G.M.Pooch” Pucilowski is Chief Judge of the prestigious annual California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition, the associated California's Grape & Gourmet event, and
the California State Home Winemakers Competition. Want to find out more? Want to become a volunteer? See below or go to the Best of California Wine web site
for more information.

2012 Wine Competitions

Consumer Wine Awards - March 17 & 18

California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition - June 6, 7 & 8

California State Fair Grape & Gourmet - tbd

California State Fair Home Wine Competition -
tbd

Consumer
Wine Awards
Held in Lodi, California

March 17 & 18, 2012

The Consumer Wine Awards is a new competition designed around wine consumers. No professional judges are hired. Instead consumers are selected based on profiles created from surveys. Want to be a judge? Curious about taking the survey? Go to http://www.ConsumerWineAwards.com

• Consumer Wine Awards held in Lodi, California.
• 2012 competition judging March 17 & 18.
• Open to any commercial winery in the
  United States or the World.
• Usually, wineries may start entering wines for the competition about January 3.
  
• For results, go to
  http://www.ConsumerWineAwards.com
  or email Pooch at gmpooch@me.com
  or call (209) 369-2020.

"Pooch's insights and
help were invaluable in
getting our wine compe-
tition off the ground."

- Brian Miller
Event Coordinator

Seminars

For staff or for public events, Pooch has a variety of fun wine seminars to meet your
needs.

Tours

Bus, limo or
van to wineries for private
guided tours,
one-on-one,
or group
seminars.

California State Fair
Commercial Wine
Competition
Best of the Barrel!

June 6, 7 & 8, 2012

Wineries from all over California take part in the
2010 California State Fair Wine Judging Competition. This three-day competition is expected to bring out the best of the best winemakers. Wines are judged by an elite group of trained judges from across the nation.

From champagne to zinfandel, judges are expected to sip and spit nearly 3,000 wines, awarding medals to this year’s best of the barrel!

• Competition judging June 6, 7 & 8.
  
• Open only to wineries that use California
  grapes exclusively.
• Entry dates for wineries are April 16 to May 4.
  Paperwork and rules for entering are at
  http://www.bigfun.org/Competitions/
  competition_information.asp
  
• email Pooch at gmpooch@me.com 
  or call (209) 369-2020.

Read about it in the news!
"Wine Buzz: Here come the judges"

Read about it in the news!
"The Good Life: Let's Grape &
Gourmet - and Wine & Dine"

Grape & Gourmet
90 restaurants
25 Micro-breweries
300 wineries

Date: to be determined

As in years’ past, many of the award-winning wines will be showcased at the 18th annual Grape and Gourmet. This event presents some of the best of California's wines along with gourmet tastes from the regions best up-and-
coming and long-established restuarants.

Grape & Gourmet is scheduled to be held on the fairgrounds in Sacramento.

Tickets go on sale in May 2012 and can be purchased at the State Fair Box Office or online at tickets.com. Tickets will also be sold at the door.
Discount group rates.

Wine tasting/Press conference prior
From 5:30 to 8:30 pm.

Purchase tickets at
http://www.thebestcaliforniawine.com/
page_grape_gourmet.html

California State
Home Winemakers
Competition

Date: to be determined

In collaboration with the California State Fair, the Amador Winemakers Association and the Lodi Amateur Vintners’ Association will sponsor the California State Home Winemakers Competition. More than 600 home winemakers from all over Northern California are
expected to participate in this unique competition, which will be held at the beautiful Wine & Roses in Lodi. Building on the tradition of the prestigious California State Fair Wine Judging Competition, this event promises
to be a truly extraordinary event for everyone.

Calling All Home Winemaker Participants
and Volunteers!

If you are interested in participating as a home winemaker or would like to volunteer at this year’s event, e-mail G.M. "Pooch" Pucilowski or call (209) 369-2020 for more information. If you’re a wine lover and have never volunteered at such an event, you’re sure to have a fun
time!

• Competition judging for 2012 TBD.
  
• Open only to HOME winemakers that reside in the State of California.
• HOME winemakers may enter starting in
  TBD.
• Paperwork and rules for entering are at
  http://www.bigfun.org/Competitions/
  competition_information.asp
  or email Pooch at gmpooch@me.com 
  or call (209) 369-2020.