1. The competition is open exclusively to still wines produced in British Columbia, California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington for commercial sale (200 case minimum production per wine entered). The fee for each entry is $100 US.
2. There is no limit to the number of entries. More than one vintage of each variety may be entered, but only one vintage (highest scoring) per variety per winery may advance to the Finals.
3. No wine may be entered more than once, even if it is marketed under a different label.
4. Two pre-paid bottles per entry are required for the Preliminary judging. If a wine is selected for the Final Judging (3 cities, 36 judges), an additional nine bottles will be required.
5. Entry form, fee(s), and wine(s) must be received by April 4, 2005. Late or unpaid entries can not be accepted.

1. The Preliminary Judging will be held at Anthony's Homeport at Shilshole in Seattle , April 5-11 2005.  Five veteran judges select 30 and then 20 wines for the Final Judgings.
2. The Final Judgings will be held April 26 at the Water Grill in LA, April 27 at the Waterfront in San Francisco and April 28 at Anthony's HomePort at Shilshole Bay in Seattle with a panel of at least 10 judges and a different service order in each venue.
3. Judges will be food and wine writers, restaurateurs, retailers, or other qualified individuals without winery affiliations.
4. Judges will score wines solely on their compatibility with oysters on the half shell. All wines are tasted blind with Kumamoto oysters.
5. For purposes of this competition, wines will be served well-chilled (same temperature as the oysters) and presented in coded glasses in flights of five.

1. Judges are asked to rank their top ten (10) wines in order of preference (no ties).Final tabulation is based on rank. First Place rank earns 10 points, Second Place earns 9 points, Third Place earns 8 points, etc.
2. Los Angeles , San Francisco and Seattle scores will be combined. The ten highest scoring wines will be declared equal winners of the Competition and recipients of the prestigious 2005 Oyster Award”.

Awards and Publicity

1. The Competition will promote the category of “oyster wines” and seek to maximize publicity for the winners.
2. 2005 " Oyster Award" winners will be posted on www.oysterwine.com, be notified by email, fax or phone by April 29 and be announced by national press release on April 30.
3. Winners receive “Oyster Awards”, golden oyster medallions in a shadow box incorporating the labels of the winning wines.
4. Winners receive 40 doz. oysters from Taylor Shellfish Farms for winery “Oyster Award” celebrations on mutually agreeable dates.

1. Wineries, retailers and restaurants promoting "Oyster Award"-winning wines must list the vintage and promote only the winning vintage as an "Oyster Award" winner.
2. The Competition fields 10 equal Oyster Award winners. Winners agree to not state or imply they are the only winner of the Competition and to market their winning wine in the 10 equal winner spirit of the Competition. Misleading marketing may result in disqualification.
3. National ads/promotions referencing the "Oyster Award" and/or the Pacific Coast Oyster Wine Competition require advance approval of the competition organizer and sponsor.