
HOOD RIVER, Ore. – A wine available primarily at restaurants won best in show at the inaugural Great Northwest Invitational Wine Competition.
The Seven Falls Cellars 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon from the Wahluke Slope in Washington earned top honors at the competition. It is a $15 wine that is made by Doug Gore, a senior executive at Ste. Michelle Wine Estates and former head winemaker at Columbia Crest. The wine is available primarily on restaurant wine lists, though it also is sold online through the Seven Falls website.
Elk Cove Vineyards in Gaston, Ore., won best white wine for its 2012 Pinot Gris. Lumos Wine Co. in Philomath, Ore., brought home the trophy for best rosé with its 2012 Chiquita Pinot Noir Rosé. And Capitello Wines in Eugene, Ore., won best dessert wine for its 2011 Dolcino, a late-harvest Gewürztraminer.
The Great Northwest Invitational Wine Competition, run by Great Northwest Wine, is unlike any other competition because the wines are nominated by the judges. For most competitions, any winery may submit any wine it wishes.
The judges for the Great Northwest Invitational Wine Competition are influential wine professionals from the Pacific Northwest. They included:
- Fred Armstrong is the wine director for the Ringside Hospitality Group in Portland
- Cole Danehower is the publisher at EssentialNorthwestWines.com, contributes the Northwest content for Hugh Johnson’s Pocket Wine Book and was longtime editor of Northwest Palate magazine.
- Ilene Dudunake owns A New Vintage Wine Shop, 12-year-old business near Boise, Idaho.
- Don Elsing is the wine director at Sun Mountain Lodge in Winthrop, Wash.
- Dave Holstrom owns Guy du Vin, a restaurant wine program consulting business in Portland.
- Chris Horn is the wine director at Seattle-based Heavy Restaurant Group and Purple Cafe & Wine Bar.
- Lane Hoss is vice president of marketing at Anthony’s Restaurants.
- Tim O’Brien is corporate director of beverage at Salty’s Restaurants.
- Yashar Shayan is a sommelier and founder of the Seattle-based retailer ImpulseWine.com.
- Mark Takagi is specialty sales director of the Seattle-based Metropolitan Market group.
- Matt Tessler works for Full Pull Wines in Seattle.
- Jean Yates is founder and former owner of Avalon Wine in Corvallis, Ore. She now owns Oregon Wine Marketing.

The competition was conducted blind, meaning the judges knew neither the producer nor the price. The competition took place at the historic Columbia Gorge Hotel, one of the grand hotels of the Pacific Northwest.
Here are the results of the competition, which was completed Thursday afternoon:
Best in show/best red wine
Seven Falls 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, Wahluke Slope $15
Best white wine
Elk Cove Vineyards 2012 Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley $19
Best rosé
Lumos Wine Co. 2012 Chiquita Pinot Noir Rosé, Oregon $20
Best dessert wine
Capitello Wines 2011 Dolcino, Oregon $22
Gold medal/best in class
Avennia 2011 Boushey Vineyard Arnaut Syrah, Yakima Valley $48
Chateau Ste. Michelle 2011 Canoe Ridge Estate Merlot, Horse Heaven Hills $26
Chehalem 2012 Three Vineyard Riesling, Willamette Valley $22
Pend d’Oreille Winery 2010 Bistro Rouge, Washington $14
Stoller Family Estate 2010 Cathy’s Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills $100
Woodward Canyon Winery 2012 Chardonnay, Washington $44
Gold
Barnard Griffin 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley $17
Boedecker Cellars 2010 Stewart Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley $34
Cave B Estate Winery 2010 Syrah, Columbia Valley $25
Chateau Ste. Michelle 2011 Cold Creek Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley $25
Col Solare 2009 Red, Columbia Valley $75
Dunham Cellars 2010 XVI Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley $45
Fort Walla Walla Cellars 2008 Syrah, Walla Walla Valley $28
