Make wine? Enter it in the California State Fair Home Wine Competition. Amateur winemakers are encouraged to send entries for the 2008 contest. They will be accepted from May 27 to June 28.

I gotta say, I’ve tasted some decent home juice, most of it hailing from Contra Costa County. So don’t be shy. The Home Wine Competition is open to those 21 and older.
You must be a California resident and not work in a professional wine producing capacity or own a commercial winery. Well, that narrows it down to most of mankind.

Private judging begins July 16 at the Wine and Roses Hotel, Restaurant and Spa in Lodi. All wines entered will be given judge’s tasting notes and scores. The awards ceremony will be held Aug. 27 during the 2008 California State Fair at Cal Expo in Sacramento.

Last year, Richard Valentine of Saratoga won Best of Show (red) for his 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon and Rex Johnston and Barbara Bentley of Walnut Creek won Best of Show (white) for their 2004 Voignier.

Interested home winemakers can find competition details at Big Fun. Those with additional questions should contact G.M. “Pooch” Pucilowski, Home Wine Director, at
(916) 961-6150 or GMPooch@pacbell.net.