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Central Coast Home Vintners Association

Upcoming events

    • April 12, 2026
    • 4335 Carolyne Way, Santa Maria

    Vineyard & Farming Hands-On Learning (Ongoing Sessions)

    Hosted by Fred Carbone, Wine Education Chair

    Fred Carbone, a CCHVA member for over 20 years and current Wine Education Chair, is offering hands-on vineyard learning opportunities for members interested in the farming side of winemaking.

    This time of year, Fred’s focus is entirely on the vineyard. Activities include shoot thinning, leaf pulling, tucking vines under trellis wires, and spraying. These sessions provide practical, one-on-one instruction and real-time exposure to vineyard management.

    Fred’s philosophy centers on nurturing the “perfect wine inside every vineyard vintage” and understanding the critical steps required throughout the growing process.

    How to Join:
    Members interested in participating can text Fred directly at 805-264-0611 to find out what he is working on each week and coordinate timing.

    • April 15, 2026
    • 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
    • Old Town Wine & Brew (Orcutt, CA)
    Register

    Wine Evaluation Seminar – Wednesday, April 15 @ 6:30pm
    Old Town Wine & Brew, 165 S Broadway, Orcutt

    Theme:  Bordeaux

    What to Bring:  Bring a bottle or pick one up right there at Old Town Wine & Brew. 

    Our very own experts, Hank & Aaron, will guide us through a fun night of swirling, sniffing, sipping, and sensory analysis.

    • April 16, 2026
    • April 17, 2026
    • Midstatefair.com

    CCHVA – Mid-State Fair Wine Competition Entry Reminder 

    Alright winemakers… it’s go time...  

    Here’s what you need to know:

    Entry Fee:
    $7 per bottle (yes, cheaper than most of the wine you drink “for research”)

    Entry Deadline:
    April 17 – miss this and you’ll be sitting at home convincing yourself your wine “wasn’t ready anyway”. 

    Link:  https://www.midstatefair.com/fair/contest-details.php?id=14

    Delivery:
    Fred Carbone is making life easy for you. He will be delivering wines to Paso Robles on the morning of Thursday, April 23rd.  Get your bottles to Fred before April 22nd or deliver yourself. 


    Competition Details 

    • This is part of the California Mid-State Fair Home Wine Competition

    • Open to amateur winemakers only 

    • Wines are judged by qualified, experienced judges

    • Categories include:

      • Red, White, Rosé

      • Sparkling

      • Dessert wines

      • Fruit wines

    • Awards include medals and bragging rights!


    Entry Requirements 

    • Each bottle must be:

      • Properly filled and sealed 

      • Labeled clearly with:

        • Varietal or type

        • Vintage year

    • You’ll need to complete the official entry form from the fair website

    • Follow category guidelines carefully so your wine doesn’t get judged in the wrong group and quietly humiliated


    Why You Should Enter

    • Get real, unbiased feedback (yes, even if your friends already told you it’s “amazing”)

    • Benchmark your wine against others

    • Learn what actually holds up in judging

    • And let’s be honest… winning feels really good and you will absolutely mention it at every future tasting


    Final Thought

    You made the wine. You stressed over it. You probably talked about it way too much.  Now let someone else judge it!

    Get your entries in by April 17, coordinate with Fred, and let’s show up strong as a club.

    Because nothing says “healthy hobby” like competing over fermented grapes.

    • May 07, 2026
    • 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
    • 4335 Carolyne Way
    Register

    Sulfite Testing & Lab Skills Workshop

    Date: Thursday, May 7

    Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM (with lunch break)
    Hosted by Fred Carbone

    Fred will host a hands-on workshop focused on sulfite testing and essential lab techniques used in winemaking.

    During this session, participants will:

    • Calibrate and use pH meters
    • Run sulfite (SO₂) testing on red wines
    • Use Titrets to measure SO₂ in barreled whites
    • Potentially test serving kegs if needed

    Fred regularly monitors sulfite levels in his barrels monthly and in kegs/carboys every other month, and this session provides a practical look at that process.

    His home setup includes a climate-controlled cellar, vineyard, and lab equipment, offering a true “mini-winery” learning environment.

    • May 20, 2026
    • 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
    • Old Town Wine & Brew (Orcutt, CA)
    Register

    Wine Evaluation Seminar – Wednesday, April 15 @ 6:30pm
    Old Town Wine & Brew, 165 S Broadway, Orcutt

    Theme:  Italian Reds

    What to Bring:  Bring a bottle or pick one up right there at Old Town Wine & Brew. 

    Our very own experts, Hank & Aaron, will guide us through a fun night of swirling, sniffing, sipping, and sensory analysis.

    • June 14, 2026
    • 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
    • Allan Hancock
    Register


    The 2026 West Coast College and University Wine Festival will be hosted by Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria on Saturday, June 14, 2026.

    Central Coast Home Vintners’ Association will be providing the judges, record keeping, and awards determination for this third year of the event. The wine judging will be the morning of the event, from about 9:30 a.m. to about 12:30 p.m.

    The wine festival will feature food and wine from local restaurants and wineries, and all judges and other volunteers will receive admission to the festival.

    Many thanks to all who have helped in the past, and to others who have volunteered to help this year!

