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Sierra Madre's accolades extend back in the vineyard's illustrious history.

In the early 1980s, noted wine writer Mike Stepanovich called Sierra Madre Vineyard “one of the state’s – make that the nation’s – best Pinot Noir vineyards.”

“In the 1985 American Wine Competition, the best American Pinot Noir came from Sierra Madre Vineyard's, Sanford Winery’s 1983 Pinot Noir. In the 1986 American Wine Competition, Sanford repeated as the best Pinot Noir in the land with its 1984. The second best also came from Sierra Madre, Byron Vineyard & Winery’s 1984. In the 1986 California State Fair wine competition, Wild Horse Winery’s 1984 Pinot Noir won best of class. It also won a gold medal at the 1987 Intervin competition. Wild Horse’s 1985 Pinot noir was named the state’s best at the 1987 state fair. Sierra Madre Vineyard grapes? Yep.”

Ken Brown, of Byron Vineyard and Winery, was quoted sometime around 1986 as follows, “Pinot Noirs made with Sierra Madre grapes have won more medals than any other Pinot Noir in America,” citing the American Wine Completion as an example.

“Our 1984 Pinot Noir won a platinum medal, which is the highest award and not even always given out,” he says. “Sanford Winery’s Pinot Noir also won a platinum in that competition – so, of the only two platinum winners in the United States for Pinot Noir, both were wines made with grapes from the same vineyard – Sierra Madre.”