California Ag Network

Tag: Napa Valley

  • California State Fair Announces 2026 Wine Industry Honorees

    Each year, the California State Fair Wine Competition not only showcases the state’s top wines, but also honors individuals and vineyards whose contributions have left an enduring impact on California’s wine industry.

    The California State Fair and the Wine Advisory Task Force recognizes accomplishments and services through a series of awards in the wine industry: Lifetime Achievement, Vineyard of the Year, and California All Stars. These prestigious honors reflect the spirit, history and continued evolution of California winemaking, as recognized by the very experts shaping the industry’s future.

    The Vineyard of the Year recognizes the California vineyard that consistently, over several growing seasons, produced grapes which have contributed directly to wine of superior quality and marketability within commercial sales systems and the fine wine market.

    The Wine Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a person, family or institution whose lifetime contributions have helped pioneer and advance the California wine industry.

    The California All Stars is a posthumous award recognizing innovators, educators and leaders in the world of wine for their exemplary service and contributions to the California wine industry.

    “This year’s honorees reflect the heart and soul of California’s wine industry,” said Tom Martinez, CEO of California Exposition & State Fair. “From visionary vintners to multigenerational vineyard stewards, each has made a lasting impact on our industry, and we are honored to recognize and celebrate their remarkable contributions.”

    2026 Wine Industry Honorees

    Lifetime Achievement Awards

    Ted Bennett and Deborah Cahn — Navarro Vineyards

    Ted Bennett and Deborah Cahn accepted the award for Navarro Vineyards. Their family-owned winery in California’s Anderson Valley has been crafting estate-grown wines since 1974. Navarro is celebrated for its cool-climate varietals including Gewürztraminer, Pinot Noir, Riesling, and Pinot Gris, as well as its longstanding commitment to sustainable farming and small-lot winemaking.

    Vineyard of the Year
    S.L.V. (Stag’s Leap Vineyard)

    The Vineyard of the Year honor was awarded to the historic S.L.V. (Stag’s Leap Vineyard), the original estate vineyard of Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars in Napa Valley. Planted by Warren Winiarski in 1970, S.L.V. was the source of the winery’s legendary 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon, which famously won the 1976 Judgment of Paris tasting.

    In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Judgment of Paris, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars released 1,973 magnums of its signature S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon this May, sourced from the last remaining block of original vines planted in 1972. This spring also marks the release of the 2023 S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon, a highly anticipated vintage from the historic vineyard that produced the celebrated 1973 wine.

    California Wine All-Stars

    Samuel Joseph Sebastiani — Sebastiani Vineyards

    Samuel Joseph Sebastiani’s life was an extraordinary testament to unwavering passion, deep-rooted heritage and groundbreaking innovation in winemaking. His exceptional vision and steadfast commitment elevated California’s premium wine industry, honoring the Sebastiani family’s enduring contributions to the California wine industry and multi-generational legacy in winemaking.

    Christian Michel Jean Roguenant — Lightpost Winery
    Christian Michel Jean Roguenant was a Burgundy-born winemaker who shaped California’s Central Coast wine industry for nearly four decades. As the winemaker for Lightpost Winery, he leveraged his global expertise to craft award-winning sparkling and cool-climate still wines.

    Jed Steele — Steele Wines / Shannon Ridge
    Jed Steele was a legendary California winemaker widely known as “Mr. Lake County” and the man who put California Chardonnay on the consumer map. He left a mark on the American wine industry through a career spanning over five decades.

    Dr. Anita Oberholster (2025 Honoree)
    Dr. Anita Oberholster was a globally respected wine chemist and Cooperative Extension specialist in enology at the University of California, Davis. She was widely recognized for her groundbreaking research and leadership in the wine industry. Revered as an industry “rock star,” she dedicated her career to protecting vineyards and winemaking communities around the world from climate-driven agricultural challenges.

