SANTA ROSA, Calif. — Columbia Gorge winemaker Rachael Horn won three gold medals for proprietary red blends under her AniChe Cellars label, and four wines featuring grapes from Washington’s acclaimed Horse Heaven Hills region earned top awards at the 2014 International Women’s Wine Competition staged in California’s Sonoma County.
Prosser Vineyard & Winery, recently launched by California transplant Bill Jenkin, had its 2012 Coyote Canyon Vineyard Sangiovese from the Horse Heaven Hills chosen as best of class.
Olympic Cellars near Port Angeles starred at the California competition with two Horse Heaven Hills wines. It won a double gold for its 2012 Alder Ridge Vineyard Zinfandel and a gold medal under its Dungeness label for a Lemberger made from acclaimed Champoux Vineyard. French winemaker Virginie Bourgue also earned two silver medals for the 35-year-old Olympic Peninsula winery.
Swiftwater Cellars winemaker Linda Trotta won a gold medal for her recently released 2013 No. 9 Riesling. Her 2012 vintage was chosen best of class in the dry category during the January judging of the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.
Horn and AniChe Cellars in Underwood, Wash., received gold medals for her Bordeaux blend 2011 Be Holden, 2011 Elephant Mountain Vineyard Moth Love and 2012 Sirius, a blend of Italian varieties from the Horse Heaven Hills. She won a total of six medals at the event, picking up two silver medals and a bronze.
Earlier this year, the 2011 Moth Love — a GSM blend — also earned a rare double gold medal at the Great Northwest Wine Competition.
Last week, Vineyard & Winery Management announced the results of its competition, held June 25. The eighth annual judging by its all-female panel of winemakers and wine professionals attracted 975 entries, producing 38 double gold and 125 gold medals.
According to chief judge Debra Del Fiorentino, the International Women’s Wine Competition judges recognize not only the best wines submitted, but also the wines they feel would appeal most to women wine buyers and consumers.
Here are the results of the Northwest results:
Gold/best in class
Prosser Vineyard & Winery 2012 Coyote Canyon Sangiovese, Horse Heaven Hills, $18
Double gold
Olympic Cellars 2012 Alder Ridge Vineyard Zinfandel, Horse Heaven Hills, $27
Gold
AniChe Cellars 2011 Be Holden, Columbia Valley, $26
AniChe Cellars 2011 Elephant Mountain Vineyard Moth Love, Rattlesnake Hills, $34
AniChe Cellars 2012 Sirius, Horse Heaven Hills, $28
Dungeness 2012 Champoux Vineyard Dungeness Red Lemberger, Horse Heaven Hills, $18
Swiftwater Cellars 2013 No. 9 Riesling, Columbia Valley, $18
Silver
Airlie Winery 2009 Certified Sustainable Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $32
AniChe Cellars 2011 Elephant Mountain Vineyard Atticus, Horse Heaven Hills, $34
AniChe Cellars 2011 7 Gables, Columbia Valley, $26
EdenVale 2011 Stoneriver Vineyard Midsummer’s Vintners Cuvee, Rogue Valley, $23
Frisch 2012 Riesling, Columbia Valley, $21
Olympic Cellars 2012 Alder Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon, Horse Heaven Hills, $27
Olympic Cellars 2012 Sagemoor Vineyard Syrah, Columbia Valley, $27
Rocky Point Cellars 2011 Single Vineyard Collection Le Cadeau Vineyard Pinot Noir, Oregon, $55
Spangler Vineyards 2012 Sangiovese, Oregon , $30
Spangler Vineyards 2012 Tempranillo, Oregon, $30
Swiftwater Cellars 2010 Proprietary Red, Columbia Valley, $50
Swiftwater Cellars 2011 Syrah, Columbia Valley, $35
Bronze
AniChe Cellars 2010 Tyger, Horse Heaven Hills, $48
Chateau Lorane 2012 Echo West Vineyard Muscat Canelli, Columbia Valley, $18
Chateau Lorane 2012 Pinot Gris, Umpqua Valley, $20
Grizzly Peak 2012 Estate Viognier, Rogue Valley, $20
Piluso Vineyard and Winery 2012 Estate Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $36
Piluso Vineyard and Winery 2011 Estate Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $32
Prosser Vineyard & Winery 2012 Coyote Canyon Syrah, Horse Heaven Hills, $18
Spangler Vineyards 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon, Southern Oregon, $24
Swiftwater Cellars 2011 Malbec, Columbia Valley, $38
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