LONDON — Domaine Serene in Oregon, Walla Walla’s Reininger and Mission Hill Family Estate in British Columbia — three of the Pacific Northwest’s top brands — each won best of class awards at the prestigious 2017 Decanter World Wine Awards this spring in London.
Dundee Hills showpiece Domaine Serene won a Platinum Award for best in category with its 2013 Jerusalem Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir, a site in the Eola-Amity Hills northwest of Salem.
Chuck Reininger and his eponymous brand earned a Platinum as Best USA Red Rhône Varietal for his Reininger 2013 Syrah from the Walla Walla Valley. The wine, made with grapes from Seven Hills and Pepper Bridge vineyards, was co-fermented with Viognier. Earlier this year, it merited a gold medal at the Cascadia International Wine Competition.
Last fall, the Helix by Reininger 2012 Syrah earned a Jefferson Cup at the 17th annual invitation-only judging staged by Doug Frost, the acclaimed Master of Wine and Master Sommelier from Kansas City.
Mission Hill, Anthony von Mandl’s destination overlooking Okanagan Lake near Kelowna, made another case for Pinot Noir in British Columbia with a Platinum award for his 2015 Terroir Collection No. 43 Reflection Point Pinot Noir.
Only 34 Platinum Best in Show medals were awarded at 2017 DWWA out of more than 17,200 entries, and the trio of Platinum wines from the Northwest were among the 175 best of class winners in the world’s largest judging.
Many view the Decanter World Wine Awards as the most prestigious wine competition in the world. There is no doubt that it is the biggest. This year, there were 219 international wine experts, including 65 Masters of Wine and 20 Master Sommeliers, who judged April 24-28.
Domaine Serene brings more acclaim to Oregon
Domaine Serene, which produced the No. 3 wine in the world on Wine Spectator magazine’s top 100 list of 2013, also brought home a gold medal for its 2014 Evenstad Reserve Chardonnay from the Dundee Hills. The winery amassed nine medals at Decanter, a sign of the winemaking performed by Erik Kramer, who has been hired by Jackson Family Wines as director of winemaking at WillaKenzie Estate.
Mission Hill wines were awarded 13 medals at the London judging, including a gold medal for its 2015 Reserve Riesling Icewine.
L’Ecole No. 41 in Walla Walla earned a gold for its 2014 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Perigee Red Wine. Three years ago, winemaker Marty Clubb shocked the world by using fruit from a young vineyard to develop the 2011 Ferguson Red Wine. That bottling won the Decanter award for Best Bordeaux variety over £15.
Summerhill Pyramid Winery, across Okanagan Lake from Mission Hill, won a gold medal for its 2010 Cipes Blanc de Blanc.
Winery interest in the Decanter World Wine Awards continues to increase as entries were up by more than eight percent from last year’s competition. The 2017 judging also marked the transition of Steven Spurrier of Judgment of Paris fame to chairman emeritus. He co-founded the DWWA in 2004.
According to Decanter, each entry is judged vs. peers and by experts in a particular region or style. Gold medal winners then go on to compete for Platinum medals. Wines securing a Platinum medal in this round are then judged against their peers globally at a special tasting to decide the Platinum Best in Show medals.
At the Platinum tastings, price levels are taken into account. Wines with a retail price of under £15 are judged in ‘best value’ categories, while those over £15 contend for premium categories.
The 2017 Platinum judges included Decanter columnist Andrew Jefford, Gérard Basset MW MS OBE, Sarah Jane Evans MW, Andy Howard MW and Michael Hill Smith MW.
Platinum Best in Show praise went to Winbirri Vineyards in England for its 2016 Bacchus.