    The 2026 honorees were celebrated during the annual Judges Dinner hosted by Grindstone Wines in Esparto, California, with support from Tierney Bates and the Yolo County Vineyard & Winery Association. Participating Yolo County wineries poured wines during the evening reception, showcasing the region’s diverse and growing wine industry.

    For more information and a complete list of winners, visit the California State Fair website.

    The California State Fair runs from July 17 through August 2 at the Cal Expo fairgrounds. Gates open at 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and at 10 a.m. Friday through Sunday.  — Story contributed by the California State Fair

  • Expert Display Of Technique And Speed At Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation Pruning Contest

    The Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation (FWF) celebrated its 21st Annual Napa County Pruning Contest at Beringer’s Gamble Ranch Vineyard on Saturday, February 4.  It was a perfect day as 106 contestants displayed speed and technique in what is considered the most prestigious competition for Napa Valley’s vineyard professionals.

    First place finishers, Alejandra Mendoza of Trefethen Family Vineyards (left) and Rene Alejo of FARM Napa Valley (right).

    “The Napa County Pruning Contest continues to get better every year. Participants are passionate about improving their skills and competing against their peers,” said Rolando Sanchez, General Manager for Walsh Vineyards Management, and member of the Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation Education Committee, “The Pruning Contest is an opportunity to demonstrate their dedication to high-quality, Napa Valley grape growing.”

    The FWF’s Napa County Pruning Contest is a community event with activities and giveaways for competitors and their families. At this year’s event, FWF handed out warm beanies and long-sleeved shirts, Bombas contributed socks of all sizes, and Copperfield’s Books donated children’s books.

    Alejandra Mendoza of Trefethen Family Vineyards in the preliminary round of the 21st annual Napa County Pruning Contest.

    During the main event, each of the contestants pruned five vines in the day’s preliminary competition.  Those with the highest scores went on to the final round, which produced the winners: 4 in the women’s division and 4 in the men’s division.  The winners took home a generous bucket of gifts, which included cash, pruning tools, clothing, Napa Valley wine, gift cards and other prizes; a handmade silver belt buckle from Max Lang Belt and Buckles and first-ever champions jacket from FELCO was given to the 1st place winners.  Employers typically match the cash prize winnings, so the day was highly rewarding for the top 8 finalists.  All contestants enjoyed lunch catered by Tacos El Muchacho Alegre between competition rounds.

    A peek through the vines as Rene Alejo of FARM Napa Valley competed in the finalist round.

    Past Napa County Pruning Contest champions judged the competition this year, which was an opportunity to inspire competitors. “As a past winner, now judging, I’m proud and happy to be helping and hope to encourage competitors to win,” said Celia Perez of V. Sattui Winery and the first women’s division champion in 2014, “People think that the Pruning Contest is only for men, but I am here to prove it’s for everyone, and that anyone can win.”

    Competitors are Napa County farmworkers and full-time employees. All farmworkers who work in Napa County are eligible to compete.

    Winners received:
    1st Place: $1,675 in cash and gifts cards plus a custom trophy belt buckle; FELCO champions jacket and vineyard loppers; Central Valley tools and supplies; Napa Valley wine
    2nd Place: $1,075 in cash and gifts cards; FELCO vineyard loppers; Central Valley tools and supplies; Napa Valley wine
    3rd Place: $800 in cash and gifts cards; FELCO vineyard loppers; Central Valley tools and supplies; Napa Valley wine
    4th Place: $550 in cash and gifts cards; FELCO Swiss Knife; Central Valley tools and supplies; Napa Valley wine
     
    Women’s Division Winners:
    1st Place: Alejandra Mendoza, Trefethen Family Vineyards
    2nd Place: Reyna Hernandez, Walsh Vineyard Management
    3rd Place: Ana Mejia, Trefethen Family Vineyards
    4th Place: Irene Escoto, Trefethen Family Vineyards
     
