Champagne tops Seattle Wine and Food Experience judging

SEATTLE – A sparkling wine from the world’s most famous wine region was the top wine in the fourth annual Seattle Wine and Food Experience Wine Awards.

Piper Heidsieck‘s nonvintage brut from France’s Champagne region was the pick of a group of nine wine professionals out of more than 200 entries.

Chateau Ste. Michelle’s 2014 Eroica Riesling was the best white wine, and the Garnet 2013 Pinot Noir from California’s Monterey County was the best red wine.

Many of the award-winning wines will be poured during this weekend’s Seattle Wine and Food Experience. Here is a rundown of the event:

It starts on Saturday, Feb. 20, with Pop! Bubbles and Seafood, which is in its second year. It takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. at McCaw Hall at the Seattle Center near the Space Needle. Tickets are $75 per person.

Pop! will feature sparkling wines from around the world, including Champagne, Prosecco, cava and domestic bubbles. Alongside them will be 16 chefs preparing Northwest seafood sourced from Alaska to Oregon. An oyster bar and caviar are among the highlights.

Sunday, Feb. 21 is the grand tasting and will run from noon to 5 p.m. It includes nearly 200 vendors, with plenty of winemakers pouring their creations for attendees. VIP tickets cost $75 and allow early access to the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall, as well as a VIP lounge and a swag bag. General admission tickets are $60 and provide access from 1 to 5 p.m.

Those seeking the full weekend pass can get into both events for $140, including VIP access.

The judging took place in January at Anthony’s HomePort Shilshole Bay in Seattle. The judges included:

• Doug Charles, owner of Compass Wines in Anacortes, Wash.
• Lane Hoss, vice president of marketing and beverage director for Anthony’s Restaurants.
• Rebecca Murphy, founder of the Dallas Morning News International Wine Competition.
• Chris Nishiwaki, longtime Seattle area wine journalist.
• Tim O’Brien, corporate director of beverage at Salty’s Restaurants.
• April Reddout, program manager for the Walter Clore Wine & Culinary Center in Prosser, Wash.
• Yashar Shayan, owner of ImpulseWine.com.
• Dawn Smith, sommelier at John Howie Steak.
• Mark Takagi, specialty sales director of the Seattle-based Metropolitan Market group.

The Seattle Wine and Food Experience wine competition is conducted by Great Northwest Wine.

Seattle Wine and Food Experience Wine Awards

Best of show

Piper Heidsieck NV Brut, Champagne, $48

Best white wine

Chateau Ste. Michelle 2014 Eroica Riesling, Columbia Valley, $20

Best red wine

Garnet 2013 Pinot Noir, Monterey County, $16

Double gold

Ambassador Wines of Washington 2012 Estate Envoy, Red Mountain, $35

Arbor Crest Wine Cellars 2012 Dionysus/Meritage, Columbia Valley, $45

Bogle Vineyards 2013 Merlot, California, $9

Serra Vineyards 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, Applegate Valley, $50

Terra Blanca Winery & Vineyard 2010 Signature Series Block 8 Syrah, Red Mountain, $42

Wilridge Winery 2013 Malbec, Yakima Valley, $20

Gold

Alexander Valley Vineyards 2013 Estate Syrah, Alexander Valley, $20

Alexandria Nicole Cellars 2013 Quarry Butte, Red Blend, Horse Heaven Hills, $25

Alexandria Nicole Cellars 2014 Jet Black Syrah, Horse Heaven Hills, $28

Ambassador Wines of Washington 2012 Estate Syrah, Red Mountain, $28

Anam Cara Cellars 2012 Riesling, Chehalem Mountains, $22

Fetzer 2014 Gewürztraminer, Monterey County, $8

Gilbert Cellars 2013 Gewürztraminer, Columbia Valley, $20

Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards 2012 Pinot Noir, Carneros, $27

Pacific Oasis 2013 Riesling, Columbia Valley, $10

Panther Creek Cellars 2013 Winemaker’s Cuvee Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $30

