(PD) - A sauvignon blanc, a pinot noir and a sparkling wine snagged top honors Sunday at the Harvest Awards Night, playing to the diversity of Sonoma County.

The sweepstakes white is the Selby 2013 Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc at $15; the sweepstakes red is the Balletto 2013 Russian River Valley Estate Pinot Noir at $42; and the sweepstakes specialty wine is the Windsor Vineyards N.V. Sonoma County Blanc de Blanc at $32.

More than 500 people from the industry and the public paid at least $75 to hear the champions of the Harvest Fair’s wine competition announced at Santa Rosa’s Wells Fargo Center. The event was dedicated to recognizing the Sonoma County wine industry and its best wines.

“Everyone here was on pins and needles,” said Vikki Bufano of Santa Rosa. “Many people were friends and family members of the contenders and they were excited to hear who the sweepstakes winners were.”

At the reception in the lobby, people were sampling award-winning wines and dishes, and they were dressed in everything from jeans and cowboy boots to cocktail dresses and designer shoes with 5-inch heels.

The most sentimental part of the evening was when Saralee Kunde’s black-and-silver Derby-style hat was auctioned off. Bidding spiraled, with the top offer at $2,600 made by Kunde’s brother, George McClelland of Santa Rosa.

Kunde, a Sonoma County icon and producer of prize-winning grapes, was known for her generosity, her exuberance and her signature hats. She died earlier this year.

“This is the 40th anniversary of the Sonoma County Harvest Fair, but the first year without Saralee McClelland Kunde, and we miss her so much,” said Mike Martini, Harvest Fair board president and co-vintner of Sebastopol’s Taft Street Winery. “She was at the first one, and her example is what keeps us going.”