The Wine Competition Results Are In
I’m excited to share that Vino Olivo’s wines have been recognized across multiple competitions in 2026. Our 2025 Grenache earned a Gold medal at the California Signature Wine Awards in Alameda County. At the Orange County Fair Commercial Wine Competition, we received Silver medals for both our 2025 Sauvignon Blanc and 2025 Golden Cuvée Chardonnay. Rounding things out, our 2025 Rosé Amor was awarded a Bronze medal at the California State Fair.
These results reflect the care and intention we put into every bottle, and we’re proud to be recognized alongside so many talented winemakers across California and the United States. That said, don’t just take our word—or the judges’—for it. Come taste the wines for yourself.
How Wine Competitions Work
If you’ve ever wondered how wine competitions are judged, many—including these—use the UC Davis 20-point system (which I studied at UC Davis). This method evaluates specific characteristics of a wine to create a structured and objective framework. For those who are curious, I’ve listed the components at the end.
While systems like this aim to create a level playing field, wine is still deeply personal. Judging can assess balance, clarity, and varietal accuracy, but it doesn’t capture individual reactions—the spontaneous “I like this,” “Yummy,” or “Another glass, please.” Nor does it reflect the winemaker’s original vision.
2025 Releases
For example, I intentionally crafted our Chardonnay to be rich and butterscotch-forward through barrel fermentation and aging. That was the goal from the moment the grapes were pressed. In competition, however, there’s often no distinction between stainless steel and barrel-fermented styles, even though they can taste completely different.
When creating our 2025 Mourvèdre Rosé, I aimed for something softer and more subtle. Compared to a more aromatic Grenache Rosé, it may not stand out as much in categories like aroma and bouquet. Am I disappointed with a Bronze medal? Not at all. I made the wine I set out to create—for those who enjoy and appreciate that style. Hopefully, when you try it, you’ll think it deserves a “Gold.”
At the end of the day, I make wines with you—our customers—in mind. These current releases have been incredibly well received, and I stand behind the quality and craftsmanship in every bottle. As we look ahead to releasing our Cabernet Franc and Barbera this holiday season, I’m confident you’ll feel the same.
We’d love for you to celebrate these awards with us—whether that’s at one of our events, at a local restaurant that carries our wines, or by picking up a bottle at the McCauley Olive Groves store. As always, I’d love to hear what you think.
UC Davis 20-Point System
- Appearance (1): Color and clarity
- Color (2): Visual appeal
- Aroma & Bouquet (4): Intensity and quality
- Volatile Acidity (2): Balance of acidity
- Total Acidity (2): Balance of acidity
- Sugar (1): Appropriateness of sweetness
- Body (1): Texture and viscosity
- Flavor (1): Taste profile
- Astringency (1): Tannin balance
- General Quality (2): Overall impression
