When Kara Groom launched her small, independent wine label, Ra Ra Wine Co., in 2018, the fledgling winemaker never imagined she’d be named 2026 Winemaker of the Year in the North Coast Wine Challenge less than a decade later.
Raised in Sonoma County by South Australian parents, Groom didn’t plan to work in the wine industry even though her father is a respected winemaker. “I like to say I got tricked into it,” says Groom, laughing. “I was home from college and my dad told me I could earn a lot of money working harvest in Australia. I did one harvest and was immediately hooked. I fell in love with the work-hard, play-hard lifestyle.”
Today, the 34-year-old winemaker produces about 1,000 cases of wine each year for her Healdsburg-based brand, focusing on easy-drinking expressions of fresh, lively whites and less-common, lower-alcohol reds.
“I’ve always made my wine this way because it’s what I like to drink,” she says. “It just so happens people are really gravitating towards this style of wine right now, so that’s been a happy accident.”
In April, Groom entered five wines into the North Coast Wine Challenge, The Press Democrat’s annual wine competition. Little did she know she would be named Winemaker of the Year, an honor awarded to the competition’s most outstanding winemaker based on wine scores, creativity, dedication, and vision.
“There are so many amazing winemakers in Sonoma County, I’m honestly in shock I won,” says Groom, who learned of her win in July. “I’m just excited to showcase my winemaking style and the fun varietals I make because I love them so much. This is a real pinch-me moment.”
Now in its 14th year, the North Coast Wine Challenge brought together 30 local judges to blind-taste nearly 1,040 wines from 220 wineries. Eligibility was limited to wines produced with grapes from the North Coast appellation, comprising Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino, Lake, Marin, and Solano counties. Ra Ra Wine Co. earned Best Mendocino County Wine and Best of Class for its 2025 dry Gewürztraminer from Redwood Valley, plus Best of Class for its 2025 Melon de Bourgogne from Alexander Valley, and 2025 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir Nouveau. All three wines earned Double Gold medals with scores above 95 points, with the brand also clinching gold medals for its 2025 Rosé of Grenache and 2025 dry Riesling.
“As a wine judge, I’ve evaluated countless wines over the years, and Kara’s consistently stand out for their precision, balance, and varietal authenticity,” says Jennifer Grace, president of Luxury Wine Partners. “Each wine tells a story while demonstrating technical skill and restraint, and that distinguishes truly outstanding winemaking. They aren’t simply well made — they’re memorable.”
Daryl Groom, the competition’s chief judge and Groom’s father, couldn’t be prouder of his daughter, whose wines were evaluated blind and stand on their own merit. “Kara’s wines simply delight. They’re fun and natural with no pretense — just like her personality,” says Daryl, winemaker at Naked Wines. “I am so incredibly proud of what she has done and all she has achieved.”
Upcoming Ra Ra Wine Co. Events
Saturday, Oct. 3
5:30-8 p.m.
Tasting with Dot Wines; $25 per person. Learn more at dotwinery.com/events and purchase tickets on Tock.
14210 Bacchus Landing Way, Healdsburg. dotwinery.com/events
Wednesday, Oct. 14
Reservations from 5-9 p.m.
Winemaker dinner at Dry Creek Kitchen; $150 per person. Purchase tickets at drycreekkitchen.com/events.
317 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg