“Are you a master maker of wines or homebrews? Show us what you’ve got by entering your best pours into the homebrew and homemade wine contests at the San Diego County Fair, presented by Albertsons|Vons. Entries are now being accepted. Your wine or brew will be judged by professionals, and you’ll even get to taste the competition’s pours. “
Fruits of your labor: Amateur vintners have until March 29 to enter the San Diego Fair’s Homemade Wine Competition to battle for medals, ribbons, and awards. The entry fee is $20. Winners will be on display at the Fair’s Paul Ecke Jr. Garden Show in the Wine Nook Exhibit. An awards ceremony and wine tasting is scheduled for 3-5 p.m. April 28 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. At the awards ceremony, winemakers will be able to purchase discounted tickets to the Fair’s Toast of the Coast Wine Festival.
Entry details are available here or call (858) 792-4207. Winemakers must be 21; competition is not open to professional winemakers or those who have applied for state or federal licensing.
Budding brewers: The homebrew competition, now in its 31st year, allows aspiring brewers to compete for medals and ribbons and have their beer professionally judged. This year’s Best of Show beer will be brewed by The Home Brewing Company, and served at the 2020 San Diego International Beer Festival. The homebrew entry deadline is May 3; entry fee is $10.
New this year is the ‘theme beer’ division. Exhibitors can enter the “OZ-some beer” category, inspired by the San Diego County Fair’s Wizard of Oz theme. The Home Brewing Company will brew a batch of kettle-sourced wort for home brewers and will distribute it to competitors to incorporate into their special blend. The wort pickup is March 16 at The Home Brewing Company in North Park, located at 2911 El Cajon Blvd #2, San Diego, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The wort must be purchased and reserved in advance here. There is a maximum of 5 gallons per brewer, at a cost of $5.
Competitors who enter the homebrew competition will be invited to the private awards ceremony on May 26 with samples of the brews of fellow competitors. You’ll also have a chance to purchase discounted tickets to the 2019 San Diego International Beer Festival, as Session 5 will be dedicated to homebrew exhibitors.
All amateur homebrewers must be at least 21 and cannot be a professional brewer or have applied for state or federal licensing. Entry details are available here, or call (858) 792-4207.
