Roche Winery Takes Home Best of Class
The Roche Family would like to congratulate our winemaker, Michael Carr, for another outstanding year at the 2025 San Francisco Chronicle Competition – the largest wine competition in North America! We are so appreciative of Michael’s dedication to making stellar wines for Roche Winery and you, our customers. All of the thirteen wines we submitted took home a medal with our 2023 American Oak Reserve Chardonnay winning Best of Class, a designation given to the wine the judges deem best in a category!
All Chardonnays within the $43.00 to $46.99, the class for our 2023 American Oak Chardonnay, are tasted together and awarded gold, silver or bronze medals. Any wines within its category receiving a unanimous top-rating by the judges receives a double gold designation. The judges then decide on which of the double golds deserves “Best in Class.” Our American Oak Chardonnay ran against dozens of other Chardonnays in its price range to become Best of Class!
Here is what wine writer, Mike Dunne, said about our 2023 American Oak Reserve Chardonnay: “Don't let the fine print on the front label scare you - "American Oak Reserve." The 2023 Roche Carneros Chardonnay is neither excessively ripe nor excessively heavy on oak, though the timber is ample enough to please Chardonnay fans who expect a beam or two in their juice. The wine is a first-rate example of astute winemaking at its most astute, with the apple notes of Carneros Chardonnay, the creaminess of oak, and the snap of cool-climate acid all woven together into a refreshingly vital and entertaining Chardonnay. Few Chardonnays combine both authority and grace in such equal measure.”
Keep reading for tasting notes on our Best of Class and other gold medal winners. We hope you get the chance to visit us soon to enjoy these wines! Or…get in touch and we can ship the wine to you!
tasting notes
BEST OF CLASS - 2023 American Oak Reserve Chardonnay
One of our customer’s favorites for its smoothness, the American Oak Chardonnay has a nice crisp red apple and apricot aroma with hints of smooth butterscotch and spice; expect flavors of tropical fruit, apple pie and the toffee bite of American Oak barrels.
GOLD - 2023 Sparkling Brut Rosé
AVAILABLE TO WINE CLUB MEMBERS ONLY
Always a great party starter! Pop open up our Sparkling Brut Rosé to enjoy it’s floral, jasmine and rose aromas and flavors of peach and melon.
DOUBLE GOLD - 2023 Sonoma Valley Dry Rosé
The perfect sunny afternoon wine! Our Dry Rosé delights with bright aromas of apricot and white peach surprising the palette with delectable flavors or crisp pear, hibiscus and nectarine.
DOUBLE GOLD - 2023 Carneros Chardonnay
Even red wine drinkers enjoy our Carneros Chardonnay with its fresh aromas of yellow apple and tropical fruit not to be outdone by a well-balanced flavor profile of citrus, fresh apple and subtle floral notes.
DOUBLE GOLD - 2023 French Oak Reserve Chardonnay
This traditional French Oak-aged Chardonnay pops with aromas of lemon, yellow apple, and light toast; you will find a bright lime-citrus flavor along with a bright acidity muted by vanilla notes.
DOUBLE GOLD - 2022 Longford Vineyard Reserve Pinot Noir
Available to wine club members only
Our vineyard designated Longford Reserve Pinot Noir highlights the classic Carneros Pinot flavors of dark cherries with the effects of terroir adding a toast and leather aroma.
