Orange County Wine Society (OCWS), in partnership with the OC Fair, announced the winners of the 2025 OC Fair Commercial Wine Competition–including many Contra Costa County wines which were entered. The 49th annual competition received 2,465 entries from hundreds of wineries this year. Wines were divided into 132 varietal categories and then judged by price range and sugar level. Wines were judged by 90 professional winemakers and winery owners.
Here is a rundown of how Contra Costa County Wines placed in the competition– with best of class winner listed further down.
Gold
- 92 – Oak Grove, 2023 Pinot Grigio/Gris
- 91 – Happy Camper, 2022 Chardonnay
Silver
- Castillo Vinyards, 2022 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
- Happy Camper, 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon
- Castillo Vineyards, 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon
- Vino Olivo, 2024 Coco Blanca (Maritage White)
- Hannah Nicole Vineyards, 2022 Viognier
- Serendipity Cellars, 2023 Chardonnay
- Serendipity Cellars, 2023 California Sunset (Chardonnay)
- Oak Grove, 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon
- Oak Grove, 2023 Chardonnay
- Oak Grove, 2023 Sauvignon Blanc
- Balestrieri Family Farm, 2021 BFF Red White
- Serendipity Cellars, Bard Blend White (Proprietary White)
- Serendipity Cellars, 2023 Vermentino
- Vino Olivo, 2023 Moonlight Mourvèdre
- Hannah Nicole Vineyards, 2023 Mt. Diablo White (Viognier)
- Balestrieri Family Farm, 2023 BFF Rose (Rose Italian Varietals)
- Happy Camper, 2022 Merlot
- Oak Grove, 2022 Winemakers Red (Prop Red-Cab Sauv)
In addition to the 19 Best of Class medals (listed below), the competition also awarded 150 Double Gold medals and 484 Gold medals in addition to silver and bronze medals. This year’s top varietals were Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay. Entries included some unique varietals such as Arinto, Biancolella, Blaufrankisch, Dobricic, Greco, Marquette, Marselan, Peloursin, Saint Laurent, Schippentino, Tinta Cao, and Trebbiano. Of note making a comeback this year was non-alcoholic wine!
BEST OF CLASS WINNERS
Best of Class – Red Varietals
Premium Price Level
ONX Wines, 2020 “Reckoning” (Templeton Gap District AVA) 96 Points
High Price Level
- Pear Valley Estate Wine, 2022 Charbono (Paso Robles Geneseo District AVA) 97 Points
Medium Price Level
- Country Road Wine Cellars, 2023 Malbec (Clarksburg AVA) 95 Points
Low Price Level
- 1924 – Delicato Family Wines, 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Bourbon Barrel Aged (Lodi AVA) 95 Points
Best of Class – White Varietals
Premium Price Level
- Navarro Vineyards & Winery, 2024 “Deep End” Pinot Grigio (Anderson Valley AVA) 95 Points
High Price Level
- Wiens Cellars, 2024 Arneis (Temecula Valley AVA) 97 Points
Medium Price Level
- Cannonball – Share A Splash Wine Co., 2023 Chardonnay (California) 95 Points
Low Price Level
- McManis Family Vineyards, 2024 Viognier (River Junction AVA) 95 Points
Best of Class – Rosé Wines
Premium Price Level
- Wine Guy & Wine Gal Family Wines from Sonoma, 2024 “Judith Ann Rosé” (Rosé of Pinot Noir) (Russian River Valley AVA) 96 Points
High Price Level
- Bella Grace Vineyards, 2024 “Bella Rosé” (Rosé Rhone Varietals) (Amador County) 97 Points
Medium Price Level
- Langhart & Hill, 2022 Rosé (Rosé of Merlot) (Russian River Valley AVA) 91 Points
Low Price Level
- TwiningVine LLC, 2023 Rosé (Rosé of Merlot) (Livermore Valley AVA) 93 Points
Best of Class – Dessert Wines
Premium Price Level
- Rancho de Philo Vineyard and Winery, NV “Triple Cream Sherry” (California) 97 Points
High Price Level
- Sunce Winery & Vineyard, 2019 Muscat Port (Clarksburg AVA) 95 Points
Medium Price Level
- Jeff Runquist “R”, 2024 Muscat Canelli (San Joaquin Valley, River Junction AVA) 93 Points
Low Price Level
- Bonterra Organic Estates – Fetzer, NV Ruby Port (California) 90 Points
Best of Class – Sparkling Wines
Premium Price Level
- Big Nose Winery LLC, 2023 “Jan’s Sparkling Rosé”(Napa Valley AVA) 95 Points
High Price Level
- pureCru Winery, 2023 Brut Rosé Cuvée XXIII(Lodi AVA) 95 Points
Medium Price Level
- Korbel Champagne Cellars, NV Extra Dry, Methode Champenoise (California) 90 Points
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