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

Originally built in 2012 to accommodate equestrian events, the pavilion at Chalk Hill Estate Vineyards and Winery underwent a full-scale renovation in 2018. The pavilion can host both large scale events and intimate, VIP experiences like access to this wine tasting room on the lower level. Stone flooring that matches the slate used throughout the property helps to bring a sense of cohesion to the large estate. Architect: Chuck Peterson Interior Designer: Talbert Helms Eccles Interior Design Photographer: Technical Imagery Studios

Afternoon Brief, September 21st

WineAmerica: What’s Wine Worth? $276 Billion: The 2022 Wine Industry Economic Study reveals the true, deep impact of the wine industry on the larger U.S. economy...

Afternoon Brief, September 19th

Sonoma County Wine Auction Returns at Healdsburg’s Chalk Hill Estate Vineyards: There were plenty of spiraling bids at the main attraction of the Sonoma County Wine Auction on Saturday, with signs the charitable fundraiser entering its fourth decade could surpass last year’s take of $1.7-plus million...

Afternoon Brief, September 12th

Why Wine Country Is No Longer ‘for Regular People,’ According to Some Bay Area Residents: Priced out. Astronomical tasting fees. Rip-off. These were some of the sentiments shared by Bay Area residents after The Chronicle reported last week that it has been an unusually slow summer in Wine Country...

Afternoon Brief, August 19th

Joe Rochioli Jr., Russian River Valley’s Pinot Pioneer, Dies at 88: Growing up on his family's Sonoma farm, the grapegrower and vintner saw potential in fine wine from his land...

Afternoon Brief, July 22nd

Despite Fires, Wine's Glass Still Half Full: Although the vintage is likely to take a hit, it remains unlikely that the European fires will lead to a global wine shortage...