Featuring the Lum Eisenman Best in Show Award for commercial, amateur and vineyard!
The RVVA invites you to participate in its annual wine competition. This event is open to commercial and amateur wine makers. All wines must be made from grapes grown in San Diego County. Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals will be awarded to wines during a double-blind judging.
New this year: A best-in-show vineyard award will be awarded to the vineyard producing the most award-winning wines!
Each year, awards are chosen from entries of red, white, rosé, sparkling and dessert wines made from grapes grown in San Diego County. The RVVA Wine Competition (previously the Lum Eisenman/San Diego County Wine Competition) was created to give individual winemakers constructive feedback on their techniques and results and to improve winemaking throughout San Diego County.
Lum Eisenman was born and raised in Riverside, CA and migrated to Del Mar in 1971 with his wife. A physicist by profession, he was also an amateur winemaker from youth. Lum Eisenman became a mentor for San Diego vineyard owners, and the founder of the San Diego Amateur Winemaking Society. He has written dozens of articles and The Home Winemakers Manual is considered an authority by many throughout the United States.
IMPORTANT DATES:
- April 1: Entries go live
- May 26: Deadline for Entries
- May 18 & 19 and May 25 & 26: Delivery of Entry Wines (Contact drop-off location to arrange for other delivery dates. Deadline is May 26)
- June 5: Competition Judging – Double-blind tasting with our elite panel of judges.
WINE ENTRY INSTRUCTIONS:
- ENTRY FORMS: Entries must be completed online.
- PAYMENT: ($45 per wine entry) submit payment for your entries by credit card, you will then be directed to the entry forms, please complete the required entry selections.
- CONFIRMATION: Once the form is completed, you will receive an email with the drop off locations.
- WINE DROP-OFF: Please deliver your wine(s) at one of the drop-off locations on either weekend: May 18 &19 or May 25 &26.
- BOTTLE REQUIREMENT: 2 bottles are required for each entry.
- GRAPE ORIGINATION: 100% of all grapes used to produce wine must be grown in San Diego County.
Awards will be presented at the Awards Banquet currently scheduled for June 20, 2024. Feedback, including scores and comments from the judges will be provided to each entry after the awards banquet.
AWARDS BANQUET DETAILS:
- DATE & TIME: June 20, 2024 at 6:00pm
- LOCATION: Ramona Outdoor Community Center – 421 Aqua Lane, Ramona, CA 92065
- MENU: Greek Salad, Greek Lemon Chicken with Tzatziki Sauce, Herby Grilled Summer Veggies, Naan Bread with Olive Oil & Zaatar, Greek Orange Phyllo Cake
- DETAILS: This is a 21 and over event. Ticket purchase grants entry to awards dinner with the award-winning wines.
Questions? Contact Kim Whalin, Event Chair at cheesefromcave@gmail.com or 858-334-9840.
