The Winemakers' Cookoff gives local wineries and breweries a chance to showcase more than what they can pour, but their culinary skills as well. The event offers four competition categories for participants: the People’s Choice Award, Judges’ Award, Professional Chef Award, and Spirit Award. Meet the 2024 winners!
The wineries and breweries participating in the annual Rotary Club of Paso Robles Winemakers' Cookoff fundraiser make every attempt to impress participants and judges by pouring great pairings with the food they offer and often go above and beyond to delight attendees with fun themes to show off their fundraising spirit. Many wineries and breweries return year after year to vie for the top awards, but each year brings new competitors to the event as well, leaving no shortage of food, wine, or beer to sample. The 25th event, held August 10, 2024, was no different. In fact, many participants felt that the food was even more elevated this year than in prior years.
The event offers four competition categories for participants: the People’s Choice Award, Judges’ Award, Professional Chef Award, and Spirit Award. The People's Choice Award is voted on by attendees dropping tickets in a canister at the winery or brewery booth. The Judges’ Award and Professional Chef Award are both selected by a panel of judges. And the Spirit Award is selected by a committee, although this year the District Governor for the Rotary Club of Paso Robles held the honors.
The 2024 Winemakers' Cookoff Winners
People’s Choice Award
1st Cal Coast Brewery
2nd Eberle Winery
3rd Tobin James
Honorable Mention Vina Robles
2nd Eberle Winery
3rd Tobin James
Honorable Mention Vina Robles
Judges’ Award
1st Sextant
2nd Ecluse
3rd Dubost
Honorable Mention Hoyt
2nd Ecluse
3rd Dubost
Honorable Mention Hoyt
Professional Chef Award
1st Eberle
2nd Ancient Peaks
3rd Cal Coast Brewery
Honorable Mention Vinyl
2nd Ancient Peaks
3rd Cal Coast Brewery
Honorable Mention Vinyl
Spirit Award
1st Tobin James
2nd Vina Robles
3rd Hoyt
2nd Vina Robles
3rd Hoyt
To date, the Paso Robles Rotary Winemakers' Cookoff has raised over $1,000,000. Last year alone, Paso Robles Rotary Services, Inc. gave out nearly $94,000 in scholarships to students preparing to attend trade schools, colleges, and universities. The goal of the club is to be able to give out $100,000 in scholarships annually.
About the Rotary Club of Paso Robles
The Rotary Club of Paso Robles (#1602) was chartered in 1924 and has a long history of “service above self,” the motto of Rotary International. The Club is very active in the community through scholarships, sponsorship of the local Boy Scouts of America organization, and raising money for local projects like homeless shelters, food banks, and dictionaries for third-grade students. To get more information on fundraising, events, speaking opportunities, or to join the Rotary Club of Paso Robles, please visit https://pasoroblesrotary.org.