Region’s Best Wines Go Head to Head in the Annual North Coast Wine Challenge. Here’s How to Enter

The Press Democrat's annual North Coast Wine Challenge is calling on local producers to enter by March 21. Here's how to enter.


The Press Democrat’s annual North Coast Wine Challenge, a regional competition exclusively focused on wines produced and bottled in select Northern California AVAs, is calling on local producers to enter by March 21.

Eligible North Coast AVAs include those in Sonoma, Napa, Marin, Mendocino, Lake and Solano counties. Top-tier wine professionals — including noted sommeliers, winemakers, restaurateurs, wine writers and more — will judge the wines. Gold-winning wines will be publicly announced in The Press Democrat and winners will be invited to pour at its North Coast Wine & Food Festival, June 14, where over 1,200 people attend every year.

North Coast Wine Challenge
Michael Beaulac, director of winemaking at Foley Family Wines, tastes wine during the second day of judging at the North Coast Wine Challenge in Santa Rosa, Wednesday, April 3, 2024. (Christopher Chung / The Press Democrat)

How to enter

To enter, log into EnofileOnline or register for an account and enter wines in the competition online. Entry fee is $85 per wine. Deadline to enter is March 21 and wine shipments (addressed to Press Democrat North Coast Wine Challenge) must arrive at Express Wine Delivery (7970 Cameron Drive, Windsor) by 5 p.m., March 24.

Official entries should include four 750-ml bottles per wine entry or equivalent, such as eight bottles/cans of 375 ml each. For containers larger than 1 liter in volume, send two units. Boxes should be marked “2025 PDNCWC” on all sides. Mark boxes “1 of 2,” “2 of 2,” etc. to ensure entire shipment is received. Download shipping labels here.

Judging will take place April 1-2.

For more information, email contact@pdncwc.com or visit pdncwc.com.