The California Mid-State Fair is now accepting entries for the 2026 Central Coast Wine Competition and California Craft Spirits Competition, celebrating the hard work, innovation, and dedication of the wineries and craft distilleries that help define California agriculture.
Wineries and distilleries are encouraged to enter now before the Early Bird registration deadline on Sunday, May 17, 2026. Final registration closes Tuesday, May 26, 2026.
Each year, the California Mid-State Fair hosts the Central Coast Wine Competition and California Craft Spirits Competition to recognize and celebrate two of the region’s most distinctive and celebrated agricultural products — wine and craft spirits. Entries are evaluated through a professional blind judging process, where wines and spirits are scored solely on quality and merit by panels of experienced judges.
The California Mid-State Fair celebrates medal-winning entries by displaying winning bottles during the Fair, featuring award-winning distilleries in the popular Get Crafty Mixology Competition, hosting the Gold Medal Winner Wine Tasting event, and spotlighting the Winery of the Year and Distillery of the Year with billboards on the Cuesta Grade each fall.
“The Central Coast is home to an incredible community of wine and spirits makers, and we’re proud to celebrate the passion and talent behind these products,” said Colleen Bojorquez, CEO of the California Mid-State Fair. “These competitions showcase two of the most exciting and innovative parts of local agriculture while highlighting the people and stories that make our region unique.”
Competition Registration Deadlines:
Early Bird Registration Deadline
• Wine Competition: Sunday, May 17, 2026
• Spirits Competition: Sunday, May 17, 2026
Final Registration Deadline
• Wine Competition: Tuesday, May 26, 2026
• Spirits Competition: Tuesday, May 26, 2026
To register, visit: www.centralcoastwinecomp.com
About the Central Coast Wine Competition:
The Central Coast Wine Competition is the largest wine evaluation event recognizing wines produced exclusively from vinifera grapes grown throughout California’s Central Coast regions. The competition celebrates the exceptional quality, diversity, and craftsmanship of commercial wineries and grape growers while spotlighting one of the fastest-growing and most respected wine-producing regions in the state.
About the California Craft Spirits Competition: The California Craft Spirits Competition helps promote the craft distillers producing some of the finest artisan spirits both inside and outside of California, while providing participating distillers valuable professional feedback on the quality and craftsmanship of their spirits. The competition is produced and managed by the California Mid-State Fair.
The CA Mid-State Fair takes place July 15–26, 2026 and this year's theme is Back to the '80s. More information at midstatefair.com
