DuCard Vineyards in Etlan has been awarded three gold medals in the 2026 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.
Dubbed the “largest competition of North American wines,” the Virginia vineyard took gold with its 2023 Tana Chardonnay, 2023 Whetstone Chardonnay, and their 2023 Signature Viognier.
DuCard Vineyards Winners at 2026 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
Entries for the 2026 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition begin in the fall of 2025 as the winery world is involved with the current harvest.
The call for entries goes out and any bonded winery in the USA, Canada and Mexico are eligible to enter.
Wines grown or produced outside North America are not eligible.
Wineries pay a fee to enter their wines to be judged by the professional wine judges sourced from all over North America.
One of the first competitions of a new year, judged in mid-January, is a great way for a winery to start a new year by announcing award winning wines that have been acknowledged widely in the wine world in print and online, published in a special award section in the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper, plus the wineries each receive award plaques to show off in their tasting room.
The categories include sparkling, white, rose, red, and specialty wines as well as a label competition.
When the email arrives that you have been awarded medals in the SFCWC winter has set in on the East Coast and winter pruning has begun.
The work to prepare for the next season, no matter what the temperature outside, is on the mind of the winemaker.
The staff in the tasting room are happily serving guests who come to call and try wine inside the tasting room.
Not many folks want to venture out onto the patio or into the vines this time of year.
“Looking forward to the new growing season it is great to be able to learn that the work of the previous season has born new kind of fruit, DuCard owner Scot Elliff said. “We are pleased by what our Winemaker Julien Duarantie and Assistant Winemaker Kimberly Ahearn and of course mother nature has produced.”
“2023 was definitely a year to remember for a number of reasons!” Assistant Winemaker Kimberly Ahearn said.
DuCard Vineyards is located at 40 Gibson Hollow Ln in Etlan Va. They are open every day at 12 p.m.
Flights poured in Riedel crystal glasses brought to the guests’ table to create a personal experience along with glass and bottle sales are offered daily.
Live music from local artists every Saturday in the winter along with events coming up on their calendar every month.
To learn more about DuCard Vineyards and events at the winery, visit the vineyards website.
To learn more about the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and to find a complete list of winners, the newspaper’s special webpage.
This post originally published by The Piedmont Journal Recorder at https://pjrnews.com/articles/the-big-pic/ducard-vineyards-winners-at-2026-san-francisco-chronicle-wine-competition/