Best Award-Winning Sonoma Wineries to Visit in 2026
Where to taste wines from Jesse Katz, Katy Wilson, and Lise Asimont — plus the Sonoma wineries shaped by their award-winning work.
I’m not usually one who follows awards in the wine world very closely. I don’t always agree with the winners, I often wonder who even got to be nominated, and honestly it seems silly to try to reduce so much incredible wine in California (or the world) down to just one winemaker or one bottle. That being said, a few awards that floated around this fall brought a smile to my face — mostly because they went to winemakers whose work I already admire. Plus, it made me realize there’s so much more to try, especially because some of these award winners consult for a whole constellation of wineries you might already have on your bucket list (and a few you don’t yet know you need).
Want more wineries like this? Explore the full Noteworthy Guide.
So without further ado, here are three winemakers riding high this year, and the wineries they help shape:
Jesse Katz — Winemaker of the Year (Wine Enthusiast)
Let’s start with the headline act: Jesse Katz was named Winemaker of the Year by Wine Enthusiast, and honestly… that tracks. If the name sounds familiar, it’s because Jesse is basically Sonoma royalty at this point.
He’s the founder, CEO, and winemaker behind Aperture Cellars, which he co-founded with his father, acclaimed photographer Andy Katz. The wines are world-class, Bordeaux-style beauties, and the tasting room mirrors that polish: sleek, modern, and lined with his father’s photography. It’s equal parts serious wine and serious aesthetic (see more stunning Cabernets from Sonoma here).
But Jesse doesn’t just make wine under one label. He’s also behind The Setting and Aesthete (amongst others).
The Setting is all about luxury: sumptuous, modern, Cabernet-driven, and tasted in a reservation-only lounge at Bacchus Landing. It’s famous for its bold, polished Cabs — and for casually auctioning off one of the most expensive bottles ever sold. (A 6-liter of the 2019 Glass Slipper Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon went for $1 million. Casual flex.)
Aesthete, on the other hand, is much more relaxed. Think bold yet approachable Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Sauvignon Blanc, enjoyed in a family (and dog) friendly creekside setting complete with farm animals (which used to be the Truett Hurst property). It’s welcoming, unpretentious, and the beloved Adirondack chairs and laid-back vibes live on, now paired with Jesse’s seriously good wine.
Katy Wilson — Next Wave Winemaker of the Year (VinePair)
Coming in hot from the Pinot world is Katy Wilson, who snagged Winemaker of the Year from VinePair’s Next Wave Awards.
Katy’s story is one of those “you probably already love a wine she made but didn’t realize it” situations. With over 20 years in wine, her résumé reads like a Sonoma map — touching everything from Kamen to Flowers, alongside her own label, LaRue, and consulting for an impressively long list of Sonoma favorites.
Her own label, LaRue Wines, produces beautifully expressive Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays, often sourced from iconic Sonoma Coast sites. The tasting experience is recently opened, less than an hour from SF, and feels classy without being stuffy — very much an under-the-radar gem (see more under the radar Pinot gems here).
But that’s just one stop on the Katy Wilson tour:
She’s the winemaker for Reeve Wines, where Pinot and Chardonnay meet a trendy, bucolic farm vibe, complete with cozy, thoughtfully curated outdoor tastings.
She also consults for Anaba Wines, a relaxed, approachable option about an hour from SF. The wines lean cool-climate and elegant — Pinots and Rhône varieties — and the tasting “campus” is casual, kid-friendly, and often comes with pizza and bites. Zero pressure, all pleasure.
And she’s involved with Smith Story Wine Cellars, known for elegant, low-intervention Pinots and chillable reds, poured in a quirky, dog-friendly space at Bacchus Landing.
Basically, if you’re sipping Sonoma Pinot or a bright, cool-climate Chardonnay these days, there’s a very solid chance Katy had a hand in it.
Lise Asimont — North Coast Wine Challenge Winemaker of the Year
Last but absolutely not least: Lise Asimont of Dot Wine in Healdsburg snagged Winemaker of the Year honors at the 2025 North Coast Wine Challenge.
Dot Wine is a small passion project for Lise and her husband, Shawn Phillips. She’s best known for her Pinot Noirs — elegant, vineyard-driven wines with a touch of muscle — but it was her rosé, Sauvignon Blanc, and Grenache that earned her this year’s accolades. And honestly? I couldn’t agree more. They’re all absolutely worth your time.
