Mid-State Fair Announces Winners of Central Coast Vinegar Competition

The 2019 Central Coast Vinegar Competition is proud to announce the award-winning vinegars from its 6th-annual blind-tasting event, held June 20 at the California Mid-State Fair.

Best in Show went to IL Fiorello’s Winter Fruit Orange and Pomegranate Vinegar (Fairfield). The honor came after judges awarded it a Double Gold Medal in the Flavored Class. 

Other Gold Medal recipients include: IL Fiorello’s Blood Orange Vinegar (Fairfield), Virginia Vinegar Works’ Chardonnay Vinegar (Shipman, Va.), Broken Clock Vinegar Works’ Lemon and Golden Beet Vinegar (Solvang), The Old-Time Vinegar Company’s Coffee Stout Beer Vinegar (Fort Collins, Colo.), Virginia Vinegar Works’ Cabernet Franc Vinegar and Virginia Vinegar Works’ Nectarine Vinegar. 

The Silver Medal recipients include: Broken Clock Vinegar Works’ Prickly Pear and Blackberry Vinegar, Broken Clock Vinegar Works’ Prickly Pear and Raspberry Vinegar, Santa Barbara Blueberries’ Blueberry Vinegar (Gaviota), The Old-Time Vinegar Company’s Red Wine Vinegar and The Old-Time Vinegar Company’s Apple Cider Vinegar. 

Packaging and Design Winners: Gold: IL Fiorello’s Red Wine Vinegar Silver: Right Bee Cider Vinegar’s Apple Cider Vinegar (Chicago, IL) Bronze: IL Fiorello’s Winter Fruit- Orange and Pomegranate Vinegar 

The judging took place at Estrella Hall on June 20 at the California Mid-State Fair. The panel of judges for the vinegar tasting was led by Chief Judge Tim McDonald of Wine & Spirits Spoken Here. 

“This year’s vinegar entries were the most diverse and best to date,” Chief Judge Tim McDonald said. “I look forward to see how next year can top it because these vinegars were hard to beat.”