Pacific Northwest results at 2017 Decanter
Platinum medal
Domaine Serene 2013 Jerusalem Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills
Reininger 2013 Syrah, Walla Walla Valley
Mission Hill Family Estate 2015 Terroir Collection No. 43 Reflection Point Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley
Gold medal
Domaine Serene 2014 Evenstad Reserve Chardonnay, Dundee Hills
L’Ecole No. 41 2014 Seven Hills Vineyard Perigee Red Wine, Walla Walla Valley
Mission Hill Family Estate 2015 Reserve Riesling Icewine, Okanagan Valley
Summerhill Pyramid 2010 Cipes Blanc de Blanc, Okanagan Valley
Silver medal
Airfield Estates 2013 Aviator Red Wine, Yakima Valley
Airfield Estates 2014 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Yakima Valley
Archery Summit 2014 Red Hills Estate Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills
Charles & Charles 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon-Syrah, Columbia Valley
Château Ste. Michelle 2014 Canoe Ridge Chardonnay, Horse Heaven Hills
Château Ste. Michelle 2013 Canoe Ridge Merlot, Horse Heaven Hills
Château Ste. Michelle 2012 Cold Creek Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley
Col Solare 2012 Red Wine, Red Mountain
Cristom 2014 Eileen Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley
Cristom 2014 Jessie Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills
Cristom 2014 Louise Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills
Cristom 2014 Mt. Jefferson Cuvée Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley
Domaine Serene 2013 Evenstad Reserve Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley
Domaine Serene 2013 Fleur de Lis Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills
Domaine Serene 2013 Récolte Grand Cru Chardonnay, Dundee Hills
Domaine Serene 2013 Winery Hill Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills
Gordon Estate 2014 Merlot, Columbia Valley
Gordon Estate 2015 Reserve Chardonnay, Columbia Valley
Gramercy Cellars 2014 Lagniappe Syrah, Columbia Valley
L’Ecole No. 41 2014 Apogee Pepper Bridge Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley
L’Ecole No. 41 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley
L’Ecole No. 41 2014 Ferguson Vineyard Red Wine, Walla Walla Valley
Long Shadows Vintners 2014 Feather Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley
Long Shadows Vintners 2014 Pedestal Merlot, Columbia Valley
Long Shadows Vintners 2014 Sequel Syrah, Columbia Valley
Rex Hill 2014 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley
Woodward Canyon 2013 Estate Reserve, Walla Walla Valley
50th Parallel 2014 Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley
50th Parallel 2015 Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley
50th Parallel 2016 Riesling, Okanagan Valley
50th Parallel 2014 Unparalleled Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley
CedarCreek Estate Winery 2014 Platinum Block 2 Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley
CedarCreek Estate Winery 2014 Platinum Block 4 Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley
Château Helena 2014 Gracious Cabernet-Merlot, Okanagan Valley
Church and State 2015 Chardonnay, Okanagan Valley
Church and State 2015 Trebella White Wine, Okanagan Valley
Clos du Soleil 2013 Signature Red Wine, Similkameen Valley
Inniskillin-Okanagan 2014 Dark Horse Vineyard Cabernet Franc, Okanagan Valley
Inniskillin-Okanagan 2014 Estate Icewine Riesling, Okanagan Valley
Inniskillin Okanagan 2016 Estate Icewine Riesling, Okanagan Valley
Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estate 2016 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc, Okanagan Valley
JoieFarm 2015 En Famille Reserve Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley
Liquidity 2015 Estate Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley
MacIntyre 2014 Heritage Reserve Astra, Okanagan Valley
Mission Hill Family Estate 2014 Quatrain Red Wine, Okanagan Valley
Mission Hill Family Estate 2014 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Okanagan Valley
