Domaine Della 2023 Soberanes Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir Takes Top Prize  November 18, 2025 — Winners have been announced in the 2025 Harvest Challenge Wine Competition. After two spirited days of judging, Domaine Della 2023 Soberanes Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir took the top prize. It was also awarded Best of Show Red Wine and Best of Monterey County AVA. Coming in at 98 points, judges praised the wine as “warm and spicy” with “fig and nutmeg.” Other descriptors included “meaty,” “prosciutto,” and “dried rose petal.”  With entries from across the globe, the Harvest Challenge bases judging on a group of vineyards (or even vines) from the same region, belonging to a specific appellation and sharing the same type of soil, weather conditions and grapes that combine to give personality to the wine.  In other competitions, this terroir is ignored. At the Harvest Challen

Two K Farms Cidery and Winery 2022 Bubbly Riesling Takes Top Honors November 15, 2024 — Winners have been announced in the 2024 Harvest Challenge Wine Competition. After two spirited days of judging,Two K Farms Cidery and Winery 2022 Bubbly Riesling took the top prize. It was also awarded Best of Show Sparkling Wine. Coming in at 97 points, judges praised the wine for its “Mouth watering citrus and honeysuckle”; “Lingering tropical finish”; and “Perfect bubbles.” They also called it “Well balanced.” With a record number of entries from across the globe, the Harvest Challenge bases judging on a group of vineyards (or even vines) from the same region, belonging to a specific appellation and sharing the same type of soil, weather conditions and grapes that combine to give personality to the wine. In other competitions, terroir is ignored. At the Harvest Challenge, judges taste wines alongside other wines of the same appellation. W

Sustainable Story: Niner Wine Estates Shoppers’ sense of urgency around climate change is rising. 78% of global consumers feel that environmental sustainability is important, they like the idea of being sustainable, and want to live more sustainable lives (Simon Kucher & Partners, 2021). While many brands and retailers today are making eco-friendly claims, some chalk up to little more than greenwashing: a marketing ploy designed to make products seem more sustainable than they are. Because of this, consumers feel that they can’t always trust “green” claims. It’s more important than ever for sustainable brands like you to share your sustainable story in a meaningful and authentic way. Wondering what it means to share a story that consumers can trust? See an example in this week’s Marketing Tip, where we share Niner Wine Estates’ Sustainable Story surrounding the Value of Energy Efficiency.   Stacking Energy Savings Electrici

Shoppers’ sense of urgency around climate change is rising. 78% of global consumers feel that environmental sustainability is important, they like the idea of being sustainable, and want to live more sustainable lives (Simon Kucher & Partners, 2021). While many brands and retailers today are making eco-friendly claims, some chalk up to little more than greenwashing: a marketing ploy designed to make products seem more sustainable than they are. Because of this, consumers feel that they can’t always trust “green” claims. It’s more important than ever for sustainable brands like you to share your sustainable story in a meaningful and authentic way. Wondering what it means to share a story that consumers can trust? See an example in this week’s Marketing Tip, where we share Niner Wine Estates’ Sustainable Story surrounding the Value of Energy Efficiency.   Stacking Energy Savings Electricity use in the winery accounts for a la

In 1983, the Sonoma County wine growing regions of Carneros, Chalk Hill, Dry Creek Valley, Knights Valley, and Russian River Valley/Green Valley all received designation as official American Viticultural Areas. 40 years later, we’d like to celebrate this significant anniversary. The Sonoma County Wine Library Association invites you to hear the details about these distinctive AVAs during a panel discussion with reps from each region (featured below). Karissa Kruse, President of the Sonoma County Winegrowers organization will be our moderator. We’ll start the event with a tasting featuring the wines from each AVA You can bid on wine lots featuring the AVA wines and winery experiences The event will be held in the attractive setting of Balletto Vineyards Reserve Room An appetizer platter will be offered This will be our final event of 2023, so we hope to see you for this fantastic afternoon! Sunday, November 12, 3:00 to 5:00 PM $35 for members, $50 for non-memb

Afternoon Brief, August 30th

Kelham Vineyards Is in Bankruptcy Court as Family Feud Continues: A bitter family dispute over a Napa Valley winery has landed in bankruptcy court and a trial scheduled for October...

Afternoon Brief, July 25th

Alexandre de Lur Saluces, Longtime Proprietor at Bordeaux’s Château d’Yquem, Dies at 89: The aristocrat was a global ambassador for the Sauternes icon, then waged a bitter battle to prevent LVMH’s takeover...