June 9 – (SACRAMENTO, Calif.) – The California State Fair is pleased to announce the 2022 winners 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 rated 1,953 California wines from 443 California wineries. The competition, which had been suspended for 2 years due to the COVID pandemic, celebrates the wine and wine industry in California. It is open only to wines made from fruits grown and produced in the eleven producing regions of the State of California. Wines are rated by class, varietal, style and region based on the source of the grapes.
A 2019 Sangiovese from Las Positas Vineyards in the Livermore Valley won Best of Show Red honors. Best of Show White has been awarded to the 2021 Fellow’s Brand chenin blanc from Ogilvie Merwin Ventures of Clarksburg.
Top wines, including Best of Region and Best of California winners, will be showcased at the California State Fair in the Save Mart Wine Garden for visitors to enjoy July 15 through July 31, 2022.
There have been 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. Congratulations to South Coast Winery for winning the Golden State Winery of the Year Award! South Coast won the Golden State Winery of the Year Award in 2008, 2009, 2013 and 2016, making 2022 its fifth win. The total number of medals awarded was 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.
The winners of the 2022 California State Fair Best Commercial Wine Competition are:
Best of Show Rouge:
- Las Positas Vineyards
- Sangiovese 2019
- Livermore Valley
Best of Show White:
- Companion
- 2021 Chenin Blanc
- Clarksburg
Best of Sparkling Show:
- Champagne cellars Korbel
- 2017 Blanc de Noirs, Masters Reserve
- Sonoma County
Best of Show Pink:
- Alexander Valley Vineyards
- 2021 Sangiovese Dry Rose
- Sonoma County
Best dessert of the show:
- Vineyards of Navarre
- 2019 Late Harvest Riesling Cluster
- Anderson Valley
Best value:
- Black Horse
- Sauvignon Blanc 2020
- California
Golden State Winery of the Year:
Best Micro Winery Red:
- Steiner family vineyards
- Barbera n°19 2020
- cooper ranch
- Amador County
Best White Micro Winery:
- Rodrigue Molyneaux Estate Winery and Vineyard
- Pinot Gris 2021
- Livermore Valley
Best Micro Winery Other:
- Rancho de Philo wine estate
- NV Triple Cream Sherry
- Mission Grape
- Cucamonga Valley
Complete results and competition information are available on the California State Fair website at CalExpoStateFair.com/
About the California State Fair
The California State Fair is an award-winning international fair, which has received the highest honors from the International Association of Fairs and Exhibitions among more than 1,100 fairs worldwide. The California State Fair is dedicated to celebrating the best the state has in agriculture, technology and the diversity of its people, traditions and trends that are shaping the future of the Golden State. The 2022 State Fair will feature a full slate of competitions, including California’s top commercial wines, cheeses, craft beers, cannabis, olive oils and fine arts, among others.
