(SACRAMENTO, CA) - 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)
In 2025, the most prestigious title, Golden State Winery of the Year, was shared by two outstanding producers: Nichelini Family Winery, honored for receiving the highest average scores among their top ten entries and Europa Village Winery & Resort in Temecula, recognized for earning the most overall awards. Together, they represent both the innovative and heritage strengths of California winemaking.
“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 Wineries of the Year:
Nichelini Family Winery
Europa Village Winery & Resort
