The winegrowers of Contra Costa County showed off their skills this month at the 2022 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition where the walked away with many medals and many wines you will want to try this year.

Bloomfield Vineyards (Cabernet Sauvignon) and Serendipity Cellars (chardonnay) scored high honors with double gold.  Bloomfield also took home a gold for the Devils Daughters white blend.

Meanwhile, Campos Family Vineyards nabbed a gold, Favalora Vineyards Winery scored 2 golds, and Rosenblum Cellars received a gold for its red dessert wine. Contra Costa County scored several more silver and bronze medals.

Photo by Serendipity Cellars

Michelle Lucay of Serendipity Cellars explained how these were the very first wines made at their new facility and were pleased all five were winners.  Since 2015, the Lucay’s had been trying to get bonded in the City of Brentwood, but ultimately had to purchase a property on Chestnut Street where they could get bonded.

“This was the biggest competition we have entered and we did very well. The chardonnay will be available in March or April,” explained Lucay. “When we reopen after construction on March 4 we will be open on Fridays and Saturdays with food trucks nights and entertainment as well as flight tastings by reservations. We are excited but icing on the cake is the competition results.”

She explained how the chardonnay (double gold winner) is a smooth drink.

“It’s an easy drinker and we have converted beer drinkers to wine drinkers with this chardonnay as it has a nice citrus finish, no butter on the pallet due to mixture of oak barrel and stainless steel aging. By separating it, we were able to get fruit forward and get the crisp apple, nectarine and citrus finish which is nice and vibrant on your pallet,” said Lucay.  “We are so excited for the community to try it.”

Photo by Frank Favalora

Frank Favalora of Favalora Vineyards Winery was thrilled with his two golds from grapes that were out of the City of Oakley. He earned gold for his Carignan/Carignane and the Mourvedre.

“Both are from 100-year-old vines from the Del Barba Vineyard on Rose Avenue in the City of Oakley,” explained Favalora. “People love it as my concentration is on making good wine people can enjoy.”

He explained how his Carignan is a Spanish varietal that is used as a traditional Rose grape, however, because it takes longest to ripen, they are typically picked earlier due to acid profile and color. However, because of the weather in Oakley, the hot weather growing season is ideal for the grape to ripen completely to make red wine with—this wine is paired well with pastas.

“Everybody loves our grapes from Oakley throughout California, and everyone buys them,” said Favalora. “We sold a bunch of grapes to Temecula this year because they had an issue. Napa and Sonoma have bought them. Everyone loves Oakley grapes because its very unique and I think people would be very surprised at just how many wines our grapes are in. The future is going to unfold well for Oakley as a wine region.”

Here is a look at Contra Costa County Wines

Bloomfield Vineyards

Campos Family Vineyards

Carol Shelton Wines

Dante Robere Vineyards

Ehrenberg Cellars

Favalora Vineyards Winery

Hannah Nicole Vineyards

M.A.D. Dashe

Rosenblum Cellars

Serendipity Cellars

Vino Godfather

For more on Contra Costa Wines

• Bloomfield Vineyards
• Campos Family Vineyards
• Carol Shelton Wines 
• Dante Robere Vineyards 
• Ehrenberg Cellars 
• Favalora Vineyards Winery 
• Hannah Nicole Vineyards 
• M.A.D. Dashe 
• Rosenblum Cellars 
• Serendipity Cellars 
• Vino Godfather

2022 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition Sweepstake Medal Winners

Cloverdale, CA, January 14, 2022 – There were over forty-eight judges, representing various North American wine regions, evaluating 5,816 wines from nearly 1,000 wineries for the 2022 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

Bob Fraser, SFCWC executive director, says, “The response from the wineries of North America at our 2022 competition was outstanding.  Sweepstakes awards hail from California, Washington and Georgia.

2022 SFCWC Sweepstake Medal Winners

The American AgCredit Medal Winners are as follows:

• Sparkling Sweepstake Winner: Gloria Ferrer 2014 Royal Cuvee Los Carneros, California $58.00
• White Sweepstake Winner: Acquiesce Winery & Vineyards 2020 Viognier Lodi, California $30.00
• Rosé Sweepstake Winner: Barnard Griffin 2021 Rose of Sangiovese Columbia Valley, Washington $14.00
• Red Sweepstake Winner: Landmark Vineyards 2018 Pinot Noir La Encantada Vineyard Santa Rita Hills, California $60.00
• Specialty Sweepstake Winner: Chateau Elan Winery 2017 Bianco Riserva American, Georgia $50.00
• Packaging Sweepstake Winner: m2 Wines 2019 Patina Red Blend Mokelumne River, California $49.00

For a full list of wineries and winners, click here.