Jones of Washington 2012 Viognier, Wahluke Slope $15
Jones of Washington 2008 Lewis & Clark Vineyard Barrel Select, Columbia Valley $25
Maryhill Winery 2010 Hattrup Farms Marvell, Rattlesnake Hills $32
Reininger Winery 2010 Seven Hills Vineyard Carmenere, Walla Walla Valley $48
Smasne Cellars 2010 Upland Vineyard Ancient Rocks, Snipes Mountain $44
Sparkman Cellars 2011 Kingpin Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain $62
Stoller Family Estate 2010 Reserve Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills $45
Woodward Canyon Winery 2011 Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington $59
Silver
Adams Bench 2010 The V Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley $52
Alexandria Nicole Cellars 2012 Destiny Ridge Vineyards Shepherds Mark, Horse Heaven Hills $24
àMaurice Cellars 2009 Red Wine, Columbia Valley $35
àMaurice Cellars 2010 Boushey Vineyard Syrah-Grenache, Yakima Valley $35
Amavi Cellars 2012 Semillon, Walla Walla Valley $21
Amavi Cellars 2011 Les Collines Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley $35
Anam Cara Cellars 2012 Nicholas Estate Gewürztraminer, Chehalem Mountains $24
Anam Cara Cellars 2012 Nicholas Estate Dry Riesling, Chehalem Mountains $22
Angela Estate 2011 Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton $45
AntoLin Cellars 2009 Merlot, Yakima Valley $20
Apolloni Vineyards 2012 Pinot Blanc, Willamette Valley $15
Artisanal Wine Cellars 2010 Adams Vineyard Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains $30
Avennia 2012 Sauvignon Blanc, Yakima Valley $25
Avennia 2010 Gravura, Columbia Valley $35
Avennia 2010 Sestina, Columbia Valley $50
Avennia 2011 Justine, Columbia Valley $38
Barnard Griffin 2009 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley $40
Boedecker Cellars 2010 Athena Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley $34
Brandborg Vineyard & Winery 2012 Gewürztraminer, Umpqua Valley $18
Brandborg Vineyard & Winery 2012 Riesling, Elkton Oregon $16
Bunnell Family Cellar 2008 Syrah, Horse Heaven Hills $40
Camas Prairie Winery NV Huckleberry Mead, Idaho $14
Capitello Wines 2012 Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley $18
Cedergreen Cellars 2008 Merlot, Columbia Valley $42
Chateau Ste. Michelle 2010 Ethos Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley $42
Chateau Ste. Michelle 2010 Ethos Merlot, Columbia Valley $42
Chateau Ste. Michelle 2012 Riesling, Columbia Valley $10
Chateau Ste. Michelle & Dr. Loosen 2012 Eroica Riesling, Columbia Valley $20
Chateau Ste. Michelle & Dr. Loosen 2012 Eroica Gold Riesling, Columbia Valley $28
Chehalem 2012 Inox Chardonnay, Willamette Valley $19
Chehalem 2011 Three Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley $29
Chehalem 2011 Corral Creek Vineyards Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains $50
Cinq Cellars 2012 Sauvignon Blanc, Columbia Valley $14
Cloudlift Cellars 2011 Ascent Cabernet Franc, Horse Heaven Hills $24
Cloudlift Cellars 2011 Panorama, Horse Heaven Hills $26
DeLille Cellars 2010 Grand Ciel Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain $150
DeLille Cellars 2010 Harrison Hill, Snipes Mountain $85
DeLille Cellars 2010 Chaleur Estate, Red Mountain $78
Dowsett Family Winery 2009 Devotion, Columbia Valley $30
Doyenne 2012 Rosé, Yakima Valley $28
Dunham Cellars 2008 Lewis Vineyard Merlot, Columbia Valley $75
Dunham Cellars 2012 Lewis Estate Vineyard Riesling, Columbia Valley $20
Dusted Valley Vintners 2011 StoneTree Vineyard Grenache, Wahluke Slope $39
Dusted Valley Vintners 2010 Petite Sirah, Columbia Valley $42
Dusted Valley Vintners 2012 Evergreen Vineyard Chardonnay, Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley $29
Elk Cove Vineyards 2012 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley $29
Enso Winery 2010 Resonate Red #9, Washington $16
Erath Winery 2012 Pinot Blanc, Oregon $14
H/H Estates 2010 Robert Andrews Reserve Mourvedre, Horse Heaven Hills $38
