RECENT ACCOLADES (2025–2026)

Inner Sanctum Cellars continues its tradition of excellence with a record-breaking season, including "Best of Show" honors and a sweep of Double Gold medals across California's most prestigious competitions.

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The Top Tier: Best of Show & Double Gold

• Chardonnay “Dwell in Joy” (2024)

  • BEST OF SHOW WHITE | 2025 Foothill Wine Fest

  • DOUBLE GOLD | 2026 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

  • DOUBLE GOLD | 2025 Foothill Wine Fest

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• Petite Sirah “Velvet Hammer” (2022)

  • DOUBLE GOLD | 2026 Calaveras County Fair

  • GOLD | 2026 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

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• Tempranillo “Torro” (2021)

  • DOUBLE GOLD | 2026 Calaveras County Fair

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• Syrah “Thos” (2022)

  • DOUBLE GOLD | 2026 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

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• Rosé Tempranillo (2023)

  • DOUBLE GOLD | 2025 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

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  • Ocho - Port (2015)

  • BEST OF SHOW Dessert | 2024 Calaveras County Fair

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Red Varietals & Blends

Zinfandel “Skully” (2022)

GOLD | 2026 Calaveras County Fair

SILVER | 2026 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competitiont of Show

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Red Headed Ninja (2022)

GOLD | 2025 Foothill Wine Fest

SILVER | 2026 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

BRONZE | 2026 Calaveras County Fair ("Redhead")

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Tempranillo “Torro X” (2020)

GOLD | 2025 Foothill Wine Fest (Zuni Vineyards)

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Tempranillo “Torro11” (2021)

GOLD | 2025 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

SILVER | 2026 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

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Petite Sirah “Velvet Hammer” (2021)

SILVER | 2025 SF Chronicle & 2025 Foothill Wine Fest

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Zinfandel “Skully” (2021)

SILVER | 2025 SF Chronicle & 2025 Foothill Wine Fest

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Syrah “Thos” (2022)

SILVER | 2026 Calaveras County Fair & 2025 SF Chronicle

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Cabernet Sauvignon “The Beginning” (2021)

SILVER | 2026 SF Chronicle & 2025 Foothill Wine Fest​

BRONZE | 2026 Calaveras County Fair & 2025 SF Chronicle

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Inner Sanctum “Ocho” (2015)

Double Gold| 2024 Calaveras County Fair

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White & Sparkling Varietals

Verdejo “Mateo the Matador” (2023–2024)

GOLD | 2026 Calaveras County Fair (2024)

GOLD | 2025 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition (2023)

SILVER | 2026 SF Chronicle (2024) & 2025 Foothill Wine Fest (2023)

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Verdejo “Mateo the Matador” – Sparkling

SILVER | 2026 SF Chronicle (2024) & 2025 Foothill Wine Fest (2023)

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Chardonnay “Dwell in Joy” (2023)

GOLD | 2025 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

Legacy Awards

Tempranillo “Torro”:
Vintage 2017:
Bronze | 2020 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
Gold | 2019 California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition
Vintage 2014:
BEST OF SHOW! Double Gold | 2016 Tuolumne County Fair - July 2016
Best Of Class! Double Gold | 2016 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition - Jan 2017
Double Gold | 2016 Calaveras Wine Competition
Vintage 2013:
Gold | Grand Harvest Awards, Sonoma - Nov 2015
Vintage 2012:
Gold & Best of Class for the Sierra Foothill Region! | 2015 California State Fair Wine Competition - June 2015
Silver | 2014 Grand Harvest Awards, Sonoma - Dec 2014
Silver | SF Chronicle Wine Comp - Jan 2015
Vintage 2011:
Gold | 2014 Calaveras Wine Competition  
Silver| 2014 California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition - June 2014
Gold | 2014 Sunset International Wine Competition - May 2014
Gold | 2014 San Francisco International Wine Comp
Best of Class & Gold Medal | 2013 Grand Harvest Awards, Sonoma - Nov 2013
 
Tempranillo “La Mera Dona”:
2016 Vintage:
Silver | 2019 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
 
Cabernet Sauvignon "The Beginning":
Vintage 2017:
Silver | 2020 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
 
Vintage 2013:
Silver | SF Chronicle Wine Comp - Jan 2016
Gold! | Calaveras County Fair
 
Vintage 2011:
Bronze Medal | San Francisco Wine Comp - 2014 
 
Vintage 2010:
Bronze Medal | San Francisco Chronicle Wine Comp - 2013 
Gold | 2014 Calaveras Wine Competition - June 2014
 
Zinfandel “Skully”: 
2017 Vintage:
Silver | 2020 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
Bronze | 2019 California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition
 
Petite Syrah “Velvet Hammer”:
2016 Vintage:
Silver | 2020 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
 
Verdejo “Mateo the Matador”:
2018 Vintage:
Silver | 2020 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
Silver | 2019 California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition
 
2017 Vintage:
Gold | 2019 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
Silver | 2019 Sierra Foothills Wine Competition
 
2016 Vintage:
Silver & Best of Class | 2018 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
Silver & Best of Class | 2018 California State Fair
 
2015 Vintage:
Silver | 2017 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
 
Chardonnay “Dwell in Joy”:
 
2018 Vintage:
Gold | 2020 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
DOUBLE GOLD | 2019 Sierra Foothill Wine Competition
 
2017 Vintage:
Gold | 2019 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
 
Vintage 2016:
Silver | 2017
 
Vintage 2015:
Silver | 2016 
Bronze | 2016 California State Fair
 
Port Style Wine “Cuatro”:
DOUBLE GOLD | Sierra Foothill Wine Competition 
Gold | 2019 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
 
Grenache Rosé “Live & Love”:
Vintage 2018:
Gold | 2019 California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition
Silver | 2019 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
 
Quixote:
Vintage 2013:
Silver | 2014 California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition - June 2014
 
Leather Head Red:
Silver | Calaveras County Fair - 4/2016
 
The Mayor:
Vintage 2013:
Bronze Medal | 2014 California State Fair - June 2014
 
Merlot “Little Joe”:
Vintage 2010:
Silver | 2013 California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition - June 2013
 
Cinsaut “First Kiss”:
Vintage 2013:
Gold | Calaveras County Fair 
 
Vintage 2012:
Silver | 2014 SF Chronicle Wine Comp 
 
Barbera "The Don":
Vintage 2013:
Silver! - SF Chronicle Wine Comp - Feb 2016
 
Vintage 2012:
Bronze - The San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition - Jan 2015
 
Vintage 2011:
Double Gold - 2014 Calaveras Wine Competition - June 2014
Silver - 2014 California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition - June 2014
Silver - 2014 Sunset International Wine Competition - May 2014
Silver - The San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition - March 2014