Petaluma Gap Fans Returned to Gambonini Family Ranch for this Year’s Tasting Event
Petaluma, CA – August 14, 2024 – The Petaluma Gap Winegrowers Alliance (PGWA) today announced the winners of the inaugural Petaluma Gap People’s Choice Awards. On Saturday, August 10th fans of the Petaluma Gap American Viticultural Area (AVA) gathered at the 2024 Wind to Wine Festival at Gambonini Family Ranch. Attendees tasted from over 100 wines from 30 different wineries and selected their top choices for the AVA’s three signature grapes: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah, as well three other crowd-pleasing varieties.
“We introduced the People’s Choice Awards this year to allow our fans and followers to express their excitement about the unique taste profile of the wines produced by our winemakers,” said Tom Gendall, Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Petaluma Gap Winegrowers Alliance. “It was a fun and interactive way to involve our guests, and based on the participation, clearly a popular activity, with hotly contested categories.” The winners of the 2024 People Choice Awards are:
Best Chardonnay: Two-Way Tie
Anaba Wines 2022 Chardonnay, Sangiacomo Roberts Road Vineyard
Keller Estate 2021 Oro de Plata Chardonnay
Best Pinot Noir: Three-Way Tie
1467 Cellars 2022 Pinot Noir, Calesa Vineyard
Sangiacomo Wines 2022 Pinot Noir, Petaluma Gap
Toje Wines 2022 Pinot Noir, Sweet Lane Vineyards
Best Syrah
Gust Wines 2018 Syrah
Best Other Varieties:
Brooks Note 2023 Albariňo
Toje 2022 Rosé of Pinot Noir
Kendric 2022 Viognier, Petaluma Gap | Marin County
Also offered for the first time this year were two seated seminars, one on the Burgundy roots of Petaluma Gap wines, as well as a comparative tasting with award-winning wines from Sangiacomo Roberts Road and Gap’s Crown, two iconic vineyards in the Petaluma Gap AVA. The seminars were moderated by wine journalist Dan Berger and Dr. Liz Thach from the Wine Market Council.
Festivities included passed appetizers from the renowned Girl + the Fig Catering, live music on the patio from singer/songwriter Clay Bell, samplings of cheese from Point Reyes Farmstead, bread from local artisan baker Della Fattoria, and olive oil from McEvoy Ranch, cookies from Cookie Take a Bite, and wine-infused chocolate truffles from Bert’s Desserts.
The Petaluma Gap Winegrowers Alliance would like to thank the local businesses and sponsors who made this year’s event possible, including American AgCredit (Presenting Sponsor), as well as Sonoma County District 2, TricorBraun Winepak, KRSH Wine Country Radio, The Drive with Steve Jaxon, Sonoma Media Investments, and Sotheby’s International Realty.
For advance information about future events, visit https://petalumagap.com, click on Contact Us, and request a free subscription to our monthly newsletter.
About the Alliance
Founded in 2005, the Petaluma Gap Winegrowers Alliance (PGWA) exists to educate members of the wine trade and consumers about the Petaluma Gap AVA and to increase awareness of the region’s unique growing conditions and resulting wine quality. PGWA additionally supports member winegrowers and vintners within the region through ongoing programs and communications designed to help them maximize their success within the industry. The group’s membership is made up of grape growers, wineries, associate business members, sponsors, and local community members with a passion for the region and its wine.
