North Coast Wine Challenge

North Coast AVAs including Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Sonoma, Marin and parts of Solano County.

Judging

April 1st & 2nd

2025

Entry Deadline
March 21st

Early Bird End
March 7th

Enter Here

Shipping Label Here

North Coast Wine & Food Festival
Date to be announced soon!

2. Only Gold Medals +

Are Published

This is a marketing advantage that other competitions don't offer. We promote ONLY the highest awarded-wines (golds and above), keeping your win exceptional and exclusive.

Achieving top honors carries high prestige and offers a valuable USP for increased retail sales. Golds are converted into a point score above 90 and all 90+ point wines will get a marketable positive comment from the judging panel. Small wineries can truly benefit from a gold medal in this contest.

5 REASONS TO ENTER

1. Exclusivity

This is a regional competition that ONLY rates wines exclusively produced and bottled in Northern California's premier winegrowing region to determine which wines are considered the Best of the Best. Eligibility includes wines made in these California North Coast AVAs:

Lake County
Mendocino County
Napa County
Sonoma County
Marin County
Solano County

This includes any bottled wine labeled with these AVAs as their main source of grapes and whose winery is in California.

5 REASONS

that benefit you to enter

4. Multi-Channel Promotion

Public announcement of awards is made in print by The Press Democrat, the North Bay Area's primary source for news and information. Additional on-going promotion is made in award-winning Spirited trade magazine and other print publications, online, by virtual newsletters and through social media outlets.

5. Public Tasting

Gold medal-winners are invited to pour and have their wines enjoyed at the North Coast Wine & Food Festival annually organized and hosted by The Press Democrat. This is a fun-filled day enjoyed by wine enthusiasts near and far who look forward to tasting the Best of the Best wines Northern California has to offer.

3. Judges with Influence

The best wines draw the best professional wine judges who annually vie for a coveted spot to judge here. Many are seasoned retailers, distributors, restaurateurs and wine writers with influence. They know how to promote the wines they enjoy and can help give your wine increased exposure.

2024's
Best of the Best

2024 Best of Class and above

2023 Best of Class and above

2022 Best of Class and above

2021 Best of Class and above

2021 La Storia Cuvée 32
Trentadue Winery
Italian Red Blend
Alexander Valley
2021

BEST OF THE BEST
Best of Show Red
Best of Sonoma County
99 Points

Alumni Judges

ALUMNI ASSOCIATE JUDGES

The Press Democrat North Coast Wine Challenge strives to be an educational platform for young wine industry professionals growing in their careers. Associate Judges are nominated by their peers and attend the judging process,

each assigned a panel with our highly experienced wine judges. They get to learn and network with winemakers,

sommeliers, media people and other seasoned wine industry professionals.