Friendly bonus: Dot is located at Bacchus Landing, a lively wine-collective-meets-lifestyle hub that’s refreshingly approachable — kid-friendly, dog-friendly, and ideal for hopping between tastings (and also one of our picnic favs). And while you’re there, the other co-located wineries are also worth a stop (including Smith Story, which you now know to seek out).
So Yeah — Go Try Them Before They’re “Too Hyped”
Visit these wineries, support the humans behind the bottles, and maybe pick up a few legendary gifts while you’re at it. (Remember: gifting wine is like gifting an experience — but better, because you get to drink it too.)
And all the details about the wineries
Aperture Cellars
Aperture brings together world-class Bordeaux-style wines and sleek modern aesthetics in a way that feels more Left Bank-meets-design-museum than your typical Sonoma tasting room. Founded by winemaker Jesse Katz and his father, acclaimed photographer Andy Katz, the winery delivers an experience that’s as much about visual art as it is about polished, expressive wines.
The wines themselves are all about balance—ripe California fruit shaped by Old World structure, natural acidity, and restraint. Jesse Katz keeps intervention to a minimum (no acid correction, no heavy-handed tricks), letting the cool-climate vineyard character speak for itself. The reds, especially the Cabernet-based blends, are powerful yet sculpted, with a depth and finesse that’s earned them serious acclaim.
Tasting Experience
The sleek, art-filled lounge offers panoramic vineyard views and striking photography, setting the scene for a sophisticated, highly personalized tasting. If you’re after something fresh, modern, and a little glamorous, Aperture hits the mark.
Other Essentials
🍾💲 Median Bottle: $ ($100+) | 📅💲 Tastings: $50+
Aesthete
Aesthete deliberately leans into a bolder expression of Sonoma, with a clear directive from the owner to Jesse Katz (who is famed for his own winery, Aperture and Devil’s proof): do not make a thin coastal Pinot. The result is a lineup that’s big, bold, and fruit-forward, but still polished and well balanced. The partnership with Katz brings both pedigree and precision, showing up in expressive Pinot Noir from Bennett Valley, a luxuriously textured barrel-aged Sauvignon Blanc, and a refined Rockpile Cabernet Sauvignon. These are confident wines with presence, generous in style without tipping into excess.
Tasting Experience
Tastings at Aesthete feel relaxed and intimate, set on their Dry Creek Valley estate that used to belong to Truett-Hurst. Tastings are beside the creek, under shady trees, or near the barn and animal paddock, with farm animals wandering nearby. Despite the high caliber of the wines, the vibe is unpretentious and welcoming — bring a picnic, pet a friendly sheep, and settle into the creekside calm.
Other Essentials
LaRue
Katy Wilson was just named Winemaker of the Year by VinePair — so let’s be honest, this “hidden gem” status may have an expiration date. LaRue is tiny, fiercely personal, and entirely run by Katy herself (who, by the way, also makes wine for Reeve, Bloodroot, Anaba, and Smith Story… so yes, you might have already had her wine). Her focus is ultra-boutique, cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, crafted with a Burgundian wink and a California backbone. Expect elegance and restraint: delicate, site-driven wines with bright coastal acidity, subtle oak, and a transparency that lets the Sonoma Coast do most of the talking. With husband David — a veteran sommelier — in the mix, the two bring a thoughtful, almost symbiotic perspective to every tiny lot they produce.
Tasting Experience
LaRue’s new farmhouse tasting room is just about an hour from San Francisco — close enough for a spontaneous “we deserve something nice” escape. Tastings are intimate and by appointment only, offered in a relaxed, sit-down format with a curated lineup, including their single-vineyard Pinots and Sonoma Coast blend. You can also add a Sonoma cheese plate, which feels like the correct life choice. It’s a warm, personal, no-rush introduction to LaRue’s beautifully made, quietly confident wines.
