expanded again to nine—a number that remains in place more than 40 years later.
Today, board members are elected to three-year terms and may serve two consecutive terms before stepping aside for at least one year. Some return after a break, while others retire from service. In the past 49 years, 91 people have served on the OCWS Board, collectively contributing 423 years of leadership. About 70% of board members have been men and 30% women. Eight married couples and one parent-child pair have also served on the board, though not usually at the same time.
Among those who have given the most years are Rich Skoczylas who holds the record with 15 years of service, followed closely by myself at 14. Four others—Charley Owen, Dennis Esslinger, Jim Beard and John Goodnight—each dedicated 12 years, while Fran Gitsham and Bob Prill have both served 10.
The presidency is one of the most demanding roles, requiring countless hours each week. Only one individual, Dennis Esslinger, has served four years as president. Three others—Jim Beard, Fran Gitsham and John Goodnight—each held the office for three years. Twelve people have served two years and 13 have completed a single year.
The role of vice president has often been a stepping-stone to the presidency. Of the 28 vice presidents in our history, Charley Owen served the longest at five years, followed by Larry Graham at four and Kevin Coy, Barbara Perez and Bill Redding at three. Eight served two years and the rest held the office for one.
Treasurers have been fewer in number—just 21 of them over five decades. John Goodnight stands out with nine years of service, followed by Mel Jay with seven, Tim Morgan with five and Fran Gitsham with four. Others served shorter terms of one or two years.
The secretary role, though quieter, is essential for maintaining the organization’s records. I was surprised to discover I’ve served the longest—eight of my 14 board years were spent as secretary. Founding member Kathi Horton follows with six years, while Rich Skoczylas served five and George Cravens four.
In addition to the officer roles, all board members contribute to the organization by chairing events and programs. As I conclude my term as president this year, I want to thank my fellow board members for their dedication—the current board alone represents 54 years of combined service. And to those who came before us, we owe deep gratitude for building and sustaining the OCWS for nearly half a century.
What happens when you get more than 200 volunteers working nearly 1,500 shifts, pouring over 7,000 bottles of wine?
Another successful year at The Courtyard at the OC Fair!
Over the course of 23 days, the Orange County Wine Society educated fairgoers, featured wineries from across the state and welcomed new members.
The year-round efforts of The Courtyard Committee paid off in spades. Helmed by OCWS Board Member and Courtyard Chair Fred Heinecke, the committee comprised of nearly 20 dedicated members worked tirelessly to make the annual fair run a seamless affair.
While volunteers look forward to earning free vouchers to taste award-winning wines or a host of varietals, here is a different kind of taste worth savoring:
There were 41,644 transactions, 208 volunteers who worked 1,486 shifts. There were 7,505 tastings of award-winning wine, 11,405 varietals, 2,849 Champagne splits, 2,600 glasses of premium red and 3,751 glasses of premium red.
One hundred and thirty-seven bottles of red wine were sold, while there were 156 bottles of white wine sold.
Concert specials, you ask? There were 2,887. Nearly 2,000 glasses of house wine were poured and the Taste of Fair weighed in with 2,045. And 47 cases of Govino glasses were sold.
The best-selling white wine was the 2024 Dry Creek Sauvignon Blanc at 53 cases and the performing red was the 2022 Eberle Cabernet Sauvignon at 44 cases.
Joining the OCWS ranks were 179 new members – 53 dual memberships and 73 single memberships.
Sixteen seminars were held and 10 of those were sold out. Even more promising is that most of the seminars were nearly comprised equally of curious fairgoers and OCWS members.
Over at the Featured Winery Program, Liz and Lloyd Corbett did another fantastic job of bringing 15 wineries to The Courtyard. If you didn’t get to visit the booth during the weekend, you missed out on some screaming deals.
Bella Grace Winery offered 30 percent off and a flat shipping fee. Sculpterra gave half off a case and only $25 shipping, while Macchia gave steep discounts on their entire selection of wines, with one OCWS member, who also is a Macchia club member, to exclaim that the deals at the OC Fair were better than the club discounts. Eberle offered a 20 percent cut to everyone and a 40 percent discount to military and police. Wine Guy and Wine Gal Winery offered a second case of wine free with a purchase of a case of wine for $450.
All that to say that the Featured Winery Program raked in $30,361, 31 percent higher than in 2024, with the proceeds going to the OCWS Scholarship Fund. And good news! Eberle, Sculpterra, Macchia, San Simeon and Bella Grace have already signed up to return in 2026.
