Region's top wines celebrated at North Coast Wine Challenge tasting

Holding full wineglasses and plates of food from the dozens of chefs and wineries serving, attendees sipped and strolled in the spring sunshine at Sunday’s North Coast Wine Challenge tasting event at Sonoma Mountain Village in Rohnert Park.

The event, hosted by The Press Democrat, featured eight of the county’s top chefs and 80 wines given gold medals by a panel of judges at the recent North Coast Wine Challenge.

Now in its fourth year, the event attracted more than ?1,500 people, according to organizers.

“My husband and I look forward to this event every year,” said Kim Norts of Santa Rosa, who sipped a glass of cabernet sauvignon with her husband, Dennis Vozaitis.

“It represents Sonoma County at its finest.”

The most-awarded winery at the event, Westwood Winery, had a long line of oenophiles eager for a taste of its 2014 Annadel Gap Vineyard Clone 37 Estate Pinot Noir, which judges gave 99 out of 100 possible points.

“I’m very humbled by this award, and having a great time introducing this wine to everyone,” said winemaker Ben Cane.