Central Coast Home Vintners upcoming events

Vineyard & Farming Hands-On Learning (Ongoing Sessions) (April 12, 2026)

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

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.

Wine Evaluation Seminar (April 15, 2026)

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 01:30:00 GMT

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.

Mid-State Fair Wine Competition Entry REMINDER (April 16, 2026)

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

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.

Sulfite Testing & Lab Skills Workshop (May 07, 2026)

Thu, 07 May 2026 14:00:00 GMT

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.

Wine Evaluation Seminar (May 20, 2026)

Thu, 21 May 2026 01:30:00 GMT

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.

Allan Hancock Wine Competition (June 14, 2026)

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 16:30:00 GMT

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

Santa Barbara County Fair Homemade Wine competition (June 28, 2026)

Sun, 28 Jun 2026 16:30:00 GMT

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

Wine Blending Seminar (July 11, 2026)

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 15:00:00 GMT

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!

Wine Blending Seminar – “Play Mad Scientist” (July 18, 2026)

Sat, 18 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

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.

Crush Equipment Demonstration (August 01, 2026)

Sat, 01 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

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.