Combined with the $16,586 collected in the donation jars and credit card tips, nearly $47,000 was raised for the Scholarship Fund – and that doesn’t even account for the counter sales, which will be revealed at the Annual Business Meeting.
To all those who helped at the fair, the OCWS board and The Courtyard Committee extend a heartfelt thanks and appreciation. For those who haven’t yet volunteered, there will be no better time to experience the fun and camaraderie the fair provides next year as the OCWS celebrates its 50th anniversary.
It has been an incredible year for the Orange County Wine Society. On Aug. 2, OCWS graced the front page of the OC Register. What a truly proud moment to receive such recognition from our local newspaper. The headline read, “Afficianados Take Their Wine Seriously,” and the story covered many aspects of our organization including The Courtyard operations and Wine Seminars during the OC Fair, the Commercial Wine Competition, the OCWS Scholarship Fund and much more. While the article captured all the work we do, it was the photos that captured another aspect of our organization: all the joy we bring to people. Whether it is helping increase sales of the limited production and boutique wineries that enter our competition, to the students who benefit from our scholarships, to the general public who simply feel a sense of happiness when tasting the amazing California wines we serve. What we do truly pairs wine education and fun and binds us together.
The Courtyard
The Courtyard has been one of many success stories this year. While the wine industry continues to see a decline in sales across the country, our numbers have increased. We owe many thanks to Fred Heinecke, Fran Gitsham and all of those who helped make the The Courtyard at the OC Fair happen. We had a record-breaking year, raising funds and recruiting members. A special shout out to Liz and Lloyd Corbett and their team for the amazing Featured Winery Program to support our Scholarship Fund and to Ed Reyes and Sara Yeoman and their team for the incredible wine seminars.
Board Elections and Bylaw Changes
Each September, we have board elections to replace three outgoing board members and present any proposed bylaw changes to the membership for a vote. This year the terms are ending for Rich Skoczylas, Linda Flemins and John Lane. I would personally like to thank Rich, Linda and John for their years of service to the organization. Candidate statements are posted on our website, and you will have an opportunity to hear them speak at the Annual Business Meeting. Ballots will be emailed in September. Now is a good time to log on to your account to confirm your email address.
50th Anniversary
Next year marks our 50th anniversary as a nonprofit organization. We would appreciate your input and ask that you share your memories of the organization by going to OCWS.ws/50th and completing our survey. Look for more information next month on our 50th Anniversary Fund with your chance to donate to preserving the OCWS archives for the future and obtaining our 50th anniversary logo merchandise.
Closing
As I close this year as president of this remarkable organization, I am reminded of what an amazing group of people we have. Whatever our backgrounds or beliefs, we all share a common love of wine and the willingness to share our wine journey experiences with each other. It always astonishes me (and others) that this organization is made up of over 1,000 members who come together to put on such amazing events. or those new to the organization because of the OC Fair, I welcome you to this organization and wish you all a wonderful wine journey. Cheers to all!
Welcome to OCWS! We’re excited to have you as a member and want to ensure you feel supported and connected from the very start.
The New Member Friend Program is designed to help you get the most out of your OCWS experience. As a new member, you can be paired with a New Member Volunteer who will guide you through your first events, answer your questions and provide a friendly face to greet you.
If so, simply contact the OCWS office at office@ocws.org and let us know you’d like to participate. Please include your preferred form of communication (text, phone or email), and we’ll match you with a New Member Volunteer who will reach out to you directly.
Participation in the New Member Friend Program is completely optional.
To explore all OCWS events and sign up, visit our OCWS Events Page. Please log in to your account to view event details and register. If you have any trouble with your account, our website experts at the OCWS office are here to help—just email office@ocws.org or call (714) 708-1636.
Our goal is to welcome you and help you make the most of your OCWS membership. Don’t hesitate to reach out—we’re glad you’re here.
–Alice Polser, OCWS Membership Member Liaison
Members join the Wine Searcher Group on the OCWS Facebook page and accept the challenge to taste the 150 different varietals that were judged at this year’s OCWS Commercial Wine Competition. Then share your experiences with your fellow Searchers! Get the list, available of the Facebook group page, and start exploring!
Currently, the OCWS scholarship fund has awarded over $946,000 since 1981. We have a goal to reach the $1 million dollar mark for our 50th anniversary in 2026. This is just a friendly reminder that the OCWS is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) and contributions to our scholarship fund are tax deductible. (But please check with your tax expert). Don’t wait until the end of the year! It is a good time to make a donation to the OCWS Scholarship Fund. There are several ways to donate:
You can make your donation online and print a receipt for tax purposes at the same time.
—Damian Christian, Scholarship Chair