    Please contact Rhona Cardinal (jcardinal@msn.com) or John Larson (chemdem@sbcglobal.net) if you are interested in helping with this event. 
    https://www.hancockcollege.edu/winery/festival.php

    • June 28, 2026
    • 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
    • Santa Maria Fairgrounds
    Register


    Central Coast Home Vintners’ Association will be providing the judges, record keeping, and awards determination for this third year of the event. The wine judging will be the morning of the event, from about 9:30 a.m. to about 12:30 p.m.

    Please contact Rhona Cardinal (jcardinal@msn.com) or John Larson (chemdem@sbcglobal.net) if you are interested in helping with this event. 

    • July 11, 2026
    • 11:00 AM
    • 4335 Carolyne Way, Santa Maria
    Registration is closed


    Time to play winemaker without the pressure of owning land in Napa.

    Bring any “extra” or topper wines you’ve got hanging around. We’re going to run some hands-on blending to figure out what each wine brings to the table. We’ll taste, tweak, and dial in blends by identifying what’s strong, what’s missing, and what needs a little help.

    No wine? No excuses. I’ve got Cab and Merlot on standby so nobody’s just standing there pretending to understand tannins.

    If you bring bottles and corks, you can bottle your custom blend on the spot and take home exactly what you brought in. Same volume, upgraded experience.

    Food situation:
    Fred will fire up the SM Pit and we’ll make it a proper backyard hang. The club can pitch in for meat, and everyone else bring something easy to share. Think:

    • Cook-your-own apps
    • Salads
    • Desserts
    • Or whatever makes you look like you tried

    Come ready to experiment, eat well, and leave with something you actually made!

    • July 18, 2026
    • 4335 Carolyne Way, Santa Maria
    Register

     Wine Blending Seminar

     "Play Mad Scientist"

    Date: Saturday, July 18

    Hosted by Fred Carbone

    Back by popular demand, Fred is hosting a wine blending seminar where members can experiment and refine their wines.

    Participants are encouraged to bring:

    • Extra carboys
    • Topper wines or unused batches
    • Bottles and corks (optional, for taking blends home)

    During the session, members will work on creating balanced blends by adjusting:

    • Acidity
    • Fruit expression
    • Oak influence
    • Mouthfeel and structure
    • Finish

    This interactive session is designed to help winemakers better understand how components come together to create a finished wine.

    Additional details will be shared as the event approaches.

  • Register

    Crush Equipment Demonstration

    Timing: Late August or Early September (TBD)
    Hosted by Fred Carbone

    If the crush pad is relocated to Fred’s property this year, he will host a hands-on demonstration of the equipment available for member use.

    This session will cover:

    • How to properly use shared crush equipment
    • Best practices during harvest processing
    • Practical tips based on real harvest workflows

    Fred’s home winery setup, including vineyard, cellar, and equipment, provides a comprehensive environment to learn the full winemaking process from grape to glass.

    Final details will be confirmed once harvest logistics are finalized.

Past events

January 31, 2026 CCHVA Annual Member Meeting
January 21, 2026 Wine Evaluation Seminar - Rosé
January 10, 2026 Tips from the Pros at Pali Winery- event cancelled
December 13, 2025 Carbone Christmas Open House
November 15, 2025 WANTED: Volunteers for LA Cellarmasters Wine Competition
November 10, 2025 Friendsgiving Wine Exchange & Potluck
November 07, 2025 First Friday Tasting @ AHC Winery
October 15, 2025 Wine Evaluation Seminar - Sparkling
October 11, 2025 OKTOBERFEST
September 17, 2025 Wine Evaluation Seminar
August 23, 2025 CCHVA Summer Picnic @ Los Alamos Park
August 23, 2025 Volunteer help for Summer BBQ
August 07, 2025 CCHVA Board Meeting - August 7
June 14, 2025 Allan Hancock Wine Competition
June 09, 2025 2025 Santa Barbara County Fair Homemade Wine competition
May 21, 2025 Wine Evaluation Seminar
May 16, 2025 Early Sign Up Discount - 2025 WineMaker Conference
April 16, 2025 Wine Evaluation Seminar
March 19, 2025 Wine Evaluation Seminar
March 08, 2025 Annual Members Meeting
February 20, 2025 Mythology of Wine
January 18, 2025 Winter Pruning Event
November 17, 2024 Storage Locker Inventory & Clean Up 10am PST
October 30, 2024 Uncork Your Curiosity: Weekly Winemaking Happy Hour
September 22, 2024 Paint in the Vineyards!
September 21, 2024 Oktoberfest @ Tedsen's
August 30, 2024 SIP ‘N STOMP (multiple dates available)
August 03, 2024 CCHVA Summer BBQ @ Los Alamos Park
August 03, 2024 CCHVA Volunteer for Summer BBQ
August 02, 2024 Wine Maker Boot Camp Online
July 28, 2024 Blending Seminar @ Beckmen Vineyards
July 10, 2024 Represent CCHVA @ SB County Fair Wine Booth
June 22, 2024 2024 Santa Barbara County Fair (CCHVA Judging)
June 08, 2024 Allan Hancock 2nd Annual Wine Festival (CCHVA Judging)
June 01, 2024 Santa Barbara County Fair- Wine Entry
May 29, 2024 Wine Evaluation Seminar #3
May 25, 2024 CCHVA Spring Picnic
May 08, 2024 Wine Evaluation Seminar #2
April 17, 2024 Wine Evaluation Seminar #1
April 01, 2024 SBC Fair Home Winemaker Competiton
March 30, 2024 Wine Tasting Boot Camp; Evaluation & Judging
March 23, 2024 Central Coast Home Winemaking Competition
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