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The philosophy and mission of the Santa Barbara County Fair Wine Competition can be summarized by the following:

  • Celebrate the diversity of varietals, wineries and vineyards that express Santa Barbara County as a world class appellation of origin for premium world class grape-based wines.
  • Help promote the best wines that Santa Barbara County has to offer, and help consumers locate these wines by publishing medal winners, awarding gold, silver and bronze medals that can be displayed in tasting rooms/offices, and allowing medal winners to pour their wines at the Santa Barbara County Fair.
  • Promote wine as a daily mealtime beverage for the general public’s consumption. Wine is not a beverage for the privileged, but instead a beverage for all those that are interested in food, family, friends and the gracious lifestyle that wine represents.
  • Include wine education as one aspect of the County Fair’s wine program.
  • Encourage the Santa Barbara winemaking community to become involved in the Fair through education, pouring their wines, submitting their wines, being a wine judge, and helping to promote our wine region through the Fair’s programs.
  • Promote an “openness” about the judging and the Fair programs that involves the whole Santa Barbara Community. Invite press and those interested to watch the process, get involved, and learn more about wine so they feel more comfortable in drinking, enjoying and sharing their passion with their audience.
  • Involve Alan Hancock College enology/viticulture students, the Santa Barbara County Vintners Association “Bon Vivants ”, home vintners and interested volunteers to ensure service and professionalism during the judging process and throughout the Fair’s Wine Program.
  • Assure the judging is done by competent individuals chosen from consumers, winemakers, viticulturists, purveyors, wine critics and editors. This will ensure that the wines are judged from many points of view, and will represent quality and craftsmanship from all those that would buy and enjoy wine. New judges will be cycled in each year.