    Men’s Division Winners:
    1st Place: Rene Alejo, FARM Napa Valley
    2nd Place: Jesús Alejandro Contreras, Pearls Farm Labor
    3rd Place: Lorenzo Hernandez, Walsh Vineyard Management
    4th Place: Sergio Melgoza, Rocca Family Wines

    Support for this event was provided by sponsors Nemerever Vineyards, Pulido~Walker, Silicon Valley Bank, Martinez Orchards, Central Valley Ag Supplies, FELCO, Duarte Trees & Vines, Sunbelt Rentals, Ag Health Benefits Alliance, Copper Cane Wines & Provisions, Jaguar Farm Labor Contracting, Crocker & Starr, Brotemarkle Davis & Co, H&E Equipment Services, Malloy Imrie & Vasconi Insurance Services, Novavine, Pearls Farm Labor, Renteria Vineyard Management, Silver Oak, John Derr Farming, Grow West, Sunridge Nurseries, Taddei Vineyards, Gonzalez Vineyard Management, V. Sattui Winery, A&J Vineyard Supply, Larkmead Vineyards, Green Valley Tractor, and our partner in health, OLE Health.

    Thank you to the Napa Valley community members who served on the Napa County Pruning Contest Committee: Macy Stubstad, Co-Chair, Lawrence Wine Estates; Kendall Smith, Co-Chair, Grace Family Vineyards; Garrett Buckland, Premiere Viticultural Services; Brianna Beighle, Bryant Wines; Pam Bond, Allied Grape Growers; Chad Clark, Allied Grape Growers; Gustavo Avina, Pine Ridge; Blake Wood, Beckstoffer Vineyards; and Hayden Schmidter, Moulds Family Vineyard.

    About the Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation

    Founded by the Napa Valley Grapegrowers in 2011, the mission of the Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation is to support and promote Napa Valley’s vineyard workers through education and professional development. The Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation is the only one of its kind in the United States, providing educational opportunities, advanced training programs, leadership and management classes, English literacy programs, and much more. To date, the Farmworker Foundation has offered education and professional development opportunities to more than 21,000 vineyard workers and their families. For more information, visit our website at  Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation

  • Mira Winery Announces Ed Thralls as President

    Mira Winery, which produces a limited amount of hand crafted, all natural wines, each a singular expression of unique grapes, announced today that Ed Thralls is joining the team as President. The hiring follows the opening of Mira winery and hospitality house last fall on the 16-acre estate just south of Yountville in the heart of the Napa Valley.

    “Ed has the one two punch of extensive wine business experience and in-depth understanding of high quality winemaking that will only accelerate the establishment of Mira as one of the world’s leading producers of fine wines,” said Jim “Bear” Dyke, Mira Proprietor. “Ed elevates an already exceptional team and I am thrilled he is joining us.”

    Thralls came to Mira from Benovia Winery where he served as General Manager, driving Benovia’s high-growth consumer-focused business model and creating a world-class customer service reputation, directing all sales, marketing, hospitality, finance and business operations for the winery as well as production planning for the 72 acres of organically or sustainably farmed estate vineyards. Prior to that role, he served as the director of consumer sales & marketing Flowers Vineyards & Winery and Huneeus Vintners. 

    Mira recently announced they were incorporating the Western Hemisphere’s only wooden egg wine fermentation tank at their new winery in Yountville, CA as another component of their innovation and commitment to the highest quality wines. This unique vessel called “Ovum” by its creator, French cooperage Tonnellerie Taransaud, joins Mira’s custom designed hand-crafted tank cellar and adds an exciting new facet to Mira’s pure, terroir-driven winemaking.

    Thralls holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Science from the University of Florida, an MBA in Finance from Georgia State University and brings more than 25 years of combined experience in both wine and financial technology industries. He studied winemaking at UC Davis and is a Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW).

