Judges' choice: The white sangiovese that Debbie Grady and husband Lenny Edelman make took best of show in specialty wines in the winemaking category.
Background: She is the 911 call center manager for the Carlsbad Police Department. He is a firefighter for the city of Santa Ana. Making wine is something the Murrieta couple like to do together on their days off.
How they got started: The couple have enjoyed wine tasting for years, so they decided to make wine as a hobby. They did a lot of research and joined the Amateur Winemakers Association.
Comment: “People from my work generally get a bottle at Christmastime, and family and friends get one. We ask for their feedback. The one that won at the fair, everyone said it was just wonderful,” Grady said.
Tip for learning more: Read and then join the San Diego Amateur Winemaking Society, which is filled with helpful people.
TODAY'S PICKS
Summer Concert Series: “Weird Al” Yankovic, 8 p.m., free with fair admission.
Summer of Sports Exhibit: All Sports Day, including an appearance by Jesse Taylor, a professional martial artist featured on Spike TV's “Ultimate Fighter 7,” 6 p.m.
Highlights: Swifty Swine Racing Pigs, 12:30, 2:30, 4:30 and 6:30 p.m., Chevrolet Del Mar Arena Area; Best Animal Noise Contest, 11 a.m., O'Brien Stage; Fleetwood Max (Fleetwood Mac tribute band), 9 p.m., Coors Light Rock On Stage.
FAIR FACTS
Through July 6 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd. Gates are open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Admission: adults, $12; seniors 62 and older, $6; children 6 to 12, $6; children 5 and younger, free. Special today, $5 admission after 5 p.m.
Information: (858) 793-5555; (858) 755-1161; sdfair.com/fair.
On-site parking: cars and motorcycles, $9; recreational vehicles, $15; preferred parking, $15, no motor homes.
Off-site parking: free, with shuttles from 9 a.m. to midnight. Del Mar Horsepark, 14550 El Camino Real, daily; MiraCosta College San Elijo campus and Torrey Pines High School, weekends and July 4.
Public transportation: hourly buses to and from Escondido Transit Center. A shuttle between the Solana Beach Train Station and the fair leaves every 25 minutes. Passengers with a Breeze bus or Coaster train ticket receive a $1.75 fair admission discount at the west gate. Information: (760) 966-6500 or gonctd.com
NEWSROOM
AT THE FAIR
The San Diego Union-Tribune's Newsroom at the Fair exhibit is in the Paddock Lounge next to Plaza de Mexico near the Grandstand entrance.
Meet politics editor Michael Smolens from 1 to 4 p.m.
Explore the technology that brings you the daily newspaper, Today's Local News, Enlace, multimedia site SignOnSanDiego.com and AmplifySD.com, the all-San Diego music online radio station.
Tune to “U-T in the Community” and “Community Spotlight” on SignOn Radio LIVE, hosted by Drew Schlosberg on Tuesdays and Fridays (except July 4).
Online: For fair news and information, go to fair.uniontrib.com
