The excitement was palpable at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair’s 51st anniversary gala on Oct. 10, when more than 1,200 guests gathered at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa to celebrate the region’s top wines.
The evening capped the Sonoma County Harvest Fair’s Professional Wine Competition, with the top three sweepstakes winners announced during the event.
Along with the winning wines, guests sampled food from more than 30 vendors, including Tiszo Bistro, Golden State Pickle Works, Fattoria Due Leoni and Out to Lunch Catering.
Among the top sweepstakes winners was Quivira Vineyards’ 2025 Rosé from Dry Creek Valley (98 points), a Rhône-style blend that topped the Best Specialty Wine category. Imagery Estate’s 2025 Albariño (98 points) from Silva Vineyard in Sonoma Valley won Best White, repeating the winery’s 2020 victory. Thirty-Seven Wines took Best Red for its 2024 Cabernet Franc (97 points) from the Petaluma Gap. It was the first time the winery had advanced to the sweepstakes round.
For Jamie Benziger, winemaker at Imagery Estate, the win carried special meaning.
“The Albariño has become one of my favorite wines to make and drink, and the 2025 vintage is one of remembrance and new beginnings,” she said. “Bob Silva, who helped plant the vineyard nearly 15 years ago, passed away in February of 2025. It also marked my first harvest as a new mom, bringing new inspiration and perspective to my winemaking.”
More than 850 wines from 152 wineries entered into the competition, the only one of its kind focused exclusively on Sonoma County wines. This year, 21 wine professionals blind-tasted the entries, awarding 108 double-gold medals, 223 gold medals and 31 Best of Class honors.
Among those that stood out was Mayo Family Winery in Glen Ellen, who earned six Best of Class awards and 10 double-golds.
“It was a pleasure to judge the Harvest Fair Wine Competition again this year,” said Barry Herbst, wine buyer for Bottle Barn in Santa Rosa. “As in past years, overall wine quality was very high, and we got to award a lot of golds.”
Herbst also welcomed the addition of younger judges to the panels, saying they brought an important dimension to the competition.
For a complete list of winners, visit harvestfair.org. To purchase the award-winning wines, contact the wineries directly or visit Bottle Barn at 3331-A Industrial Drive in Santa Rosa.
Best of Class winners
Alexander Valley Vineyards 2024 Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County ($24)
Breathless (NV) Brut Rosé Sparkling Wine, Sonoma County ($29)
De La Montanya Winery 2025 Viognier, Calandrelli Vineyard, Russian River Valley ($37)
Dry Creek Vineyard 2022 The Mariner, Dry Creek Valley ($55)
Ektimo Vineyards 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley ($40)
Frei Brothers 2023 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley ($27)
Frei Brothers 2024 Reserve Chardonnay, Russian River Valley ($20)
Imagery Estate Winery 2025 Albariño, Sonoma Valley ($38)
J. Rickards Winery 2025 Trois Blanc, Alexander Valley ($34)
Kenneth Carl Vineyards 2024 Syrah, Dry Creek Valley ($80)
La Prenda Wines 2025 Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma Valley ($28)
Martin Ray 2024 Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast ($32)
Mayo Family Winery 2024 Zinfandel, Ricci Vineyard, Russian River Valley ($50)
Mayo Family Winery 2023 Merlot, Los Chamizal Vineyard, Sonoma Valley ($50)
Mayo Family Winery 2024 Tempranillo, Calenderli Vineyard, Russian River Valley ($45)
Mayo Family Winery 2023 Pinot Noir, Laurel Hill Vineyard, Sonoma Valley ($50)
Mayo Family Winery 2021 Reserve Malbec, Hollister Hill Vineyard, Sonoma Mountain ($65)
Mayo Family Winery 2024 Reserve Barbera, Kunde Ranch Vineyard, Sonoma Valley ($55)
Mazzocco Sonoma 2024 Reserve Chardonnay, Stuhlmuller Vineyard, Alexander Valley ($44)
Mazzocco Sonoma 2024 “The Lodge” Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley ($58)
Mengler Family Wines 2019 Rita’s Block Field Blend, Alegria Vineyards, Russian River Valley ($65)
Miro Cellars 2023 Reserve Petite Sirah, Coyote Ridge Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley ($45)
Notre Vue Estate GSM Red, Russian River Valley ($75)
Pedroncelli Winery 2024 “Mother Clone” Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley ($24)
Quivira Vineyards 2025 Rosé, Dry Creek Valley ($32)
Stuhlmuller Vineyards 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley ($50)
Sunce Winery 2023 Grenache, Henny Vineyards, Sonoma Valley ($46)
Thirty-Seven Wines 2024 Reserve Cabernet Franc, Petaluma Gap ($52)
Trentadue Winery (NV) Chocolate Amore, Alexander Valley ($28)
Trentadue Winery 2025 La Storia Chardonnay, Russian River Valley ($28)
Vigil Family Wines 2024 Fuerza Pinot Noir, Green Valley of Russian River Valley ($65)
Sarah Doyle is the wine and beverage reporter at The Press Democrat. Send her story tips at sarah.doyle@pressdemocrat.com.
