Entry forms and wine received at Fair Office:
April 21st - May 16th - Monday thru Friday 9am to 5pm
Judging: Friday, May 30th at 9am
Awards Presentation and Barbecue
Friday, May 30th at 5pm following judging
Tickets for BBQ available at Fair Office or on Entry Form
Judging not open to the public
Except Rhone categories, open to all California wineries producing less than 20,000 cases total production annually and all Sierra Foothills wineries.
Rhone category open to commercial wines from Rhone Varietal Grapes which may have been grown and produced anywhere in the world, by any size commercial winery.
No Cash Awards – Ribbons Only
ENTRY FEE: $22 PER WINE
- Entries become the property of the El Dorado County Fair and will not be returned.
- Judges will award Double Gold, Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards, as well as Best of Class
and Special Awards. - All wines received will be stored in a temperature-controlled room prior to the judging.
- Wine must be bottled under bond by commercial winery.
- Entries must be commercially labeled. Barrel samples are NOT allowed. A minimum of 25 cases must currently be for sale.
- Each entry consists of four (4) bottles of wine (750 ml), five (5) bottles of wine (500 ml), or six (6) bottles of wine (375 ml).
Special Awards
Best Of Show
Sponsored by the El Dorado County Fair Association for the Best of Show Commercial Wine.
El Dorado Winery Association Awards
Best Red Wine and Best White Wine, sponsored by the El Dorado Winery Association.
Frank Herbert Memorial Award
A perpetual award, sponsored by the El Dorado Wine Grape Growers Association, is offered for the Best Zinfandel Wine made from El Dorado or Fairplay Appellation Grapes.
El Dorado Wine Grape Growers Award
A special award, sponsored by the El Dorado Wine Grape Growers Association, is offered for the Best Commercial Wine produced from El Dorado or Fairplay Appellation Grapes. This award will be presented to both the winery and the vineyard.
Zachary Jacques Award
Best Wine in Rhone Category sponsored by Zachary Jacques Restaurant.
Best of Fair Play AVA Award
Sponsored by FairPlayCalifornia.com Best commercial wine made with at least 85% winegrapes from the Fair Play American Viticultural Area..
Earth-Friendly Grower’s Award
In recognition of their commitment to excellence, producer(s) of award-winning wines made from organically grown grapes will receive special ribbon(s) sponsored by OGWA, Organic Grapes into Wine Alliance.
Division 150 – Commercial Wines
Class Red Wines
1. Cabernet Sauvignon
2. Zinfandel
3. Merlot
4. Pinot Noir
5. Cabernet Franc
6. Sangiovese
7. Barbera
8. Petite Sirah
9. Bordeaux Blends - Must be two or more of the following varieties:
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, or Petit Verdot
10. Other Varietal Red Wines, i.e. Tempranillo
11. Other Red Blends
Class White Wines
12. Chardonnay
13. Sauvignon Blanc
14. Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio
15. Riesling
16. Other Varietal White Wines, i.e. Semillon, Chenin Blanc
17. Other White Blends
Class Blush Wines
18. White Zinfandel
19. Other Blush Wines (please specify)
Class Dessert Wines
20. Muscat
21. All Late Harvest (please specify)
22. Port
23. Other (please specify)
Class Sparkling Wines
24. Any Sparkling Wine (please specify)
Class Non-grape Fruit Wines
25. Any Wine (please specify fruit)
Special Rhone Category
Commercial Wines from RHONE VARIETAL GRAPES that may have been grown and produced anywhere in the world by any size commercial winery. Wines entered in this category must contain 70% of one or more of the following Rhone Cepages.
Syrah
Roussanne
Mourvedre
Cinsault
Grenache
Muscardin
Counoise
Bourboulenc
Marsanne
Vaccarese
Viognier
Clairette
Terret Noir
Carignane
Division 151 – Rhone Wines
Flights of wine will be separated by variety or blend for presentation to the judges to provide the most equitable evaluation.
Class Red
26. Syrah
27. Mourvedre
28. Other Red Rhone Varietals
29. Rhone Blend – 70% Please state cepages qualifying wine for this class
Class White
30. Viognier
31. Marsanne/Rousanne and Blends
Class Rosé
32. Rhone Rosé (please specify)
STATE RULES APPLY