    The “Miracle” of Mira

    In 2009 entrepreneur Jim “Bear” Dyke and winemaker Gustavo A. Gonzalez launched Mira Winery and began to produce limited production single vineyard 100% varietal wines that are interesting, balanced and a true reflection of their place, varietal, and season. Mira is the Latin root of miracle. Mira opened a new winery and hospitality house at 6170 Washington Street in August of 2019 and takes tour and tasting reservations by appointment only. For more information on Mira, please visit our website http://www.miranapa.com or follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

  • California Wineries Bring Virtual Wine Experiences to Consumers

    With winery tasting rooms temporarily closed due to California’s statewide shelter-in-place order, wine lovers are looking for new ways to connect with their favorite wineries without leaving home. Golden State winemakers have responded with a variety of fun, creative offerings to bring California wine country to consumers across the country. Along with putting innovative and educational twists on “virtual tastings,” many are now offering takeout dinners, meal kits, stay-at-home pantry boxes and more. 
     
    Following are some of the unique offerings from California wineries across the state. To see all 80 virtual experiences, go to: Discover California Wines. Check back often as new experiences are being added daily.
     
    MEAL KITS, CARE PACKAGES & COOKING DEMOS
     
    On April 23, Stacey Combs, executive chef at Sonoma’s Ram’s Gate Winery, will lead a virtual cooking demonstration of Braised Short Ribs with Creamy Polenta. See here to register for the Zoom session and get an advance list of ingredients and wine pairing suggestions.
     
    On April 24, join Kendall-Jackson Winemaster Randy Ullom and Executive Chef Justin Wangler for an interactive virtual tasting (participants are invited to purchase the wines in advance) and cooking demonstration of recipes from the Sonoma County winery’s cookbook. 
     
    Join Napa Valley’s Cakebread Cellars each week in April for live Cooking with Cakebread demonstrations on Facebook Live. Learn how to make comforting dishes like the winery chef’s Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Point Reyes Farmstead Toma Cheese, Pickled Golden Beet Slaw & Whole Grain Mustard.

    Clif Family Wines in the Napa Valley is offering Stay-at-Home-Pantry Kits featuring four different wines, plus Clif Family gourmet goodies including apple butter, barbecued nuts, porcini spice blend, and dark chocolate sea salt almonds.
     
    Tune in to Instagram Live and click on “Events” every Sunday for a live cooking demonstration with J Vineyards & Winery in Sonoma County, featuring the winery’s executive chef, Carl Shelton.
     
    Along with virtual tastings with cheese pairings each Wednesday via Zoom and Facebook Live, Le Vigne Winery in Paso Robles is shipping Shelter-in-Place Care Packages filled with wine, charcuterie, cheeses and crackers. 
     
    Mendocino County’s Pennyroyal Farm is offering a Wine + Cheese Combo Pack for shipping across the U.S., featuring Pennyroyal’s own farmstead cheeses and wines.
     
    Join chefs Charlie Palmer and Scott Romano every Thursday on Instagram Live for the Pigs & Pinot Tutorial Series. Each week, the chefs host a live cooking demonstration with wine pairings from a rotating lineup of Sonoma County winemakers.
     
    SEMINARS & VIRTUAL TASTINGS WITH A TWIST
     
    For virtual tastings that focus on specific wines, participants are invited to purchase the featured selections in advance so they can taste along.
     
    On April 21, Join Napa Valley’s Groth Vineyards & Winery for a Happy (Half) Hour Virtual Concert featuring Justin Diaz on Instagram Live. Sip wine while enjoying an uplifting 30-minute set of classic pop, rock, soul and blues.
     
    On April 24, join Napa Valley’s Alpha Omega for Final Final Friday on Instagram Live, when Winemaker Henrik Poulsen and Vineyard Manager Joel Antonio will recap the week in the cellar and vineyards.
     
    On April 24, Knights Bridge Winery in Calistoga will lead a Pairing Wines With Glassware session Facebook Live to show participants how a serving vessel’s shape and size can affect a wine’s taste. 
     