Mission Hill Family Estate 2014 Terroir Collection No. 23 Crosswinds Syrah, Okanagan Valley
Mission Hill Family Estate 2014 Reserve Shiraz, Okanagan Valley
Moon Curser 2014 Dead of Night Red Wine, Okanagan Valley
Nk’mip Cellars 2014 Merriym Red Wine, Okanagan Valley
Sandhill 2014 One Phantom Creek Vineyard, Okanagan Valley
Sandhill 2014 Two Sandhill Estate Vineyard, Okanagan Valley
See Ya Later Ranch 2014 Ping-Meritage Red Wine, Okanagan Valley
See Ya Later Ranch 2014 Rover Shiraz-Viognier, Okanagan Valley
The View Winery and Vineyard 2014 Riesling 2014, Okanagan Valley
Wayne Gretzky Okanagan No. 99 2015 Signature Series Riesling, Okanagan Valley
Bronze medal
Airfield Estates 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon, Yakima Valley
Airfield Estates 2014 Reserve Merlot, Yakima Valley
Archery Summit 2014 Arcus Estate Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills
Archery Summit 2014 Premier Cuvée Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley
Charles & Charles 2015 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley
Charles & Charles 2015 Riesling, Yakima Valley
Charles Smith Wines 2015 Kung Fu Girl Riesling, Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley
Charles Smith Wines 2014 The Velvet Devil Merlot, Washington State
Château Ste. Michelle 2013 Cold Creek Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley
Château Ste. Michelle 2015 Dry Riesling, Columbia Valley
Château Ste. Michelle 2013 Syrah, Columbia Valley
Château Ste. Michelle & Dr. Loosen 2015 Eroica Riesling, Columbia Valley
Château Ste. Michelle & Dr. Loosen 2014 Eroica Riesling, Columbia Valley
Chehalem Wines 2014 Ian’s Reserve Chardonnay, Dundee Hills
Chehalem 2015 Reserve Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge
Cristom 2014 Marjorie Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley
Domaine Serene 2013 Grace Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills
Domaine Serene 2013 Mark Bradford Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills
Domaine Serene 2013 Yamhill Cuvée Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley
Gordon Estate 2014 Block 3 Merlot, Columbia Valley
Gordon Estate 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley
Gordon Estate 2013 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley
Gordon Estate 2014 Syrah, Columbia Valley
Gramercy Cellars 2013 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley
JM Cellars 2014 Margaret’s Vineyard Estate Red Wine, Walla Walla Valley
Seven Hills Winery 2014 Red Wine, Walla Walla Valley
Seven Hills Winery 2014 Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Red Wine,Red Mountain
Woodward Canyon 2014 Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley
Woodward Canyon 2014 Chardonnay, Washington
50th Parallel Estate 2016 Pinot Noir Rosé, Okanagan Valley
Backyard Vineyards 2014 Reserve Cabernet Franc, British Columbia
Backyard Vineyards 2014 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, British Columbia
Backyard Vineyards 2014 Reserve Syrah, British Columbia
Bench 1775 2015 Whistler Late Harvest Chardonnay, Okanagan Valley
Black Sage 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, Okanagan Valley
Black Sage Vineyard 2014 Cabernet Franc, Okanagan Valley
Burrowing Owl 2014 Cabernet Franc, Okanagan Valley
Burrowing Owl 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, Okanagan Valley
Burrowing Owl 2015 Chardonnay, Okanagan Valley
Burrowing Owl 2013 Meritage Red Wine, Okanagan Valley
Burrowing Owl 2014 Syrah, Okanagan Valley
C.C. Jentsch Cellars 2015 Cabernet-Merlot, Okanagan Valley
C.C. Jentsch Cellars 2015 Small Lot Series Barrel Fermented Chardonnay, Okanagan Valley
C.C. Jentsch Cellars 2014 Small Lot Series Cabernet Sauvignon, Okanagan Valley
C.C. Jentsch Cellars 2014 Small Lots Cabernet Franc, Okanagan Valley
C.C. Jentsch Cellars 2014 Syrah, Okanagan Valley
C.C. Jentsch Cellars 2014 The Chase, Okanagan Valley
C.C. Jentsch Cellars 2015 The Chase Red Wine, Okanagan Valley
CedarCreek 2013 Platinum The Last Word Red Wine, Okanagan Valley
