Entrants have until July 14th to submit their recipes, which will be evaluated on creativity and their ability to pair with the winery’s signature coastal wines. The two selected finalists win a two-night trip to Monterey, where they will prepare their dishes live at the Soledad tasting room for a panel of local experts. The judges returning for the 2026 event include wine blogger Christy Nakada, Edible Monterey Bay publisher Deborah Luhrman, District 3 Supervisor Chris Lopez, and radio host Jasmine Jones.

"Inviting recipes from across the country allows us to discover a variety of new chowder styles while celebrating Monterey's coastal lifestyle," said Rebecca Gilbert, Senior Marketing & Communications Director at CRŪ Winery. The final cook-off takes place on August 22nd. The event is open to the public, offering attendees the opportunity to sample the finalists' creations alongside the winery’s award-winning vintages.