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Estrella District · Paso Robles

Field Notes

Scores, awards and stories from Brady Vineyard — the latest at the top.

October 2026 Accolades

Three Platinum Class Champions at Fort Worth

Three of our wines took Platinum and Class Champion honors at the 2027 Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo International Wine Competition — led by a pair of 98-point scores.

  • 2024 Cabernet SauvignonPlatinum · 98 · Class Champion
  • 2023 ZinfandelPlatinum · 98 · Class Champion
  • 2024 Cabernet FrancPlatinum · 97 · Class Champion
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August 2026 Video

Goodtaste with Tanji

Don sat down with Tanji of Goodtaste with Tanji at Boudro’s on the River Walk in San Antonio to talk about his winemaking journey, what makes Paso Robles so special, and why his Old World–inspired reds — Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah — are the stars of the lineup.

June 2026 Accolades

Gold for both 2024 Cabernets

At the 2026 OC Fair Commercial Wine Competition, California’s largest California-only competition, both of our 2024 Cabernets earned Gold.

  • 2024 Cabernet FrancGold · 91
  • 2024 Cabernet SauvignonGold · 90
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2026 Accolades

96 Points & Platinum from the Sommelier Challenge

Our 2023 Cabernet Franc earned Platinum and 96 points, with the 2023 Zinfandel (Gold, 91) and 2024 Cabernet Sauvignon (Gold, 90) close behind.

“A razzle-dazzle presentation of Cabernet Franc… Nice work!”Sommelier Challenge · 2023 Cabernet Franc · 96 Points
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November 2025 Accolades

Double Gold in Houston

Our 2023 Cabernet Franc was named Reserve Class Champion with a Double Gold medal at the 2026 Rodeo Uncorked! International Wine Competition, hosted by the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

  • 2023 Cabernet FrancDouble Gold · Reserve Class Champion
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2025 Press

94 Points & Editors’ Choice

Wine Enthusiast awarded our 2023 Cabernet Franc 94 points and an Editors’ Choice, praising a Cabernet Franc from Paso Robles that keeps its varietal character while showing the region’s power.

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2020 From the archive

#14 on Wine Enthusiast’s Top 100

Our 2018 Zinfandel earned 96 points and the #14 spot on Wine Enthusiast’s Top 100 Wines of 2020 — chosen from more than 25,000 wines tasted that year. Every wine in our 2018 lineup scored 90 points or higher.

  • 2018 Zinfandel96 · Top 100 #14
  • 2018 Petite Sirah91 · Cellar Selection
  • 2018 Cabernet Franc91
  • 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon91
  • 2018 Merlot91
  • 2018 Chardonnay90
April 2008 From the archive

A Texan in wine country

The Houston Chronicle’s Dale Robertson profiled Don — born in Navasota, schooled at Texas Tech, and a key figure in the rise of Texas wine — on why he traded Texas for Paso Robles, and why it still felt like home.

“It’s a farm and ranch community. It felt like Texas, like home.”Don Brady · Houston Chronicle, 2008
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