    April 28, Merryvale Vineyards will host Tasty Tuesday, a virtual tour on Facebook Live of the winery’s Profile Estate Vineyard and a virtual tasting of the wines exclusively sourced from the vineyard site.
     
    On May 2, the Anderson Valley Winegrowers Association is organizing a free Zoom seminar on the region’s history, terroir and wines. Moderated by local sommelier Corrina Strauss, the session will feature vintner Allan Green, wine writer Thom Elkjer and Evan Hufford, formerly of Single Thread Farm Restaurant.
     
    Ampelos Cellars in the Sta. Rita Hills is hosting educational virtual tastings on Zoom every Friday through April 24 that cover topics such as biodynamic farming, sustainable practices, vine anatomy, flowering, and harvest decisions.
     
    Belden Barns is hosting weekly Wine & Wishes virtual tastings that explore bottlings from the Sonoma County winery’s portfolio. Winemakers will explore how the wines’ flavors change when paired with random items from their pantry—from beans to peanut butter to boxed macaroni and cheese.
     
    Join DAOU Family Estates in Paso Robles for Instagram Live Happy Hour Fridays through April 25. Hosted by Katherine Daou, each virtual event features a particular wine and a special guest—such as DJ and music producer Morgan Page—announced the Monday before the session.
     
    El Dorado Wines presents El Dorado Edge virtual tastings each Monday evening on Facebook Live, with each episode taking an edgy dive into a different sub-region of the Sierra Foothills AVA (American Viticultural Area).
     
    Law Estate Wines in Paso Robles is offering interactive tastings on Facebook Live, Events, with winemaker Philip Pfunder every Friday through May 8. Each week he will provide a recipe to make at home and feature a local restaurant offering a take-out special that pairs perfectly with the featured wines.
     
    Each Wednesday via Instagram Live, Tablas Creek Vineyard provides an inside look into what is happening in the Paso Robles producer’s vineyard and winery through interviews with staff members and celebrities.
     
    Tolosa Winery in San Luis Obispo presents Technical Thursdays via Instagram Live or Facebook Live each week, where winemaker Frederic Delivert takes virtual guests to the vineyard and winery to explore their farming and production methods. Wednesdays through May 6, the winery will also host free Yoga Sessions with virtual vineyard views, finishing with a toast.
     
    For updates on virtual events by region, see Anderson Valley Winegrowers, Mendocino Winegrowers, Sonoma Valley Wine, Sonoma Wine, Napa Valley Vintners, Visit Napa Valley, Lodi Wine, El Dorado Wines, Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association, Paso Robles Wine Country, San Luis Obispo Coast Wine, Santa Barbara Vintners and Temecula Wines.
     
    FOR LOCALS
     
    Ram’s Gate Winery in Los Carneros has launched Ram’s Gate in Your Kitchen, a food and wine pairing dinner kit delivery service for local delivery and pickup. Weekly-changing kits include a two-course menu featuring local produce and cheeses, with Ram’s Gate wines.
     
    Bricoleur Vineyards in Windsor, Sonoma County, is offering Quarantine Kitchen pasta kits with wine for pickup and local delivery, such as Black Pepper Strozzapreti Arrabiata with a bottle of Pinot Noir.
     
    Participants who pick up their wines for Broken Earth Winery’s Inophile Virtual Tasting, weekly, through April, can also take home a grab-and-go meal prepared by the Paso Robles winery’s executive chef.
     
    Mendocino County’s Pennyroyal Farm is offering a Farm Box for pickup, filled with farmstead cheeses, free-range eggs, and fresh produce.

    Established in 1934, Wine Institute is the public policy advocacy group of 1,000 California wineries and affiliated businesses that initiates and advocates state, federal and international public policy to enhance the environment for the responsible production, consumption and enjoyment of wine. The organization works to enhance the economic and environmental vitality of the state through its leadership in sustainable winegrowing and a partnership with Visit California to showcase California’s wine and food offerings.