California Ag Network

Tag: California Commercial Wine Competition

  • Fellow Wines of Clarksburg Take Home Best In Show for White Wines in California

    Fellow Wines, a subscription-based wine company out of Clarksburg, CA, takes home the top prize at the California Commercial Wine Competition through the California State Fair. The 2021 Chenin Blanc was awarded top accolades this year out of the 1,953 wines evaluated, winning Double Gold, Best in Region, and Best in Show for white wines in the competition.

    “I’m excited that through this award, Clarksburg is getting some notoriety as a high-quality winegrowing region.” says Fellow Winemaker, David Ogilvie. “Since the 1970s our little AVA has long been sending grapes to be blended into high-quality wines from other regions and this award helps to further highlight Clarksburg as a region that can stand on its own.”

    David Ogilvie, Phil Ogilvie, and Tom Merwin, local farmers and childhood friends, started Fellow Wines with the vision to share Clarksburg with the world. As fourth and seventh generation farmers in the region, they understand the importance of a truly sustainable farm-to-table winery. Striving to remain authentic to the consumer, they are the farmer, the winemaker, and the retailer and promise to never hide the fruit in the winemaking process.

    “One thing that I love about this label is that I get to be in control of the whole process starting from bud break in the vineyard to bottling our wine”, Ogilvie states. “As farmer and winemaker, I get to ensure the quality measures are put in place along the way from soil to bottle and I think that shows in the final product.”

    Fellow Wines start at $20.00 per bottle through their website’s online store but through their subscription service you can enjoy 3-bottle and 6-bottle subscription packages starting at $49.00 with shipping included. Fellow Wines brings it’s customers the best of the Clarksburg area at the best price, delivered for free right to your door-step. For more information about their wines, subscriptions services, or to grab a bottle of the Award Winning 2021 Chenin Blanc, visit fellowwines.com.

  • California State Fair Announces Commercial Wine Winners

    The California State Fair is pleased to announce the winners of the 2022 California Commercial Wine Competition. The highly anticipated event returned last week for three days at Cal Expo.

    This year, a panel of 44 official judges led by Chief Judge Mark Chandler tasted and evaluated 1,953 California wines from 443 California wineries. The competition, which had been on a 2 year hiatus due to the COVID pandemic, celebrates the wine growing and wine producing industry in California. It is open only to wines made with fruit grown and produced in the eleven growing regions across the State of California. Wines are evaluated by class, varietal, style, and region based upon the source of the grapes.

    A 2019 Sangiovese from Las Positas Vineyards in Livermore Valley collected Best of Show Red honors. The Best of Show White title was given to Ogilvie Merwin Ventures’ Fellow’s Brand 2021 Chenin Blanc from Clarksburg.

    Top wines, including the Best of Region and Best of California winners, will be featured at the California State Fair in the Save Mart Wine Garden for visitors to enjoy July 15 through July 31, 2022.

    There were a total of 21 Best of Regions Awards, 18 Best of California Awards, the Best Value Award, 3 Best of Micro Winery Awards, and the coveted Golden State Winery of the Year Award. A huge congratulations to South Coast Winery to winning the Golden State Winery of the Year Award! South Coast has won the Golden State Winery of the Year Award in 2008, 2009, 2013, and 2016, making 2022 their fifth win. Total medals awarded were 99 Double Gold, 257 Gold, 878 Silver, and 583 Bronze.

    Dating back to 1854, the California State Fair Wine Competition is America’s oldest and most prestigious wine event. For more than 160 years, the California State Fair has showcased the Best of the Golden State.

    Complete results and competition information can be found on the California State Fair website at CalExpoStateFair.com/California-Commercial-Wine

    About the California State Fair

    The California State Fair is an international award-winning fair, receiving top honors at the International Association of Fairs and Expositions out of more than 1,100 fairs world-wide. The California State Fair is dedicated as a place to celebrate the best the state has to offer in agriculture, technology, and the diversity of its people, traditions, and trends that shape the Golden State’s future. The 2022 State Fair will include a comprehensive list of competitions, including California’s best commercial wines, cheeses, craft beers, cannabis, olive oils, and fine arts, among others.