At the 2025 USA Wine Ratings,Sonoma-based, Three Sticks’ 2023 Price Family Estates Pinot Noir was awarded Pinot Noir of the Year and Best Wine by Quality. At a time when trade buyers are seeking wines that combine authenticity, provenance, and value, Three Sticks Wines has delivered a clear standout. Sourced exclusively from six of the winery’s estate-owned vineyards, the wine offers the pedigree of iconic sites like Gap’s Crown and Durrell at a highly competitive retail price. To get a glimpse behind the scenes, the team at Three Sticks Wine delved into what the award means for the brand, how they support trade partners, and why this Pinot Noir deserves a place on serious buyers’ lists.

Edited excerpts from the interview.

How did it feel to have your 2023 Price Family Estates Pinot Noir recognized as Pinot Noir of the Year and Best Wine by Quality?

We were absolutely thrilled! At Three Sticks, every vineyard row tells a story: of the land, of the  people who tend it, and of the care we take from vine to glass. This wine is the purest expression of our mission — to craft wines of place, with uncompromising quality, that connect deeply with those who enjoy them. This recognition from the USA Wine Ratings is especially meaningful because it comes from the leaders who shape wine lists, guide the industry, and truly understand the balance of quality, value, and presentation. For us, it’s not just an award — it’s a reflection of our team’s heart, our vineyards’ character, and the relationships we’ve built in the extraordinary Sonoma community. It validates the work we put into both our vineyards and our cellar. For us, it’s also a powerful tool. Awards like this give distributors, retailers, and collectors confidence. It’s one thing for us to say the wine is great, but when the industry confirms it, that really resonates!

Why did you choose to enter the USA Wine Ratings specifically?

The competition evaluates wines on quality, value, and packaging. Those three pillars align perfectly with our approach. We wanted to see how our wine would stand up when judged not only on taste but also on overall market readiness. And because the judging panel is made up of active buyers and decision-makers, their recognition is incredibly relevant. These are the people who understand what moves in the market.

Can you tell us more about the 2023 Price Family Estates Pinot Noir? What makes it special?

This wine is really a “winemaker’s wine.” What truly sets the Price Family Estates Pinot Noir apart is its origin—a harmonious blend from six Grand Cru level Estate vineyards in Sonoma County. From our Heritage Vineyards—the legendary Durell, the iconic Gap’s Crown, and the coastal jewel Walala—we gain structure, depth, and the coastal freshness that defines the Sonoma Coast. From our Monopole Vineyards—Alana, One Sky, and William James—we bring the purity of sites designed and farmed exclusively for Three Sticks, each expressing a unique facet of Pinot Noir: Alana’s forested vibrance, One Sky’s layered mountain-grown elegance, and William James’s depth from Goldridge soils. The result is a wine that tells the story of the  Sonoma Coast from ridge to valley, with a lively, spicy profile layered with blueberry, violet, cardamom, and a touch of cocoa. Very few producers can say they control 100% of their fruit, and that ownership allows us to make consistently high-quality wines. It’s also our most food-friendly Pinot Noir, and the one that sees the widest national distribution. Retailing at $65, it offers exceptional value for the quality and provenance behind it. That balance of approachability and pedigree is what sets it apart.

We harvest fruit at optimal ripeness, often weeks apart, and almost always at night to preserve freshness. Each vineyard is fermented and aged separately, resulting in around 60 unique lots.

The final blend layers all those components—depth, freshness, structure, elegance—into a wine that’s both complex and immediately drinkable. It’s the kind of Pinot Noir that delivers pleasure right away but will also reward cellaring.

How do you plan to leverage this award in the trade?

It’s already become a centerpiece of our distributor conversations. We’re highlighting it in PR, digital campaigns, and trade marketing, giving our partners a strong story to take to their buyers.

When guests visit our historic home, the 1842 Vallejo Casteñada Adobe, it will be part of the experience, showing how our vineyards and team have earned a place among the very best.

But we see this award not as an endpoint, but as a milestone in our ongoing journey. It aligns beautifully with our three-year plan—one that focuses on meticulous vineyard stewardship, leading in hospitality, and creating enduring connections with wine lovers worldwide. It’s a validation we’ll celebrate, but more importantly, it’s a source of energy to keep doing what we do best: crafting wines of the place and offering experiences that leave a lasting impression, from our hillside and coastal vineyards to every glass we pour. From a consumer standpoint, it also enhances the storytelling in our Adobe tasting room in Sonoma. Guests love knowing they’re tasting a wine that just won a major international award.

What kind of support do you provide your US trade partners?

We really see distributors and retailers as an extension of our team. That means we provide full marketing kits—tasting notes, media assets, shelf talkers, social content—along with samples and staff training. We also go into the market alongside our partners. Ride-alongs, in-store events, and distributor education are a big part of how we ensure the story lands with buyers and consumers.

Looking ahead, how do you see this recognition influencing your brand’s direction?

It gives us confidence to keep investing in the premium Pinot Noir category. The award reinforces that our philosophy of estate-driven, vineyard-focused winemaking is resonating globally. And while the competition is US-based, the prestige carries weight worldwide. It opens doors for conversations in new markets like Asia, Canada, and Europe, where buyers are actively seeking wines that combine authenticity, craftsmanship, and value.

What’s next for Three Sticks Wines—any upcoming releases or initiatives you’re excited about?

We’re entering an incredibly exciting chapter for Three Sticks Wines. This summer, we unveiled our Sonoma Seasonal Lunch—The Adobe Table, in partnership with Chef Brooke Garlieb of Brooke’s Table. Offered Sunday through Friday at noon at our historic home, the 1842 Vallejo Casteñada Adobe, it’s a relaxed yet elevated way to experience wine country. Brooke’s menus are inspired by what’s fresh and abundant locally, perfectly paired with our small-production estate wines. 

We’ve also launched our Reserve Experience—a private, guided tasting featuring our most distinguished wines. Guests enjoy a curated flight of exclusive wines from our monopole estate vineyards, large formats, and even library selections from Proprietor Bill Price’s personal cellar. It’s a rare opportunity to explore the depth, legacy, and craftsmanship that define Three Sticks. 

Alongside these new programs, we’re looking forward to releasing limited bottlings from our monopole vineyards and continuing to deepen our hospitality offerings, all while investing in sustainability and careful stewardship of our legendary sites like Durell and Gap’s Crown.