Friday, March 21, 2025
El Dorado County Fair Open Wine Competition
is open to all Commercial Wineries
Early Bird Entries due by Wednesday, February 19.
Last Call Entries due by Monday, March 10.
El Dorado County Fair invites commercial wineries to compete in the El Dorado County Fair Open Wine Competition. Thirty prestigious experts from around the country come together to judge these wines each year. Each panel consists of one judge from each industry: Education (winemaker, enologist, professor), Media (newspaper, blog, radio), Wine Sales (Restaurant, Retail, Hospitality).
Entry forms and wine received at Fair Office January 27 thru March 10, 2025 | Monday thru Friday 9am to 4pm
Mail forms and wine to:
El Dorado County Fair & Event Center
100 Placerville Drive
Placerville, CA 95667
Judging: Friday, March 21, 2025 at 9am (Closed to the public)
ENTRY FEE: $55 per wine by fax or mail by March 10, 2025
EARLY BIRD FEE: $45 per wine January 27 thru February 19, 2025
- Entries become the property of the El Dorado County Fair and will not be returned.
- Judges will award Double Gold, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Earth Friendly awards, as well as Best of Class and Special Awards.
- Best of Class will be awarded to classes with a Gold award or higher.
- All wines received will be stored in a temperature-controlled room prior to judging.
- Wine must be bottled under bond by commercial winery.
- Entries must be commercially labeled. Barrel samples are NOT allowed.
- Each entry consists of four (4) bottles of wine (750 ml) or five (5) bottles of wine (500 ml) or (375 ml).
Special Awards
Best of Show
Golden Johnny Trophies for best red, best white and best sweet
Sponsored by the El Dorado County Fair Association
Best of Class
Sponsored by the El Dorado County Fair Association
Back Room Gold Awards
Best red wine, best Zinfandel and best white wine.
Back Room Staff Pick, a true "People's Choice" award, sponsored by the El Dorado County Fair Association.
Best Rhone Awards
Best red Rhone and best white Rhone,
Sponsored by the El Dorado County Fair Association
Best Barbera Award
Sponsored by the El Dorado County Fair 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 wine produced from El Dorado or Fairplay Appellation grapes. This award will be presented to both the winery and the vineyard.
Best of El Dorado: Winemaking
A special award offered for the best wine produced and bottled by a winery in El Dorado County.
Best of Amador: Winemaking
A special award offered for the best wine produced and bottled by a winery in Amador County.
Best of Lodi: Winemaking
A special award offered for the best wine produced and bottled by a winery in the Lodi area.
Best of Placer: Winemaking
A special award offered for the best wine produced and bottled by a winery in Placer County.
Best of Napa County: Winemaking
A special award offered for the best wine produced and bottled by a winery in Napa County.
Best of Nevada County: Winemaking
A special award offered for the best wine produced and bottled by a winery in Nevada County.
Best of San Luis Obispo County: Winemaking
A special award offered for the best wine produced and bottled by a winery in San Luis Obispo County.
Best of Sonoma County: Winemaking
A special award offered for the best wine produced and bottled by a winery in Sonoma County.
Wine Label Competition
See Entry Guide page for rules and entry form
2024 EDCF Open Wine Competition Awards sorted by Award
2024 EDCF Open Wine Competition Awards sorted by Winery
2024 EDCF Open Wine Competition Special Awards
2024 Competition Flyer
2024 Entry Form (with form fields)
Shipping Labels
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One not only drinks wine, one smells it, observes it, tastes it, sips it and—talks about it.
