HOMEMADE WINE

Competition Timeline

Eligibility

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2025 LOCAL RULES

1. Completion of online entry registration shall be deemed acceptance of all rules. Acceptance includes permission to use your name, photograph, and exhibit for the news media.
2. Online registration is required in all departments and for one-day contests. Online entries are accepted until 8:00pm (Pacific Time) on the deadline day for online entry registration, unless otherwise stated.
3. Once registered, the description, title, and price may not be changed. Substitutions will not be allowed. Fair Management is not responsible for errors on entry forms which may lead to elimination or disqualification of an entry.
4. Processing fees must be paid online at the time of registration. Processing fees are non-refundable.
5. Exhibitors must be living at the time the entry form and/or online entry is submitted.
6. All non-livestock entries must be the creative work of the exhibitor (whose name appears on the entry registration), be in good taste, and suitable for family viewing. Fair Management reserves the right to disqualify any entry/exhibit it deems objectionable or not in accordance with competition standards.
7. If an entry is disqualified after judging is complete, no changes will be made to the status of awards given for other entries.
8. Exhibitors are responsible for obtaining necessary permission from models and/or to use material in their entry that is considered copyrighted.
9. No entry will be accepted should the exhibitor describe the conditions under which he/she will exhibit, or the exhibit will be displayed.
10. Judges are qualified in the medium(s) they are judging. New judges may be chosen each year, and judges may be assigned to different divisions/classes from year to year.
11. If a coordinator or judge deems an entry to be in the incorrect category, division, class, etc., he or she may direct the Entry Office to move that entry as appropriate. The Entry Office may combine divisions or classes to create an adequate judging pool.
12. Fair Management reserves the right to limit entries, and display thereof, to facilities available and to cancel any division or class in which, in its judgment, the entries are insufficient to secure adequate competition.
13. Entries must be delivered on the date(s) and times specified. Entries will not be accepted before or after the stated entry delivery date. All accepted exhibits must remain on display and shall not be removed until the stated entry pick up date. Any exhibit not picked up on the specified date becomes the property of the San Diego County Fair and will be disposed of promptly.
14. All exhibits are entered and shown at the owner’s risk. Reasonable care will be taken to prevent loss or damage to exhibits, but in no event will the 22nd District Agricultural Association (San Diego County Fair) be responsible for any injury or loss which may occur or for the actions of third parties. Insurance, if desired, should be obtained by the exhibitor at his/her own expense.
15. Any person who violates any Local, State, or Department rule or displays unethical conduct will forfeit all privileges and premiums and be subject to such penalty as the 22nd District Agricultural Association (San Diego County Fair) may order.
16. To ensure reliable award notification, exhibitors are responsible for submitting all address, phone number and email address updates promptly in writing to entry@sdfair.com or Entry Department, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd, Del Mar, CA 92014.
17. Premium money will be paid per the recorded placings in the official judging books rather than the ribbon attached to the exhibit.
18. Donated Award recipients will be selected per the instructions given on the Donated Award Confirmation Form submitted by the donor.
19. Premium, donated cash award, and auction checks will be made payable to the exhibitor as listed on the online entry registration. Checks will be mailed within 30 days after the close of the Fair to the address shown on the online entry registration, or as updated by the exhibitor via written notification to the Entry Office. Auction checks may be held longer if the buyer has not paid. Checks not cashed within 6 months from the date of issue will be forfeited. Replacement checks may be subject to a $35 stop payment fee.
20. The 22nd District Agricultural Association (San Diego County Fair) is required by the Internal Revenue Service to report any premiums paid totaling the amount of $600 or more. Exhibitors may be required to submit a W-9 form.
21. The 22nd District Agricultural Association management reserves the right to amend or add to these rules; the 22nd District Agricultural Association (San Diego County Fair) assumes no liability or responsibility not herein expressed.

California State Rules apply and are available here.

Entry Limit

Entry Fees

Fair Tickets

How to Enter

1. After reading all entry materials, click the “Enter Now” link below to go to the ShoWorks Entry Homepage.
2. Register as an Exhibitor.
3. Select the appropriate division and class and input the required information. (See “Divisions and Classes” below for a list of all divisions and classes.) Limit descriptions to 100 characters.
4. Review your entry before completing registration to ensure that you have entered the correct division and class for each entry.
5. Click the check-out button and pay for all entries.
6. Read the confirmation statement and type YES. Do not click multiple times, as it will charge you each time.

If you plan to make changes to your entries or need to leave ShoWorks at any time, SAVE YOUR CART before exiting out.

For additional help with entering and uploading images, review this detailed step-by-step guide: Entry Tutorial

Still have questions?
Please call or email the Entry Office.
Phone: (858) 792-4207, Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm

Delivery

All entries must be delivered to the Fairgrounds. Please refer to the Exhibition Timeline for in-person delivery dates. Exhibitors will be emailed additional delivery instructions including a map showing access to the Fairgrounds.

