San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition: History and Background

The San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition (SFCWC) is presented on winejudging.com as "the largest competition of American wines in the world," with award-winning wines selected by professional wine judges. The site documents the competition's past through a dedicated Event History section and links it to the Cloverdale Citrus Fair in Cloverdale, California, which is held each year over Presidents Day weekend in February and described as California's earliest annual fair. The competition has also expanded to include newer events such as the North American Collegiate Wine Bowl.

What the Competition Is

Winejudging.com is the online home of the SFCWC. Its stated purpose is to showcase a competition in which professional wine judges evaluate American wines and select award-winning entries. The site organizes results and related content around that core function.

Key points from the site:

• The competition is described as the largest of its kind for American wines.
• Judging is carried out by professional wine judges.
• Results are published as medal winners, including a "Best of Class" designation.

The Cloverdale Citrus Fair Connection

The site ties the competition to the Cloverdale Citrus Fair in Cloverdale, California. According to the site, the fair is steeped in small-town charm, tradition, and family fun, and takes place each year over Presidents Day weekend in February as California's earliest annual fair.

This association places the competition within a long-running regional event rather than presenting it as a standalone tasting.

Event History on the Site

Winejudging.com maintains an Event History section covering the competition's past. This is the primary place to look for background on how the competition has developed over time.

Medal Winners by Year

The site publishes medal results organized by year, which lets visitors trace the competition's recent record. The years listed on the site include:

This year-by-year archive is the most direct way to see how the competition's outcomes have been recorded over the past decade.

Newer Additions: The Collegiate Wine Bowl

The competition has expanded beyond its original format. At the 2026 SFCWC, the first North American Collegiate Wine Bowl was held, and College Cellars of Walla Walla Community College in southeastern Washington state was the sweepstakes winner.

The site also notes that veteran wine writer Mike Dunne provides expert commentary on Best-of-Class winners. For the 2026 competition, Mike evaluated every Best-of-Class selection before narrowing the field.

Where to Go Next

If you want to explore the competition's background, the Event History section and the year-by-year medal winner pages are the main resources on winejudging.com. For current results, start with the Current Medal Winners and Best of Class listings; for historical context, work backward through the annual medal winner archives.