(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) - Each year, the California State Fair Wine Competition not only showcases the state’s finest wines, but also honors individuals and vineyards whose contributions have left an enduring impact on California’s wine industry.
The California State Fair and the Wine Advisory Task Force recognizes accomplishments and services through a series of awards in the wine industry: Lifetime Achievement, Vineyard of the Year, and California All Stars. These prestigious honors reflect the spirit, history, and continued evolution of California winemaking, as recognized by the very experts shaping the industry’s future.
The Vineyard of the Year recognizes the California vineyard that consistently, over several growing seasons, produced grapes which have contributed directly to wine of superior quality and marketability within commercial sales systems and the fine wine market.
The Wine Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a person, family, or institution whose lifetime contributions have helped pioneer and advance the California wine industry.”
The California All Stars is a posthumous award recognizing innovators, educators, and leaders in the world of wine for their exemplary service and contributions to the California wine industry.
“This year’s honorees reflect the heart and soul of California’s wine industry,” said Tom Martinez, CEO of California Exposition & State Fair. “From visionary vintners to multigenerational vineyard stewards, each has made a lasting impact on our industry, and we are honored to recognize and celebrate their remarkable contributions.”
2026 Wine Industry Honorees
Lifetime Achievement Awards
Ted Bennett and Deborah Cahn - Navarro Vineyards - Philo, CA
Ted Bennett and Deborah Cahn accepted the award for Navarro Vineyards. Their family-owned winery in California’s Anderson Valley has been crafting estate-grown wines since 1974. Navarro is celebrated for its cool-climate varietals including Gewürztraminer, Pinot Noir, Riesling, and Pinot Gris, as well as its longstanding commitment to sustainable farming and small-lot winemaking.
Vineyard of the Year
S.L.V. (Stag’s Leap Vineyard)
The Vineyard of the Year honor was awarded to the historic S.L.V. (Stag’s Leap Vineyard), the original estate vineyard of Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars in Napa Valley. Planted by Warren Winiarski in 1970, S.L.V. was the source of the winery’s legendary 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon, which famously won the 1976 Judgment of Paris tasting.
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Judgment of Paris, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars released 1,973 magnums of its signature S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon this May, sourced from the last remaining block of original vines planted in 1972. This spring also marks the release of the 2023 S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon, a highly anticipated vintage from the historic vineyard that produced the celebrated 1973 wine.
California Wine All-Stars
Samuel Joseph Sebastiani – Sebastiani Vineyards
Samuel Joseph Sebastiani’s life was an extraordinary testament to unwavering passion, deep-rooted heritage, and groundbreaking innovation in winemaking. His exceptional vision and steadfast commitment elevated California’s premium wine industry, honoring the Sebastiani family’s enduring contributions to the California wine industry and multi-generational legacy in winemaking.
Christian Michel Jean Roguenant – Lightpost Winery
Christian Michel Jean Roguenant was a Burgundy-born winemaker who shaped California's Central Coast wine industry for nearly four decades. As the winemaker for Lightpost Winery, he leveraged his global expertise to craft award-winning sparkling and cool-climate still wines.
Jed Steele – Steele Wines / Shannon Ridge
Jed Steele was a legendary California winemaker widely known as "Mr. Lake County" and the man who put California Chardonnay on the consumer map. He left a mark on the American wine industry through a career spanning over five decades.
Dr. Anita Oberholster (2025 Honoree)
Dr. Anita Oberholster was a globally respected wine chemist and Cooperative Extension specialist in enology at the University of California, Davis. She was widely recognized for her groundbreaking research and leadership in the wine industry. Revered as an industry "rock star," she dedicated her career to protecting vineyards and winemaking communities around the world from climate-driven agricultural challenges.
The 2026 honorees were celebrated during the annual Judges Dinner hosted by Grindstone Wines in Esparto, California, with support from Tierney Bates and the Yolo County Vineyard & Winery Association. Participating Yolo County wineries poured wines during the evening reception, showcasing the region’s diverse and growing wine industry.
For more information and a complete list of winners, visit the California State Fair website.
The California State Fair runs from July 17 through August 2 at the Cal Expo fairgrounds. Gates open at 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and at 10 a.m. Friday through Sunday.