Revelry Vintners 2013 Reveler, Columbia Valley, $20

Robert Hall 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles, $22

Terra Blanca Winery & Vineyard 2010 Arch Terrace Syrah, Red Mountain, $25

Whidbey Island Winery 2013 Dolcetto, Yakima Valley, $27

Whidbey Island Winery 2013 Sangiovese, Columbia Valley, $22

Wilridge Winery 2013 Melange Noir, Naches Heights, $40

Silver

Acquiesce Winery 2014 Grenache Blanc, Mokelumne River, $24

Acquiesce Winery 2014 Belle Blanc, Mokelumne River, $26

Airfield Estates 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Yakima Valley, $28

Airfield Estates 2012 Mustang, Yakima Valley, $25

Alexandria Nicole Cellars 2015 Affinity Albarino, Columbia Valley, $22

Alexandria Nicole Cellars 2015 Crawford Viognier, Columbia Valley, $20

Anam Cara Cellars 2012 Nicholas Estate Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains, $33

Armstrong Family Winery 2013 Fronk, Columbia Valley, $28

Black Stallion 2014 Chardonnay, Napa Valley, $19

Black Stallion 2013 Pinot Noir, Los Carneros, $25

Bogle Vineyards 2014 Chardonnay, California, $9

Bogle Vineyards 2013 Essential Red, California, $11

Brian Carter Cellars 2010 Solesce, Wahluke Slope, $55

Brian Carter Cellars 2011 Byzance, Columbia Valley, $34

Brian Carter Cellars 2011 Le Coursier, Columbia Valley, $34

Bunnell Family Cellar 2014 Newhouse Family Vineyards Aligote, Snipes Mountain, $36

Columbia Winery 2013 Composition Red Blend, Columbia Valley, $17

Cougar Crest Estate Winery 2014 Viognier, Walla Walla Valley, $20

Double Canyon 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Horse Heaven Hills, $25

Fetzer 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, California, $8

Fetzer 2014 Sauvignon Blanc, California, $8

Fetzer 2014 1000 Stories Zinfandel, California, $20

For a Song Wines 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $12

For a Song Wines 2012 Petit Verdot, Columbia Valley, $18

For a Song Wines 2014 Caliche Lake Vineyard Riesling, Ancient Lake of Columbia Valley, $9

Gnarly Head 2014 Pinot Grigio, California, $10

Goose Ridge Estate & Vineyards 2014 Riesling Ice Wine, Columbia Valley, $52

Goose Ridge Estate & Vineyards 2011 Merlot, Columbia Valley, $30

Goose Ridge Estate & Vineyards 2011 Sol Duc, Columbia Valley, $50

Gravel Bar 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $18

Hedges Family Estate 2014 CMS, Columbia Valley, $12

Hedges Family Estate 2012 Red Mountain Blend, Red Mountain, $25

King Estate Winery 2014 Pinot Gris, Oregon, $18

La Merika 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Coast, $25

La Merika 2013 Pinot Noir, Monterey County, $15

Maryhill Winery 2013 Proprietor’s Reserve Grenache, Columbia Valley, $32

Maryhill Winery 2014 Pinot Gris, Columbia Valley, $16

Maryhill Winery 2011 Syrah, Columbia Valley, $26

Melomi 2014 Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara, Sonoma, Monterey, $22

Michael David Winery 2013 Inkblot Cabernet Franc, Lodi, $35

Michael David Winery 2013 Earthquake Cabernet Sauvignon, Lodi, $26

Michael David Winery 2013 Petite Petit, Lodi, $18

Michael David Winery 2013 6th Sense Syrah, Lodi, $16

Michael David Winery 2013 7 Deadly Zins, Lodi, $16

Michael Florentino 2011 Tempranillo, Columbia Valley, $28

NHV 2012 Two Dancers, Yakima Valley, $18

Noble Vines 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Lodi, $15

Noble Vines 2014 Chardonnay, San Bernabe, $13

NxNW 2013 Red, Columbia Valley, $15

Oak Ridge Winery 2014 OZV Rose, California, $14

Picket Fence 2013 Top Rail Red, Sonoma County, $14

Purple Star Wines 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $19

Ravage 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, California, $11

Revelry Vintners 2014 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $14

The Woodhouse Wine Estates 2012 Dussek Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $36

