Sip & savor our winners at the 2024 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition!

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: we’re wine country’s fastest-growing region for a reason!

That reason (besides our awe-inspiring scenery and endless activities)? Our wineries make exquisite, exceptional, and excellent wines. This isn’t just bragging; as we once again have the awards to back it up!

Nine Lake County wineries won 17 awards at the 2024 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. You read that right – nine wineries won 17 awards! This is the largest competition of North America wines, judged by a panel of world-renowned wine experts, and they declared us the best of the best!

Not too shabby. And not surprising, either. We’re so excited for our award-winning wineries, and even more excited for you to try them!

Boatique Winery

Lake County’s most unique winery, known for its collection of museum-quality vintage boats and stellar views of Mt. Konocti, just sailed away with gold! The 2020 Runabout Red Blend $60 took home Double Gold, while the 2021 Red Hills Cabernet won Gold $45. 

Brassfield Estate

With a picturesque estate that looks like a postcard from France and Italy’s wine-growing regions, Brassfield Estate pledges to go “above and beyond.” They certainly did, winning Double Gold with their 2022 High Valley Chardonnay $32!

Cache Creek Vineyard & Winery

Tucked in a breathtaking valley between the mountainous terrain and Cache Creek, this bucolic vineyard boasts 74 acres and a spacious tasting room. Good thing too, because they’ll need all that space to put all the awards they won: Gold for the 2020 Lake County Reserve Cabernet $55; Gold for the 2020 Lake County Syrah $32; Double Gold for the 2022 Lake County Chardonnay $35; and the biggest price of the bunch, Best in Class for the 2022 Lake County Chardonnay $26!

Chacewater Wine & Olive Mill

Aficionados know that wine pairs well with olive oil, so Chacewater produces some of the best of both. What also pairs well with each? Gold! Make that Double Gold, which Chacewater won for their 2022 Sierra Foothills Rose $26.

Hawk & Horse

Don’t let our sophisticated side fool you; Lake County is still proudly “cowboy country,” a heritage that’s alive and well at Hawk & Horse. This winery takes pride in maintaining its romantic vision of rugged ranch life. Works out pretty well, judging by the Double Gold they won for their 2019 Red Hills Cabernet $65 and Gold for their 2019 Red Hills Cabernet $75.

Langtry Farms Vineyard & Winery

Established in 1888, Langtry Farms is one of the longest continuously running wineries in the region. Their 136 years of experience has borne out in another year of award-winning wines: Double Gold for the 2022 Guenoc Valley Sauvignon Blanc $30 and the 2021 Tephra Ridge Cabernet $45; and Gold for the 2021 Tephra Ridge Merlot $42 and the 2021 Old Soldier Road Proprietary Red Blend $48. 

R Vineyards

Owners Monica and Dave Rosenthal say they “strive for balance in a world of extremes.” Even so, their 2020 Russell Rocks Red Blend $26 is extremely tasty. No wonder it took home Double Gold! 

Six Sigma Ranch

We don’t know if there’s an award for luxury “glamping,” but if there is, the hotel-quality “Huttopia” tents at Six Sigma Ranch would surely win them. We do know there’s awards for wine because Six Sigma Ranch won Double Gold for their 2020 Mariannes Reserve Syrah $54. That’ll taste mighty nice as you’re sipping under the stars.

Shed Horn Cellars

Shed Horn Cellars may have uprooted for Bitterroot Valley in Montana, but there’s no hard feelings (hey, we watch Yellowstone too), because their wines are still made right here in Lake County. No coincidence, it’s why they’re also still winning awards, like the Double Gold won by their 2021 Lake County Cabernet $24.

Congratulations to these nine wineries for winning gold and above! While these wineries were the big winners, all of our wineries are award worthy, each producing a variety of varietals that pair wonderfully with your outdoor adventure!

Need help planning your trip? Check out these itineraries for our North County Wine Trail and South County Wine Trail.

Awards are nice, the greatest reward is seeing you. So come visit us for a Clearly Different trip through wine country — and we’ll see ya when ya get here!

Plan Your Trip

Full List of Lake County Winners

​​Boatique Winery
Double Gold: 2020 Runabout Red Blend $60
Gold: 2021 Red Hills Cabernet $45

Brassfield Estate
Double Gold: 2022 High Valley Chardonnay $32

Cache Creek Vineyards
Best in Class: 2022 Lake County Chardonnay $26
Double Gold: 2022 Lake County Chardonnay $35
Gold: 2020 Lake County Syrah $32
Gold: 2020 Lake County Reserve Cabernet $55

Chacewater
Double Gold: 2022 Sierra Foothills Rose $26

Hawk & Horse
Double Gold: 2019 red Hills Cabernet $65
Gold: 2019 Red Hills Cabernet $75

Langtry Estate
Double Gold: 2022 Guenoc Valley Sauvignon Blanc $30
Double Gold: 2021 Tephra Ridge Cabernet $45
Gold: 2021 Tephra Ridge Merlot $42
Gold: 2021 Old Soldier Road Proprietary Red Blend $48

R Vineyards
Double Gold: 2020 Russell Rocks Red Blend $26

Six Sigma
Double Gold: 2020 Mariannes Reserve Syrah $54

Shed Horn Cellars
Double Gold: 2021 Lake County Cabernet $24