Business & Tech
CA's 2025 Best Wines And Winery Of The Year Named By California State Fair
An up-and-coming winery and resort was named the Golden State Winery of the Year for 2025.
TEMECULA, CA — A panel of expert judges tasked with finding the best wine in the Golden State swilled nearly 1,600 wines from more than 300 California wineries to find this year's best of the best.
As it has for more than 150 years, the California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition declared the top wines and Winery of the Year this week.
Among the top prizes are:
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- Golden State Winery of the Year: Europa Village Wineries and Resort, Temecula Valley
- Best of Show — Red: 2023 Barbera, St. Amant Winery, Lodi
- Best of Show — White: 2024 Verdelho, Las Positas Vineyards, Livermore Valley
- Best of Show — Sparkling: 2021 Pinot Meunier, Flying Goat Cellars, Santa Maria Valley
- Best of Show — Dessert: 2022 Orange Muscat Dessert Wine, Quady Winery, Madera
- Best Value — 2024 'Pink Moon' Varietal Rose Blend, Plata Wine Partners, California
- Best of Micro Winery — Red: 2024 Counoise, Docmanov Vineyards and Winery Santa Maria Valley
- Best of Micro Winery — White: 2024 Vermentino, Tiny Vneyards Wine Company, Sierra Foothills
- Best of Micro Winery — Other: 2024 Rose of Cabernet Sauvignon, Great Bear Vineyards, Sierra Foothills
Temecula Valley Wine Country's Europa Village Wineries and Resort was named the Golden State Winery of the Year in the 2025 statewide California State Fair commercial winery competition. According to the California Exposition and State Fair, two other wineries in northern California earned honors for the state's Best White and Best Red wines.
According to Tom Martinez, CEO of the California Exposition & State Fair, this was Temecula Valley's Europa Village Wineries and Resort's first time winning the top prize.
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“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 California State Fair Commercial Wine competition evaluated 1,587 wines, representing 309 of California's top wine brands, according to a recent news release. The competition, which originated in 1854, evaluates wines made with fruit grown in California's 11 growing regions. The competition emphasizes growing regions, of which Temecula is located in Region G of the South Coast Appellations.
A total of 39 judges, overseen by Chief Judge Mark Chandler, reviewed all the wines to identify the winners. The full list of California State Fair 2025 Commercial Wine Competition winners was shared on the California State Fair website.
Europa Village Wineries & Resort owner Dan Stephenson learned of the award one week. General Manager John Goldsmith spoke with Patch on the honor.
"We are beyond honored to share that Europa Village has been named California State Fair's Golden State Winery of the Year!" Goldsmith said. "This prestigious recognition, awarded by the California State Fair, celebrates the winery as the most outstanding in the state, recognizing excellence across the board, from medal wins to the overall quality of the wines produced. "
"This marks the first time we've received this incredible honor," Goldsmith added. "We couldn’t be more proud to bring it home to Temecula Valley Wine Country."
The winners highlighted great wines and wineries throughout California/
The 2024 Estate Reserve Verdelho by Las Positas Vineyards in Livermore won Best of Show: White Wine. According to Las Positas Vineyards General Manager and Partner Brent Amos, the same wine also received Best of Show White Wine at the Alameda County Best of the Bay Competition.
"Winning Best of Show at the CA State Fair is truly an honor. We are passionate about the wines we produce, and this Verdelho is my favorite so far," Amos told Patch in an email. "Las Positas is the only vineyard growing Verdelho in Livermore, though I hope that others will plant this amazing varietal."
See how other wineries fared in the full list of wines that won commercial winery awards in the 2025 competition.
Related:
Midsummer Family Festival at Europa Village Planned For June, 2025: What To Know
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