The Pacific Rim International Wine Competition was founded in 1985 by a group of winemakers, vintners and educators passionate about making great wines accessible to the public. The Pacific Rim Competition is held at the historic National Orange Show Fairgrounds in San Bernardino, California for two days in every April.
Our goal at the Pacific Rim Wine Competition is to give thoughtful evaluation to every wine entered, and to celebrate high quality wines of all styles, from all regions of the world. Our esteemed panel of judges represent all aspects of the wine industry, including Master Sommeliers, award-winning winemakers, impressive distributors, educators and restaurateurs, to name a few.
Over the course of two days, our judges engage in a blind tasting of every wine entered into the Competition. The wines are discussed, evaluated and awarded medals accordingly. The Results List is published within two days, and publicized on social media, as well as to numerous wine distributors and importers. Award-winning wineries are given medals to showcase at their wineries and medal logo templates to feature on their wine bottles. Wines receiving a Best in Show or Best in Class Award will also receive tasting notes from a Certified Sommelier to feature on their social media accounts, website and newsletters.
We look forward to toasting your great wine achievements. Cheers!
Spreti Valente is an accomplished sommelier, professional wine judge, Wine Buyer and consultant. Her career as a wine judge took off when she began judging at the Los Angeles International Wine Competition, and she has since judged at many prestigious wine competitions in both the United States and Europe, such as the Pacific Rim Wine Competition, San Francisco Chronicle, Sunset Magazine Wine Competition, International Women’s Wine Competition, Sonoma Harvest, Press Democrat Wine Competition, Feminalise (Paris, France), and International Wine Challenge (London). Spreti was appointed as the chief judge for the Pacific Rim Wine Competition in 2017 and in 2021, she became the first woman to be appointed as Chair at the Los Angeles International Wine Competition, which is the oldest wine competition in the United States. For 15 years, Spreti worked as the senior wine buyer at the top-rated wine shop in Orange County, California.
Don Galleano was a third-generation vintner and winegrower at the Historic Cantú-Galleano Ranch, the oldest winemaking operation in Riverside County. He was a leader in local and regional water agencies, serving on the Western Municipal Water District Board of Directors, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, and the Chino Basin Watermaster. Don was also a preservationist, a founder of the Jurupa Valley Pro Rodeo, and balanced historical protections with economic realities. He was a family man, a history buff, and a lover of good food and wine. Don managed to create a sense of community wherever he went and established his “home away from home” at The California Club in Downtown Los Angeles. He put Galleano Winery on the map, and the winery now produces its signature zinfandel, sherries, and ports. Don’s legacy extends beyond winegrowing. He was a community leader, serving as President of the Western Riverside County Businessman’s Association and the Jurupa Chamber of Commerce and Chairman of the Pacific Rim Wine Competition. He was also on the boards of the National Orange Show Foundation and Los Angeles County Fair Association. Don is survived by his three children, Gina Spraggins, Annamarie Metter, and Domenic Galleano, and seven grandchildren.