How to Prepare Your Entry for Delivery

Entries must meet Fair rules and judges’ standards for quality and presentation. Entries will be chilled prior to judging as appropriate. Exhibitors should not deliver the wine chilled. Each wine shall consist of one (1) full standard 750 ml wine bottle at time of delivery, labeled with exhibitor name, phone number, and bottle contents. Entries in Division 1513 (Port and Dessert Wine) may be submitted in a 375 ml bottle. Proprietary labels are allowed. Specially designed carafes, jars, bottles, or containers will not be accepted. Partial bottles will be disqualified. Exhibitors’ entries (wine bottles) will not be returned.

Judging & Awards

Judges evaluate the entries and select award winners in an onsite closed judging location.

Special Awards

Label Design Competition

Every entry in the Homemade Wine competition is automatically entered in the Label Design Competition. Judges will vote for their favorite labels at the end of the wine judging. The top five entries that receive the most votes will receive ribbons.

Results will be announced at the Homemade Wine Awards Reception and posted on the San Diego County Fair’s website by the second week of the Fair.

Private Tasting and Awards Ceremony

Exhibitors will receive two (2) tickets to attend the private tasting and awards ceremony. All entrants must bring a completed waiver form (available at entry drop-off, or by contacting the Entry Office). The exhibitor must be present with their guest when checking in to the event. Only ticket holders will be admitted. No one under the age of 21 will be permitted at the awards ceremony.

All wines entered in the competition will be available for tasting at the awards ceremony. No outside wine bottles or food will be permitted at the awards ceremony and tasting event. Light refreshments will be served. Opened and empty bottles are not permitted to leave the building. No exceptions will be made to this rule.

Division 1511: Blended Red Wine

Class 001 Blended Red Bordeaux Varietals

Class 002 Blended Red Italian Varietals

Class 003 Blended Red Miscellaneous Varietals, Dry

Class 004 Blended Red Miscellaneous Varietals, Medium Dry

Class 005 Blended Red Miscellaneous Varietals, Medium Sweet

Class 006 Blended Red Miscellaneous Varietals, Sweet

Class 007 Blended Red Rhone Varietals

Class 008 Blended Red Spanish Varietals

Division 1512: Blended White Wine

Class 001 Blended White Bordeaux Varietals

Class 002 Blended White Italian Varietals

Class 003 Blended White Miscellaneous Varietals, Dry

Class 004 Blended White Miscellaneous Varietals, Medium Dry

Class 005 Blended White Miscellaneous Varietals, Medium Sweet

Class 006 Blended White Miscellaneous Varietals, Sweet

Class 007 Blended White Rhone Varietals

Class 008 Blended White Spanish Varietals

Division 1513: Dessert Wine

Class 001 Red Dessert Wines

Class 002 White Dessert Wines

Class 003 Fortified Red Wines (Port)

Class 004 Fortified White Wines (Sherry)

Division 1514: Red Wine

Class 001 Aglianico

Class 002 Alicante Bouschet

Class 003 Barbera

Class 004 Cabernet Franc

Class 005 Cabernet Sauvignon

Class 006 Carignane

Class 007 Charbono (Bonarda)

Class 008 Gamay (Valdiguie)

Class 009 Grenache

Class 010 Malbec

Class 011 Merlot

Class 012 Montepulciano

Class 013 Mourvedre (Mataro)

Class 014 Nebbiolo

Class 015 Petit Verdot

Class 016 Petite Sirah

Class 017 Pinot Noir

Class 018 Sagrantino

Class 019 Sangiovese

Class 020 Syrah

Class 021 Tempranillo

Class 022 Teroldego

Class 023 Zinfandel

Class 024 Other Red Varietals

Division 1515: Rosé Wine

Class 001 Rosé, Dry

Class 002 Rosé, Medium Dry

Class 003 Rosé, Medium Sweet

Class 004 Rosé, Sweet

Division 1516: Sparkling Wine

Class 001 Blanc de Blanc

Class 002 Blanc de Noir

Class 003 Brut

Class 004 Brut Zero

Class 005 Demi Sec

Class 006 Doux

Class 007 Extra Dry

Class 008 Flavored

Class 009 Rosé

Class 010 Sweet

Division 1517: White Wine

Class 001 Albariño

Class 002 Arneis

Class 003 Chardonnay

Class 004 Chenin Blanc

Class 005 Falanghina

Class 006 Gewurztraminer

Class 007 Grenache Blanc

Class 008 Gruner Veltliner

Class 009 Malvasia Bianca

Class 010 Marsanne

Class 011 Muscat

Class 012 Pinot Blanc

Class 013 Pinot Grigio

Class 014 Pinot Gris

Class 015 Riesling, Dry

Class 016 Riesling Medium, Dry

Class 017 Riesling Medium, Sweet

Class 018 Riesling Sweet

Class 019 Rousanne

Class 020 Sauvignon Blanc

Class 021 Semillion

Class 022 Symphony

Class 023 Verdelho

Class 024 Vermentino

Class 025 Viognier

Class 026 Other White Varietals

Division 1518: Fruit Wine

Class 001 Fruit, with Stone, Dry

Class 002 Fruit, non-Stone, Dry

Class 003 Fruit, with Stone, Sweet

Class 004 Fruit, non-Stone, Sweet

Class 005 Blended Fruit, Dry

Class 006 Blended Fruit, Sweet