On June 4, 2025, the Ramona Valley Vineyard Association (RVVA) hosted its highly anticipated annual Wine Competition at Correcaminos Vineyard and Winery in Ramona. The event brought together nine distinguished judges, including wine makers, buyers, and experts with advanced wine education. These professionals sampled a total of 91 wines crafted from locally grown grapes in San Diego County. Participants in the competition included both amateur and professional winemakers, regardless of RVVA membership status.
Judges Evaluate Wines Blindly, Scoring on Quality, Not Against Each Other’s Entries
The wine competition was structured around three judging panels, each consisting of three professionals. These panels evaluated three to five wines at a time in a rigorous blind tasting format. Top-performing wines were re-evaluated by all nine judges to determine the prestigious Best of Show awards. Wines were assessed on multiple attributes such as appearance, aroma, taste, texture, aftertaste, and overall impression, with a maximum of 20 points awarded to each wine.
Ramona Valley Showcases Local Talent at 2025 Wine Competition With 91 Entries Judged BlindThe competition offers a range of honors, including Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals, along with the Lum Eisenman Best of Show Awards for both commercial and amateur wines. A special Best of Show Vineyard Award will also be presented to the vineyard that produces the most winning entries. According to organizer Kim Whalin, the wines are judged individually and not ranked against one another, meaning multiple wines in a single category can receive the same level of recognition.
Fair Scoring and Festive Awards Banquet Highlight Ramona’s Celebrated Wine Competition
Linda Glau, a CPA and the event’s official scorekeeper, emphasized the impartial nature of the competition. She noted that each wine is scored independently based on its own merits rather than in comparison to others. The scores from the judges are averaged within each panel to yield a final rating, ensuring fairness and transparency in the results. Approximately 30 wines are evaluated by each panel.
The winners of the 2025 RVVA Wine Competition will be formally announced at a celebratory awards banquet on Wednesday, June 25, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Oaks Grille in San Vicente Resort. Attendees will have the opportunity to sample all 91 wines featured in the competition. The event will also include an Italian dinner and live Americana music by Glenn Smith, offering a festive conclusion to this respected local wine event.