Other Essentials
Anaba Wines
Anaba was the first winery in Northern California to harness wind power, a nod to both sustainability and the blustery Carneros conditions that shape their wines. Under winemaker Katy Wilson, the focus is on cool-climate elegance: vibrant, food-friendly Pinot Noir and Chardonnay alongside Rhône varieties like Syrah and Grenache Blanc. The wines skew medium-bodied and restrained, with bright acidity, moderate alcohol (typically around 13–14% ABV), and a clear sense of place rather than overt oak or ripeness. It’s a thoughtful, terroir-driven lineup that rewards attention without demanding it. If you’re looking for a spot close to San Francisco that balances serious winemaking with a welcoming vibe, Anaba is a great choice.
Tasting Experience
“Tasting campus” is the right phrase here. Anaba’s relaxed, indoor-outdoor setup encourages lingering, with comfortable seating, bocce ball, and fire pits, plus pizza and small bites. Flights are well curated, the pace is unhurried, and the overall vibe is welcoming rather than precious. It’s an easygoing stop where you can enjoy quality wines in a scenic setting just steps from the vines.
Other Essentials
🍾💲 Median Bottle: $$$ ($40-$70) | 📅💲 Tastings: $45+
Reeve
Reeve is set amidst the serene beauty of oak trees and vineyards (and an occasional goat and chicken). Think trendy, bucolic farm, in the best way possible. The focus is Pinots, though they do have a couple of bigger reds, too. While more known for Pinots and Chardonnays, try their Ya Moon Pinot and their Gamay - both made with a whole cluster fermentation. They are pretty, they are enticing, and they are delicious slightly chilled.
Tasting Experience
Rustic lights, cozy heaters, sitting out on Adirondack chairs or on their patios overlooking the vines. Thoughtfully provided blankets, and a bite with your tasting (it was a pizza made with farm grown veggies for us). It all felt pleasantly effortless in that very curated way.
Other Essentials
Smith Story Wine Cellars
Founded by Eric and Ali Story, their “story” is a fun one, the winery was founded via one of the wine world’s earliest crowdfunding campaigns. Their wines lean elegant and restrained, showcasing Pinot Noir, chillable carbonic reds, and site-driven whites from sustainably farmed, family-owned vineyards. Think low-intervention winemaking with native yeast, restrained oak, moderate alcohol, and a clear sense of place in every glass.
Tasting Experience
Call it “tasting with character.” Ali Smith-Story brings her Texas roots into the space with vintage antiques and quirky collectibles. The tasting room itself is at Bacchus Landing just outside downtown Healdsburg: part industrial, part inviting, and fully charming. Expect a warm, personal touch (often from the owners themselves), plus the company of their goldendoodle mascots who’ve become minor celebrities in their own right. The vibe is family- and dog-friendly, with both indoor seating and a lively shared courtyard that keeps things casual and relaxed.
Other Essentials
🍾💲 Median Bottle: $$$ ($40-$70) | 📅💲 Tastings: $25+
Dot Winery
Founded by viticulturist Lise Asimont — who was just named Winemaker of the Year at the 2025 North Coast Wine Challenge — Dot Wines is one of those rare finds that manages to be both deeply technical and effortlessly cool. Asimont’s background in vineyard management (and her Filipino-American roots) bring a fresh, thoughtful lens to Sonoma winemaking. Her focus is on small-lot, vineyard-driven wines. Expect elegant, Burgundian-inspired Pinot Noirs — delicate but with Côte de Nuits muscle — alongside bright, expressive Grenache and the occasional carbonic Zinfandel that’s pure, juicy joy in a glass.
Tasting Experience
Dot Wines pours out of Bacchus Landing, Healdsburg’s lively wine-collective-meets-lifestyle-hub, where olive trees shade the courtyard and bocce balls clack in the background. The tasting room itself feels sleek yet relaxed — part modern bar, part neighborhood hangout — and tastings are often hosted by Lise herself or her husband, making it all feel refreshingly personal. You can opt to elevate the experience with chef-curated, seasonal pairings (highly recommended). And since nearly every winery at Bacchus Landing is worth a detour, you might as well clear your afternoon — and bring the dog and the kid, too.
Other Essentials
🍾💲 Median Bottle: $$$ ($40-$70) | 📅💲 Tastings: $25+
Noteworthy is an independent, unsponsored guide to California’s most noteworthy wineries. If you enjoy these recommendations, you can explore the full guide of curated wineries on Noteworthy.wine.