H/H Estates 2009 Robert Andrews Reserve Mourvedre, Horse Heaven Hills $38
H/H Estates 2010 Michael Andrews Reserve Red, Horse Heaven Hills $38
Harbinger Winery 2009 Elephant Mountain Vineyards Sangiovese, Rattlesnake Hills $30
Helix by Reininger 2010 Stillwater Creek Vineyard Merlot, Columbia Valley $27
JB Neufeld 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, Yakima Valley $34
Kamari 2012 Chardonnay, Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley $20
Kestrel Vintners 2009 Winemaker Select Cabernet Sauvignon, Yakima Valley $40
Kestrel Vintners 2010 Winemakers Select Series Cabernet Franc, Yakima Valley $40
Kiona Vineyards and Winery 2010 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain $42
Kiona Vineyards and Winery 2012 Late Harvest Riesling, Columbia Valley $15
L’Ecole No. 41 2012 Semillon, Columbia Valley $15
L’Ecole No. 41 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley $32
L’Ecole No. 41 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley $40
L’Ecole No. 41 2012 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley $22
L’Ecole No. 41 2010 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Perigee, Walla Walla Valley $50
L’Ecole No. 41 2010 Syrah, Columbia Valley $25
Lost River Winery 2011 Late Harvest Semillon, Columbia Valley $18
Market Vineyards 2012 Liquidity, Columbia Valley $20
Maryhill Winery 2010 Proprietor’s Reserve Zinfandel, Columbia Valley $30
Maryhill Winery 2010 Sugarloaf Vineyards Mourvedre, Rattlesnake Hills $30
Michelle NV Brut Rosé, Columbia Valley $13
Mosquito Fleet Winery 2010 Sophia, Columbia Valley $29
Naches Heights Vineyard 2012 Riesling, Naches Heights $14
Napeequa Vintners 2008 Trailhead, Columbia Valley $29
Napeequa Vintners 2008 SLR, Columbia Valley $29
Nelms Road 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington $25
Nelms Road 2012 Merlot, Washington $25
Nodland Cellars 2009 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley $38
Northstar 2010 Merlot, Columbia Valley $40
Northstar 2010 Merlot, Walla Walla Valley $50
Northwest Cellars 2009 Phinny Hill Vineyard Petit Verdot, Horse Heaven Hills $36
Pacific Rim Winemakers NV Framboise, Washington $14
Pacific Rim Winemakers 2012 Riesling, Columbia Valley $10
Pend d’Oreille Winery 2009 Merlot, Washington $21
Pepper Bridge Winery 2010 Trine, Walla Walla Valley $65
Proper Wines 2011 Stone’s Throw Syrah, Walla Walla Valley $36
Reininger Winery 2010 Merlot, Walla Walla Valley $39
Reustle-Prayer Rock Vineyards 2010 Riesling, Umpqua Valley $21
Ryan Patrick Vineyards 2012 Reserve Chardonnay, Columbia Valley $20
Ryan Patrick Vineyards 2012 Ryan’s Riesling, Columbia Valley $10
Saviah Cellars 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley $28
Saviah Cellars 2010 Malbec, Walla Walla Valley $30
Seven of Hearts 2012 Chateau Figareaux Rosé of Cabernet Franc, Columbia Valley $18
Smasne Cellars 2010 Upland Vineyard Old Vine Cabernet Sauvignon, Snipes Mountain $50
Smasne Cellars 2010 Upland Vineyard Mourvèdre, Snipes Mountain $44
Sparkman Cellars 2012 Lumiere Chardonnay, Columbia Valley $30
Sparkman Cellars 2011 Wilderness, Columbia Valley $28
Sparkman Cellars 2012 Rosé, Columbia Valley $22
Sparkman Cellars 2011 Darkness Syrah, Yakima Valley $62
Spring Valley Vineyard 2010 Mule Skinner Merlot, Walla Walla Valley $50
Spring Valley Vineyard 2010 Frederick, Walla Walla Valley $50
Tamarack Cellars 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley $32
Tamarack Cellars 2011 Cabernet Franc, Wahluke Slope $30
Tamarack Cellars 2009 Merlot, Columbia Valley $28
Tamarack Cellars 2012 Firehouse Red, Columbia Valley $16
Telaya 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley $30
Telaya 2010 Turas, Columbia Valley $28
Woodward Canyon Winery 2012 Sauvignon Blanc, Walla Walla Valley $26
Woodward Canyon Winery 2010 Merlot, Columbia Valley $44
Bronze
Angela Estate 2010 Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton $40
