Sparkling Wine Gold & Silver Medal Winners on the Central Coast

July means it’s time for the California Mid-state Fair in Paso Robles, and with that comes some serious wine competition! Not only does the fair stock great local wines for folks to enjoy throughout the event (including a delicious Frozé that’s perfect for the heat), but there are also wine-themed nights at the fair, and a storied wine, spirits, and home winemaking competition.

Central Coast Wine & Sparkling Wine at the California Mid-State Fair:

All during the fair, the Krush 92.5 radio station broadcasts live at Mission Square with various winemakers and other wine peeps to showcase their wineries.
Gold Medal winners and wine industry winners are invited to pour at a special walk-around wine tasting at the Mission Square Stage on the first Friday of the fair. This Wine Industry Awards & Tasting night also features an awards presentation.
Great Central Coast wines are also poured at the Silo, and the Cattlemen & Farmers Day during the fair.
An Evening of Music & Wine is typically the last weekend of the fair. This is set up in the concert arena with tables that groups decorate, and dress-up to match, as part of a friendly competition. Many Central Coast wines can be bought by the bottle for your table, or by the glass for your seats.

2025 Sparkling Wine Gold Medal Winners

1. Rava Winery in Paso Robles

Congratulations to Rava Winery! They won Double Gold & Best of Class, non-vintage Sparkling Wine for their Sparkling Cinsault Rosé.

Rava Winery is Paso Robles’ first winery to specialize in estate grown, sparkling wines crafted in the méthode champenoise style, and also made in-house. They currently make 9 different sparklers, plus a Sparkling Negro Amaro. Opened in 2017, Rava Winery is located in the El Pomar American Viticulture Area (inside the bigger, Paso Robles AVA), which is south east of the town of Paso. The Gold winners this year are the Rava Sparkling Blanc De Noir, made from Pinot Noir AND the Rava Sparkling Albarino.

Details: $60 – all Sparkling Wines produced entirely in-house

See the Paso Eastside Bubbles Trail.

2. Tackitt Family Wines in San Miguel

Tackitt Family Wines makes several excellent Sparkling Wines in-house, and by hand, and this year they won Double Gold & Best of Class, vintage Sparkling Wine! The winner is the 2022 Domain De Blanc, made from French Columbard.

They deserve a huge Congratulations! Also, try their other 2 Sparkling Wines: 2023 Sparkling Alicante Bouchet and 2023 Sparkling Rosé.

Details: $55 – all Sparkling Wines produced entirely in-house

3. Halter Ranch on Paso’s Westside

Halter Ranch won 2 Double Golds for their 2021 100% Picpoul Blanc Libelle Sparkling and 2022 51% Grenache, 49% Picpoul Blanc Libelle Sparkling Rosé.

The Halter Ranch Estate is committed to sustainable and organic farming, and makes a unique Sparkler. The silver medal winner is the Halter Ranch Libelle Sparkling Picpoul Blanc, fermented in both stainless steel and neutral oak barrels, and aged on the lees for 30 months. This makes for a very Champagne-like Bubbly!

Details: Picpoul Blanc Libelle Sparkling, $85 – aged on the lees (en tirage) for 30 months
Picpoul Blanc Libelle Sparkling Rosé, $65 – all sparkling wines made in-house

See the Paso Westside Bubbles Trail.

4. Laetitia Winery in Arroyo Grande

This year, Laetitia’s Gold winner is their popular 2021 Laetitia Brut Rosé, made from 75% Chardonnay and 25% Pinot Noir. This pink Sparkling Wine got Gold/Best of Class in 2022.

Laetitia Vineyards & Winery in Arroyo Grande is the original Sparkling Wine House on the Central Coast. Its sparkling heritage goes back to the early 80s, when it was produced at the same location by Maison Deutz, a Champagne maker in France. Since taking it over in 1997, Laetitia has been the Grande Dame of sparkling wine on the central coast, with 7 different sparkling bottlings at various times of the year. The Laetitia Non-vintage Brut Cuvée got silver in 2025, Gold in 2024, and Double Gold in 2022.

Details: $50 – all Sparkling Wines produced entirely in-house

See the Edna Valley & Arroyo Grande Bubbles Trail.

Other Winners

GOLD: Tlo Wines in Bakersfield: 2022 Pinot Noir Blanc De Noirs, $70.00

SILVER: Marin’s Vineyard in Atascadero: 2024 Sparking Viognier ,$45.00

SILVER: Paris Valley Road Winery in Paso Robles: 2021 Cava Blend Paso Robles Sparkling, $33.00

Laetitia Vineyards & Winery and Rava Wines also each won 3 Silver Medals, in addition to their Golds.

2025 Orange County Wine Competition Winners

2024 PasoSecco CinSecco Sparkling Cinsault Rose Sparkling Rosé – Double Gold 94
2022 Flying Goat/Goat Bubbles Pinot Meunier Sparkling Wine – Gold 90
2022 Robert Hall Cavern Select Sparkling Wine – Silver
2019 Flying Goat/Goat Bubbles Brut Cuvee Sparkling Wine – Silver
2023 MEA Wine Psyche Sparkling Rosé – Silver
2024 PasoSecco Sparkling Grenache Blanc – Silver
2023 Marin’s Vineyard Sparkling Wine – Bronze

2024 Sparkling Wine Gold Medal Winners

Indigené Cellars in Downtown Paso Robles

Indigené Cellars winemaker Raymond Smith made the 2019 Yeux De Chat Cuvee Sparkling with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes from the Santa Lucia Highlands. It was picked at premium ripeness for Bubbles made in the traditional method (as is done in Champagne, France), and rested on the lees for several years. that was aged on the lees for several years. Just before bottling, the 5g dosage (making this an Extra Brut Cuvée) produced focus, acidity and restrained mousse with the wine’s long and elegant finish.

Details: $75.00 – produced off-site at Caraccioli Cellars (also known for their high-quality Champagne-style Sparkling Wine)

See the Paso Downtown Bubbles Trail.

Other 2024 GOLD Sparkling Wines:

Laetitia Vineyards & Winery, and Rava Wines., and Paris Valley Road Winery.

2024 Sparkling Wine Silver Medal Winners

Hoyt Family Vineyards in Downtown Paso Robles

Hoyt Family Vineyards are located on one of the highest and most beautiful elevations on the west side’s Willow Creek AVA (Amerian Viticulture Area). The silver medal winner is the 2019 Hoyt 2 Hoyt Sparkling Wine, made with Chardonnay/Pinot Noir from those vineyards. This is made in a classic Brut style, using the traditional method used in Champagne, with a classic grape blend as well.

Details: $45.00 – finished off-site

See the Paso Downtown Bubbles Trail.

Paris Valley Road Winery on Paso’s Eastside

Paris Valley Road is an estate winery and vineyard just east of Paso Robles, inspired by the stunning domaines of the grand crus of France. The silver medal winner is the 2020 Sparkling Wine, made from Grenache Blanc, Sauvignon Gris, Verdejo, and Macabeo.

Details: $36.00 – all Sparkling Wines produced entirely in-house, as well as for Sextant Sparkling Wine