Kudos to McFadden's Sparkling Brut - The Little Wine That Could - Best of Show at California State Fair

Once again, the little winery that could - McFadden Vineyards in Mendocino's Potter Valley - grabs a great big prize at yet another wine competition. This time it's the California State Fair's Commercial Wine Competition.

Proprietor Guinness McFadden will pick up a DOUBLE GOLD and a BEST OF SHOW for the winery's nonvintage Brut ($25) (a wine I've been enjoying and championing for several years and have blogged too often about, but what can you do when it wins yet another major award?)

McFadden also received Double Gold medals for both this wine and its reserve Brut from the San Francisco Chronicle wine competition earlier this year.

On sale, as a wine club member, you can buy the regular Brut for $14-15 a bottle. Discounts also apply during the Hopland Passport weekends (once each year in the fall and again in the spring). The next Passport weekend is Oct. 18-19.

The McFadden annual Wine Club party (open to non club members as well) is a farm-and-vineyard extravaganza not to be missed. In fact, it's coming up in early July - the date is Saturday, July 12, 2014 from 5-11 pm. Tickets can be purchased online or over the phone at (707) 744-8463. Guinness takes guests on a walking tour of the farm, then there's a big feast prepared by his daughter Fontaine (a caterer in SF), serving locally raised grilled pork and lamb from famed Mac Magruder's farm down the way.

The winery also promises to serve a new 2012 McFadden Brut Rosé, its first Brut Rosé.

After dinner, there's dancing under the stars to the sounds of the fabulously talented Kelly McFarling Band.

To me, this party celebrates the best side of California's wine industry - local, organically grown award-winning wines, beautifully farmed vineyards, community, and great food! You can also bring a tent and sleep overnight at the winery on a grassy lawn and stick around Sunday for swimming in a bit of the Russian River, which flows right by the dinner spot.

Guinness McFadden, leading a tour in 2013 for the wine club
on his Potter Valley property