Photo of the Month

Calling All Photographers

The OCWS sponsors a photography contest and you are invited to participate! As you might have guessed, the subject is “wine,” but this can mean many things to many people.

Do you have a great shot of the sun filtering through the vines just before picking? Or an action shot of wine being poured with some great swirls in the glass? Perhaps a romantic shot of a couple toasting each other?

These are a few ideas, and I’m sure you have many more of that great shot involving wine in some way.

Each month the photography committee will select a Photo of the Month for publication in an upcoming Wine Press as well as on the OCWS website. The ultimate goal is to publish an OCWS calendar consisting of the 12 best photos of the year. These may or may not be the 12 monthly winners.

If you have any questions, email Jim@JBurk.net.

Jim is the OCWS photographer and head of the OCWS photography committee.


FUNNEL CAKE & FUN
OCWS member Theresa Nelson toasted to good times at the OC
Fair this summer, pairing her dessert with a glass of port.

A MEAL WITH A VIEW
The Photo of the Month is courtesy OCWS member Dorothy Pemberton, who was vacationing in Bordeaux, France, when she snapped this winning picture in front of the Grand Theatre. Dorothy, who admits this is her first photo ever, says she loves big, bold Italian wines—always Cabernet.

TASTE of TUSCANY
CL Keedy’s winning photo of Vinsantaia at Castillo di Poppiano in Tuscany was taken with his iPhone and the only light is from the window. This is where Vin Santo Wine, a unique dessert wine of Tuscany, is aged for years before being bottled.

THE GRAND ILLUSION
The Photo of the Month winner is Orange County Wine Society member Paul Garfield. His beautiful shot was captured at the Hitching Post Winery in Buelton.

ROLL OUT THE BARREL
The Photo of the Month winner is Orange County Wine Society member Mike Iglesias. The picture of the wine cave was taken at Helwig Winery in Amador County, California.

BARRELS OF FUN
The Photo of the Month winner for March is OCWS member Kevin Coy, who captured this shot in October 2023 at Taylor Fladgate Port house in the Vila Nova de Gaia area of Portugal.

A SAINTLY LOCATION
George Kerr shot this cabernet vineyard on Mt. Veeder in Napa. The property belongs to the St. John the Baptist de La Salle brotherhood, part of the order of Christian Brothers. The Christian Brothers developed the vineyards in 1868 and produced wine until 1989. They currently lease the vineyard to Hess Winery.

SORTING PARTY
This month’s winning photo is courtesy of member Virginia Kawai.

OUT IN THE WILD
Orange County Wine Society member Shilo Bartlett captured the beauty of “Limerick Lane Old Vines with Wild Mustard” near Limerick Lane Cellars in Healdsburg, California, with a Nikon camera.

VINO NOBILE D’ITALIA
OCWS member Kevin Coy did it again with his captivating shot from the 16th-century historic cellars of Fattoria Della Tales in Montepulciano, a medieval hilltop town in Tuscany, Italy.

A TASTING WORTH TOUTING
OCWS member don Phillips (right) snapped this month’s willing photo using a self timer. “We were touring Dos Alamos Winery in Bulgaria and the winemaker gave us a special treat consisting of a barrel tasting of Gamza,” Don says. “A fantastic day!”

BOUNTIFUL AUTUMN
OCWS member CL Keedy garnered accolades for this shot of Rafanelli Winery in Healdsburg taken in the parking lot of the Sonoma County Winery capturing the fall flora with vines and olive trees in the background.

SPECIAL EFFECTS
Paul Garfield snapped this winning photo in the Vega Winery tasting room in Buellton featuring the wine bar with the reflection of the American flag. “I liked the way that a wine glass seemed suspended and mirrored,” Paul said. “The uneven polished surface of the bar created an interesting effect.”

SAILING AWAY
Sue England was cruising in Hubbard Bay, Alaska, when she snapped this picturesque shot using her iPhone Pro Max. “This was a bucket list trip for my family,” says Sue, who joined the OCWS in 2019. “When packing, for some reason, I felt I didn’t need my beanie…’til we got there. So, I had my glass of wine, new beanie and was looking out at the most tranquil and picturesque site I’d ever seen. I wanted to remember the whole feeling.”

ROLLING VIEWS
Craig Rowe, another second-time winner, shot this picture at Robert Young Winery in Geyserville
using his iPhone 13 Pro in Pano mode. “We have been members of the wine club for 19 years and
this was our first visit since RY built the tasting/event location called Scion house,” Craig says.
“The picture was taken from the lawn adjacent to Scion house.”

SPRINGTIME VINES
Orange County Wine Society member George Kerr is the winner of the photo contest for May. Visiting Napa earlier this year, George beautifully captured the season of regrowth in Oakville with the Groth Vineyards tower in the background.

A CASTLE FILLED WITH WINE BARRELS
This month’s repeat winner—Orange County Wine Society member Manuela Harral—snapped her Photo of the Month in Neive-Borgonovo, Italy, with her iPhone.

AND THE CLOUDS CAME ROLLING IN
Orange County Wine Society member Kevin Coy garnered recognition for the winning photograph last month. Coy snapped this scenic picture in Lodi at Acquiesce Winery and Vineyards using his cell phone.

DORMANT BUT DAZZLING
The photograph of the Month winner for January 2023 is Orange County Wine Society member Craig Rowe with his shot at Brick Barn Wine Estate in Buellton taken in December 2022 with his iPhone.

VINEYARD WITH A VIEW
The above photo was taken by six-year OCWS member Manuela Harral while on a Viking River Cruise with husband Scott on the Rhine River, Sankt Goarshausen, Germany, in October 2021, heading from Prague to Paris.

Chillin’ Along the Coast
The winner of the OCWS’s November Photo Contest is Tamara Reddy for her shot of the Mendocino coast taken at the Pacific Star Winery in Fort Bragg. Congratulations, Tamara.

The October winner of the OCWS Photography contest is Charles Walsh and Penny Nichols with this collaborative entry titled “Wine on the Water.”
This photo was shot on Charles’ cell phone.
Congratulations, Charles and  Penny!
– Jim Burk, OCWS Photographer

The September winner of the OCWS Photography contest is Sue England with her entry titled “Bridge to Heaven.”
This was shot at Halter Ranch Vineyard in Paso Robles using a Canon 70D with a Sigma 17-70 mm lens.
Congratulations, Sue!
– Jim Burk, OCWS Photographer

Our August 2022 Photograph of the Month winner was shot by OCWS member, Kim Clark, on her cell phone.
The subject is Sam Clark at the Bellante Family Winery. Congratulations, Kim, great shot!
– Jim Burk, OCWS Photographer