Award-winning Sonoma Valley wines are what we do best, and 2026 proved it again: three estate-grown reds from Little Vineyards earned medals at the California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition, led by a Double Gold and 97-point score for our 2022 Zinfandel. Every wine on this list started as fruit grown on our Sonoma Valley estate, so this win feels personal, a nod to the soil, the season, and the hands that tended both.
What is the California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition?
The California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition is the oldest wine competition in the United States, tracing its roots back to 1854 during the Gold Rush era. More than a century and a half later, it remains one of the industry’s most closely watched judgings, recognizing wines and the vineyards behind them for contributions to quality and craft across California’s wine regions. You can search the full list of 2026 California State Fair wine competition winners yourself in the official results database.
Wines are grouped by growing region and varietal, then tasted blind by panels of working winemakers, educators, and wine writers. A Double Gold means every judge on the panel agreed the wine deserved a Gold medal, which makes it one of the harder honors to earn. Scores layer on top of medals, giving each wine a point total out of 100 based on structure, balance, and overall character.
For a small, family-run winery like ours, medals from a competition this size carry real weight. They tell us, and you, that the wine in your glass holds up against bottles from every corner of the state.
Meet Our 2026 Award Winners
2022 Zinfandel: Double Gold, 97 points
Our 2022 Zinfandeltook home a Double Gold and a 97-point score, our highest marks of the year. Grown on our Sonoma Valley estate, this Sonoma Valley Zinfandel is the kind of wine that shows why the varietal has such deep roots in our valley: rich fruit, firm structure, and a finish that lingers.
2023 Cabernet Franc: Gold, 92 points
The 2023 Cabernet Franc earned a Gold medal and 92 points, a strong showing for a varietal we have been proud to work with in smaller lots. It brings a different personality to our estate-grown red wines from Sonoma, with the bright, savory edge Cabernet Franc is known for.
2022 Petite Sirah: Silver, 89 points
Rounding out the wins, our 2022 Petite Sirah picked up a Silver medal and 89 points. Petite Sirah has always rewarded patience in the vineyard, and this vintage shows the deep color and bold tannins the grape is known for.
Taste the winners yourself
All three wines are estate-grown, released in limited quantities, and ready to ship. Browse the full lineup, along with our other honored bottlings, in our Award-Winning Wines category, or come taste them in person at the winery. Reservations are recommended, and you can see hours, tasting options, and details on our Visit Us page. Our tasting room sits at the heart of our Glen Ellen winery, so every pour comes straight from the estate behind these awards.