Treveri Cellars NV Blanc de Blancs Brut, Columbia Valley, $15

Whidbey Island Winery 2013 Cabernet Franc, Yakima Valley, $22

Whidbey Island Winery 2014 Madeleine Angevine, Puget Sound, $17

Bronze

Acquiesce Winery 2014 Roussanne, Mokelumne River, $24

Acquiesce Winery 2014 Viognier, Mokelumne River, $23

Airfield Estates 2014 Chardonnay, Yakima Valley, $15

Airfield Estates 2013 Lightning, Yakima Valley, $20

Ambassador Wines of Washington 2012 Attache Estate Grenache, Red Mountain, $28

Armstrong Family Winery 2014 Wild Angels, Columbia Valley, $18

Bogle Vineyards 2012 Phantom, California, $18

Bunnell Family Cellar 2010 Mourvedre, Red Mountain, $36

Bunnell Family Cellar 2010 Syrah, Horse Heaven Hills, $44

Cloudlift Cellars 2012 Ascent, Horse Heaven Hills, $27

Columbia Winery 2013 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $15

Cougar Crest Estate Winery 2009 Cabernet Franc, Walla Walla Valley, $45

Cougar Crest Estate Winery 2012 Dedication Nine Red Blend, Walla Walla Valley, $20

Diora 2014 Pinot Noir, Monterey County, $30

Fetzer 2013 Chardonnay, California, $8

Franciscan 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, $25

Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards 2013 Chardonnay, Carneros, $25

Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards NV Sonoma Brut, Sonoma County, $22

Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards NV Blanc de Noirs, Carneros, $22

Gnarly Head 2013 PInot Noir, California, $12

Gravel Bar 2013 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $16

Gravel Bar 2013 Alluvial Red Blend, Columbia Valley, $18

HandCraft 2013 Pinot Noir, California, $12

Haraszthy 2013 Bearitage, Lodi, $13

Hedges Family Estate 2012 La Haute Cuvee Biodynamic Cabernet, Red Mountain, $115

Hedges Family Estate 2012 HIP Bacchus Vineyard Merlot, Columbia Valley, $12

La Merika 2014 Pinot Grigio, Monterey County, $13

Locati Cellars 2012 Estate Barbera, Walla Walla Valley, $25

Locati Cellars 2010 Innovation, Columbia Valley, $20

Maryhill Winery 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, California, $26

Michael David Winery 2013 Freakshow Cabernet Sauvignon, Lodi, $20

Michael David Winery 2014 Chardonnay, Lodi, $16

Michael David Winery 2014 Sauvignon Blanc, California, $16

Michael David Winery 2013 Earthquake Zinfandel, Lodi, $26

Michael Florentino 2011 Primitivo, Columbia Valley, $26

Montes 2011 Alpha M, Chile, $80

NHV 2014 Can-Can, Yakima Valley, $14

Oak Ridge Winery 2014 Old Soul Chardonnay, Lodi, $15

Oak Ridge Winery 2014 OZV Old Zinfandel Wines, Lodi, $14

PINO 2013 Pinot Noir, Oregon, $18

PRIE Winery 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Lodi, $27

PRIE Winery 2015 Vermentino, Lodi, $21

Purple Star Wines 2012 Muret-Gaston Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain, $42

Purple Star Wines 2013 Riesling, Ancient Lake of Columbia Valley, $12

Purple Star Wines 2012 Syrah, Columbia Valley, $18

Serra Vineyards 2012 Cabernet Franc, Applegate Valley, $50

Serra Vineyards 2012 Padre Red Blend, Applegate Valley, $35

Serra Vineyards 2012 Syrah, Applegate Valley, $50

Terra Blanca Winery & Vineyard 2010 Signature Series Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain, $45

Terra Blanca Winery & Vineyard 2011 ONYX, Red Mountain, $55

Terra Blanca Winery & Vineyard 2010 Arch Terrace Triple Threat, Red Mountain, $25

The Woodhouse Wine Estates 2012 Darighe, Columbia Valley, $65

Treveri Cellars NV Sparkling Rose, Columbia Valley, $18

Wildhorse 2012 GSM, Central Coast, $20

Wilridge Winery 2013 Estate Nebbiolo, Naches Heights, $40

Wilridge Winery 2014 Pinot Grigio, Yakima Valley, $18

Wind Rose Cellars 2012 Barbera, Columbia Valley, $28

Wind Rose Cellars 2012 Bravo Rosso, Washington, $20