The California State Fair is proud to announce the winners of the 2025 California Commercial Wine Competition. As one of the nation’s most respected wine competitions, Chief Judge Mark Chandler led 39 expert judges to taste and evaluate 1,587 wines representing 309 of California’s top wine brands.

Dating back to 1854, the California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition is the oldest and most prestigious wine competition in the United States, continuing a legacy of honoring the very best of the Golden State.

The competition is open exclusively to wines made with fruit grown and produced in California’s 11 wine growing regions. Wines are judged by class, varietal, style, and growing region, celebrating the depth and diversity of California’s winemaking industry. The judging was held over three days at Cal Expo.

Top honors this year include:

Best of Show Red – 2023 Barbera by St. Amant Winery

Best of Show White – 2024 Verdelho by Las Positas Vineyards (Livermore Valley)

The most prestigious title, Golden State Winery of the Year, was awarded to Europa Village Winery & Resort in Temecula, marking their first time receiving the honor.

“The Commercial Wine Competition is a true celebration of California’s rich agricultural heritage and the incredible talent of our state’s winemakers,” said Tom Martinez, CEO of the California Exposition & State Fair. “We’re proud to showcase these award-winning wines at the Fair and give our guests a chance to experience the best of the Golden State.”

The 2025 Top California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition winners are:

Golden State Winery of the Year:

Europa Village Winery & Resort

Best of Show Red:
St. Amant Winery
2023 Barbera
Lodi

Best of Show White:
Las Positas Vineyards
2024 Verdelho
Livermore Valley

Best of Show Sparkling:
Flying Goat Cellars
2021 Pinot Meunier Sparkling Wine 
Santa Maria Valley

Best of Show Dessert:

Quady Winery

2022 Orange Muscat Dessert Wine

Madera

Best Value:
Plata Wine Partners
2024 ‘Pink Moon’ Varietal Rose Blend
California

Best Micro Winery Red:
Docmanov Vineyards & Winery
2024 Counoise
Santa Maria Valley

Best Micro Winery White:
Tiny Vineyards Wine Company
2024 Vermentino
Sierra Foothills

Best Micro Winery Other:

Great Bear Vineyards

2024 Rose of Cabernet Sauvignon

Sierra Foothills

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.