By Carolyn Christian
In 1976, a group of home winemakers decided to embark on a journey to support wine education. That journey was the beginning of the Orange County Wine Society. In partnership with the OC Fair, they started the OC Fair Wine Competitions, one focusing on amateur wines and the other on commercial wines.
Nearly half a century later, we are still going strong, with over $940,000 in scholarship donations to eight different California colleges and universities. As president of this organization, I have had the privilege of working with hundreds of members who selflessly dedicate their time to present stellar wine programs. It is one of my greatest honors.
To the outside world, it is difficult to explain the OCWS. We have a variety of events, from small, intimate dinners at members’ homes to the amazing 23-day run of the OC Fair where we serve thousands of people. Of our 1,000 members, so many bring the same passion they have for their personal lives and jobs to the organization. It is sometimes hard to believe that we do all that we do with very few paid staff.
And we are all on our own wine journeys. One of my favorite parts of our organization is our focus on wine as an approachable pastime that doesn’t require large sums of money to enjoy. Many of us are always searching for that great everyday wine that packs more flavor than belies its price point.
One of the beautiful aspects of the OCWS is watching the organization foster the development of its members’ palates as they spend time learning about new varietals, new wineries and new winemaking techniques. Education is woven into almost every aspect of our organization, from the Winery Programs where we hear stories of the humble beginnings of wineries that we know and love, to the articles in The Wine Press that call our attention to an interesting wine region or varietal.
Our annual Commercial Wine Competition is always seething with delectable wine knowledge, as we spend the weekend with notable winemakers who share the latest industry trends and their latest vintages. No less educational is the Home Wine Competition, with its entrants and judges sharing valuable information on how to improve their next batch of wine. Sometimes we don’t realize how much we know until we are asked to share it with others.
It is always amazing for me to see our members standing at the counter of The Courtyard at the OC Fair, sharing their knowledge with the public and marveling at how much they didn’t realize they had learned over the years. While we support formal wine education through our scholarship program, we also support collaborative learning through our events.
As we approach our busy season, I strongly encourage you to sign up for our many volunteer opportunities. In addition to contributing to the success of our events, you will be adding to your wine knowledge base and continuing forward on your wine journey.
Volunteer sign-ups for both of our competitions are already open. Go to OCWS.org and log in to your account, then choose competitions at the top to access the Commercial Wine Competition and/or the Home Wine Competition pages. Each competition has its own volunteer form to complete. Sign-ups for The Courtyard at the OC Fair are also open.
Remember, for all our events, the earlier you sign up, the better choices you will have.
And there are even more opportunities when it comes to wineries. Help us promote the OC Fair Wine Competition by dropping off a brochure at your favorite tasting room or emailing your wine clubs. The deadline to enter wines in the Commercial Wine Competition is May 16. Email this link to your favorite California wineries: ocws.ws/OCWineCompMessage.
If you have already volunteered at some point this year, I thank you for your time!
As we approach our 50th anniversary next year, I also invite you to share your memories of the organization and share your ideas on events and souvenirs to help us commemorate this milestone. Use this link to share your ideas: ocws.ws/50th.
For new members… welcome to your wine journey. I encourage you to sign up for the OCWS Friends Program to pair you with one of our seasoned members who can introduce you to others and show you the ropes.
I am truly blessed to lead this organization of over 1,000 members (one of the largest wine enthusiast groups in the nation). Wine is a very social endeavor. We are all on separate wine journeys together, and that makes each wine event more special. I look forward to seeing you at one of our future events. Cheers to you all!