Sonoma County's Top Wine Competitions and Awards: A Showcase of Excellence

Here at Roche Winery, we’re fortunate (and grateful) to have so many loyal fans who love our wines for what they are. Of course, we do appreciate it when trained wine critics agree.

And plenty of respected wine judges do. Our wines have earned quite a few awards and accolades over the years, including from two of Sonoma County’s top wine competitions: The San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and the Press Democrat North Coast Wine Challenge.

San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

The San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, or SFCWC for short, is perhaps the premier wine-judging event for Northern California wineries. Hundreds of wines enter each year, but only the best earn medals (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Double Gold) and only the best of the best earn “best of category” awards. 

Several Roche Winery varietals have been recognized by the SFCWC’s judges in recent years:

  • Pinot Noir: Pinot Noir is one of our signature varietals, and the Chronicle seems to agree. Our 2019 Cuvee Genevieve Pinot Noir won Gold in 2022 and our 2017 Cuvee Genevieve Pinot Noir earned Double Gold in 2020.

  • Chardonnay: Our Chardonnays did exceptionally well in the 2022 competition, with the 2020 Carneros Chardonnay and 2020 American Oak Reserve Chardonnay (also from the Carneros AVA) both earning Double Gold and Best of Category.

  • Sparkling Rose: Our 2020 Sonoma Valley Sparkling Rose — a crowd favorite first entered in 2022 — earned Gold at the 2022 competition and Double Gold at the 2023 competition.

  • Brut Rose Sparkling: 2023 was our first time ever entering our 2021 Brut Rose Sparkling in the Chronicle Competition, and in our second year of producing a Brut Rose sparkling (Methode Champenoise) we won Double Gold. 

  • Merlot: Our 2019 Carneros Merlot and Carneros Reserve Merlot both earned Gold in the 2022 competition. In 2021, our 2018 Carneros Merlot earned Double Gold.

Press Democrat North Coast Wine Challenge

The Press Democrat North Coast Wine Challenge, or PDNCWC,  is another prestigious annual competition that draws from a narrower geographic area. Entrants must be principally sourced from AVAs in Lake, Mendocino, Sonoma, Napa, Marin, or Solano County.

Roche has done quite well for itself at the PDNCWC over the years, earning accolades for some of our finest Pinots, Chardonnays, Sparkling Roses, and Merlots.

Like the SFCWC, the Press Democrat competition assigns medal and best of category awards to top entrants. It also has a points system that we’ll get to in a moment.

Here’s how select Roche wines have done recently:

  • This Year’s Winners at the 2023 NCWC:

    • 2021 Brut Rose Sparkling: Best of Class, Double Gold

    • 2021 Carneros Chardonnay American Oak: Best of Class, Double Gold

    • 2021 Carneros Chardonnay: Double Gold

    • 2020 Carneros Merlot Reserve: Gold

    • 2022 Dry Rose: Gold

  • Pinot Noir: Our 2018 Longford Valley Reserve and 2018 Tipperary Vineyard Reserve Pinot Noirs both earned Gold in the 2021 competition. The Longford Valley made a real impression on the judges, who noted flavors of “Jolly Rancher in the forest.”

  • Chardonnay: Our 2020 American Oak Reserve Chardonnay earned Double Gold in the 2022 competition. The judges noted its floral nose, ripe fruit flavors and long finish. Our 2020 French Oak Reserve earned Gold in the 2022 competition, with judges noting its “creamy, full bodied and rich nice oak.”

  • Sparkling Rose: Our 2020 Sonoma Valley Sparkling Rose earned Double Gold at the 2022 competition. According to the judges: “It will impress your dinner guests.”

  • Merlot: Our 2017 Carneros Merlot earned Double Gold at the 2020 competition. Our 2019 Carneros Merlot earned Gold at the 2022 competition.

  • In 2015 Roche won Best of the Best (Best of Show)

Press Democrat Points System

PD North Coast Wine Challenge judges assign point ratings of 90 or higher to all entries earning Gold or Double Gold. The higher the score, the more the judging panel likes the wine.

Since 2015, several of our PD North Coast Wine Challenge entries have earned scores above 92. Some highlights:

  • 2020 American Oak Reserve Carneros Chardonnay (2022 competition): 95

  • 2020 French Oak Reserve Carneros Chardonnay (2022 competition): 92

  • 2019 Merlot Reserve (2022 competition): 93

  • 2020 Sparkling Rose (2022 competition): 97

  • 2019 American Oak Reserve Carneros Chardonnay (2021 competition): 92

  • 2019 French Oak Reserve Carneros Chardonnay (2021 competition): 97

  • 2018 Sonoma Valley Zinfandel (2021 competition): 93

  • 2018 Carneros Chardonnay (2020 competition): 94

  • 2017 Carneros Merlot (2020 competition): 97

  • 2017 American Oak Reserve Carneros Chardonnay (2019 competition): 92

  • 2017 French Oak Reserve Carneros Chardonnay (2019 competition): 93

  • 2017 Carneros Chardonnay (2019 competition): 92

Roche Winery Isn’t the Only One — Notable Awards for Other Sonoma Wineries

Roche Winery doesn’t have these award lists to itself, of course. Sonoma is home to dozens of amazing wineries, many of which competed with Roche in the awards categories above. 

Some earned other accolades too, like a coveted spot on the Press Democrat’s annual list of the “most amazing wines in Sonoma County.”

For a full list of local winners, honorable mentions, and entrants, visit:

Cindy L