Celebrating 50 years of honoring California’s best wines – entry deadline May 15, 2026
November 7, 2025 (Costa Mesa, CA) — The Orange County Wine Society (OCWS), in partnership with the OC Fair, has opened entries for the 50th Annual OC Fair Commercial Wine Competition, taking place May 30 – 31, 2026. California wineries of all sizes are invited to submit wines for this milestone event. ENTRY IS FREE, and the deadline is May 15, 2026.
Now in its 50th year, the OC Fair Commercial Wine Competition remains one of California’s most respected double-blind tastings, judged exclusively by professional winemakers and winery owners. With more than 2,400 entries annually from hundreds of wineries, the event showcases the depth and diversity of California wine – from large producers to emerging boutique labels.
Wines are evaluated by varietal, price range, and sugar level, with medals awarded at Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Double Gold levels. Top honors include Best of Class Awards across 20 categories, spanning white, rosé, red, sparkling, and dessert wines. The competition also welcomes infused, low-alcohol, and no-alcohol wines, reflecting the evolving landscape of California winemaking.
Results are published on WineCompetition.com, where consumers can search award-winning wines by varietal, price, winery, and more. During the 2026 OC Fair (July 17 – August 16), visitors can sample these winning wines at the OC Fair Wine Courtyard, also hosted by OCWS.
“Reaching our 50th year is an incredible milestone,” said Carolyn Christian, OCWS Marketing Chair / Past President. “While other competitions have seen decreases in entries, our competition remains steady.”
Fran Gitsham, OCWS Vice President / Past President and the competition’s current chair, added, “We’re proud to provide a platform that elevates California wineries while connecting thousands of wine lovers with award-winning producers at the OC Fair.”
For full entry guidelines and details, visit OCWineCompetition.com.
About the Orange County Wine Society
The Orange County Wine Society (OCWS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with over 1,000 members who volunteer their time to support California’s wine industry. OCWS produces both the OC Fair Commercial and Home Wine Competitions – the largest of their kind dedicated exclusively to California wines. Since 1981, OCWS has donated over $946,000 in scholarships to eight California colleges and universities with wine-related programs and is projected to surpass $1 million in 2026.
