The North Coast Wine Challenge is gearing up for its 13th annual event, which will take place from April 1 at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds. This year, the competition will feature significant updates aimed at enhancing participants’ experiences and showcasing more diverse wine styles.

Judged by a panel of 34 regional experts, including winemakers, sommeliers, and wine buyers, the challenge is committed to focusing exclusively on wines produced from grapes grown in California’s North Coast AVA, which includes Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino, Marin, Lake, and Solano counties. The competition’s criteria for entry require that the winery not only be located in California but that the wine also be labeled to reflect one of these specific AVAs.

In a notable shift, the competition will now categorize orange wines and nouveau-style reds separately, aiming to give these styles the attention and recognition they deserve. Chief judge Daryl Groom highlighted the growing popularity of these wine styles among consumers and expressed optimism that the new categories would encourage local wineries to enter.

Additionally, a new category for nonalcoholic wines has been introduced, reflecting a trend recognized by retailers that indicates growth in this segment. Groom hopes that adding this category will inspire local winemakers to explore nonalcoholic options, even if entries may be limited at first.

This year will also see the introduction of the Winemaker of the Year award, which will be based on the number of gold medals a winemaker earns throughout the competition. This award will join the existing “Best of the Best” honor, which recognizes the highest-rated wine.

Last year, the top honor went to Trentadue Winery for their 2021 La Storia Cuvée 32. The winners of this year’s challenge will be announced via Facebook Live on April 2, with a complete list of gold and double-gold awardees published in The Press Democrat’s Feast section on April 16.

Wine lovers are encouraged to mark their calendars for the North Coast Wine & Food Festival on June 14, where they can taste the winning wines alongside culinary offerings from local restaurants.

For more information about the event, visit the North Coast Wine & Food Festival website. For details on the competition, check the official North Coast Wine Challenge site.