Ayres Vineyard 2012 Pioneer Estate Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge $47
Cave B Estate Winery 2012 Sauvignon Blanc, Columbia Valley $20
Chateau Faire le Pont 2009 Elerding Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington $38
Chateau Faire le Pont 2009 Provence, Washington $35
Chateau Ste. Michelle 2011 Cold Creek Vineyard Chardonnay, Columbia Valley $25
Chateau Ste. Michelle 2012 Ethos Chardonnay, Columbia Valley $30
Chateau Ste. Michelle & Dr. Loosen 2008 Eroica Single Berry Select, Columbia Valley $200
Chehalem 2010 Stoller Vineyards Ian’s Chardonnay, Dundee Hills $36
Chehalem 2011 Ridgecrest Vineyards Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge $50
Chehalem 2012 Corral Creek Vineyards Riesling, Chehalem Mountains $29
Cinder Wines 2012 Off-Dry Viognier, Snake River Valley $18
Cloudlift Cellars 2010 Panorama, Horse Heaven Hills $25
Coyote Canyon Winery 2012 Albariño, Horse Heaven Hills $22
DavenLore Winery 2010 Petit Verdot, Horse Heaven Hills $28
DavenLore Winery 2011 Durif, Horse Heaven Hills $28
DeLille Cellars 2010 D2, Columbia Valley $42
DeLille Cellars 2012 Chaleur Estate Blanc, Columbia Valley $35
Doyenne 2012 Roussanne, Red Mountain $34
Dusted Valley Vintners 2011 StoneTree Vineyard Mourvedre, Wahluke Slope $42
Dusted Valley Vintners 2012 Sconni Block Ramblin’ Rosé, Walla Walla Valley $24
Eight Bells Winery 2010 Red Willow Vineyard David’s Block Cabernet Sauvignon, Yakima Valley $35
Erath Winery 2011 Prince Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills $50
Erath Winery 2011 Leland Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley $50
Forsyth Brio 2007 Kiona Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain $50
Forsyth Brio 2007 McKinley Springs Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Horse Heaven Hills $50
Helix by Reininger 2010 Phinny Hill Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley $29
Jones of Washington 2012 Sauvignon Blanc, Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley $15
Keeler Estate Vineyard 2011 Chardonnay, Eola-Amity Hills $25
Kestrel Vintners 2009 Winemaker Select Malbec, Yakima Valley $40
Kestrel Vintners 2008 Old Vine Merlot, Yakima Valley $50
Kiona Vineyards and Winery 2012 Chenin Blanc Ice Wine, Red Mountain $25
Kiona Vineyards and Winery 2010 Single Berry Select Botrytised Chenin Blanc, Red Mountain $80
Kitzke Cellars 2009 Malbec, Columbia Valley $29
L’Ecole No. 41 2012 Chenin Blanc, Columbia Valley $15
L’Ecole No. 41 2010 Merlot, Columbia Valley $25
L’Ecole No. 41 2010 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Merlot, Walla Walla Valley $35
L’Ecole No. 41 2010 Pepper Bridge Vineyard Apogee, Walla Walla Valley $50
L’Ecole No. 41 2012 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Luminesce, Walla Walla Valley $20
Lauren Ashton Cellars 2011 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley $25
Lauren Ashton Cellars 2012 Stillwater Creek Vineyard Rosé of Sangiovese, Washington $18
Lopez Island Vineyards & Winery 2012 Siegerrebe, Puget Sound $25
Maryhill Winery 2010 Proprietor’s Reserve Grenache, Columbia Valley $20
Maryhill Winery 2010 Proprietor’s Reserve Malbec, Columbia Valley $25
Maryhill Winery 2010 Elephant Mountain Vineyards Indira, Rattlesnake Hills $40
Michelle NV Brut Extra Dry, Columbia Valley $13
Oak Knoll Winery 2008 Red Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir, Oregon $24
Pacific Rim Winemakers 2012 Vin de Glaciere, Columbia Valley $14
Purple Star Wines 2011 Syrah, Columbia Valley $18
Reininger Winery 2010 Syrah, Walla Walla Valley $44
Reustle-Prayer Rock Vineyards 2012 Hebron Bloc Grenache, Umpqua Valley $27
Reustle-Prayer Rock Vineyards 2011 Masada Bloc Syrah, Umpqua Valley $32
Robert Ramsay Cellars 2010 Par la Mer, Columbia Valley $38
Seven of Hearts 2011 Chateau Figareaux Cabernet Franc, Columbia Valley $29
Really great wine competition guys. One of the best I’ve had the pleasure of judging. Cheers!