What better way to spend a summer day than tasting Gold Coast Wine Competition wines along the Gold Coast? Ventura County winemaker Steve Holt, a frequent judge, realized that the Ventura County Fair was missing something– a commercial wine competition that would celebrate and showcase local and regional wines, and even wines from beyond the central and southern coastal regions. So in 2024, Steve Holt started the “Gold Coast Wine Competition” with a published mission to “celebrate the best in winemaking from vineyards across Ventura County and the broader Central Coast AVA—recognizing craftsmanship in every varietal.” Sue and I tasted and paired some of them–read more here at “Winning Wines from the Ventura County Fair with Summer Pairs.” So which wines won at the 2026 Gold Coast Wine Competition?