Château Helena 2013 Grand Vin Red Wine, Okanagan Valley
Church and State Wines 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, Okanagan Valley
Bench 1775 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot, Okanagan Valley
Church and State Wines 2014 Coup d’État Red Wine, Okanagan Valley
Church and State Wines 2014 Merlot, Okanagan Valley
Church and State Wines 2014 Syrah, Okanagan Valley
Culmina 2013 Hypothesis Red Wine, Golden Mile Bench
Dirty Laundry 2014 Kay Syrah, Okanagan Valley
Dirty Laundry 2015 Riesling, Okanagan Valley
Fort Berens 2015 Meritage Reserve, British Columbia
Fort Berens 2016 Riesling, British Columbia
Inniskillin-Okanagan 2015 Dark Horse Vineyard Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley
Inniskillin-Okanagan 2014 Discovery Series Tempranillo, Okanagan Valley
Inniskillin-Okanagan Estate 2012 Discovery Series Icewine Tempranillo, Okanagan Valley
Inniskillin Okanagan Estate 2014 Vidal Icewine, Okanagan Valley
Intersection 2013 Alluvia Unfiltered Merlot, Okanagan Valley
Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estate 2015 Grande Reserve CSV White Wine, Okanagan Valley
Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estate 2014 Reserve Riesling Icewine, Okanagan Valley
Jackson-Triggs 2014 Sunrock Vineyards Shiraz, Okanagan Valley
JoieFarm 2015 Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley
JoieFarm 2015 En Famille Reserve Chardonnay, Okanagan Valley
Liquidity 2015 Estate Chardonnay, Okanagan Valley
Mission Hill Family Estate 2015 Bluebird Passage Viognier, Okanagan Valley
Mission Hill Family Estate 2013 Compendium Red Wine, Okanagan Valley
Mission Hill Family Estate 2014 Compendium Red Wine, Okanagan Valley
Mission Hill Family Estate 2013 Quatrain Red Wine, Okanagan Valley
Mission Hill Family Estate 2015 Reserve Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley
Mission Hill Family Estate 2015 Reserve Pinot Gris, Okanagan Valley
Mission Hill Family Estate 2015 Reserve Riesling, Okanagan Valley
Monster Vineyards 2016 Riesling, Okanagan Valley
Moon Curser 2014 Border Vines Red Wine, Okanagan Valley
Moon Curser 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, Okanagan Valley
Moon Curser 2014 Syrah, Okanagan Valley
Nagging Doubt 2014 The Pull, Okanagan Valley
Nk’mip 2014 Qwam Qwmt Cabernet Sauvignon, Okanagan Valley
Nk’mip 2015 Qwam Qwmt Riesling Icewine, Okanagan Valley
Noble Ridge 2012 Reserve Meritage, Okanagan Valley
Noble Ridge 2012 The One Brut White Wine, Okanagan Valley
Painted Rock 2014 Red Icon Red Wine, Okanagan Valley
Poplar Grove 2014 Syrah, Okanagan Valley
Poplar Grove 2013 The Legacy Red Wine, Okanagan Valley
Quails’ Gate 2015 Rosemary’s Block Chardonnay, Okanagan Valley
Quails’ Gate 2015 Stewart Family Reserve Chardonnay, Okanagan Valley
Quails’ Gate 2015 Stewart Family Reserve Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley
Quails’ Gate 2014 The Boswell Syrah, Okanagan Valley
Red Rooster 2014 Riesling Icewine, Okanagan Valley
Red Rooster 2014 Reserve Malbec, Okanagan Valley
Red Rooster 2014 Reserve Meritage, Okanagan Valley
Red Rooster 2014 Reserve Syrah, Okanagan Valley
Sandhill 2015 Howard Soon Single Block Chardonnay, Okanagan Valley
See Ya Later Ranch 2015 Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley
Steller’s Jay 2008 Pinnacle Extra Brut, Okanagan Valley
Sumac Ridge 2014 Black Sage Vineyard Merlot, Okanagan Valley
Sumac Ridge 2016 Sauvignon Blanc, Okanagan Valley
Summerhill Pyramid Winery NV Cipes Brut, Okanagan Valley
Summerhill Pyramid NV Cipes Rosé Brut, Okanagan Valley
Summerhill Pyramid Winery 2012 Keter Red Wine, Okanagan Valley
Summerhill Pyramid Winery 2013 Spadefoot Toad Sangiovese, Okanagan Valley
Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2014 Oldfield Reserve Syrah, Okanagan Valley
The View Winery and Vineyard 2016 Pinotage Rosé, Okanagan Valley
Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2015 Chardonnay, Okanagan Valley
Township 7 Vineyards & Winery 2014 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, British Columbia
Township 7 Vineyards & Winery 2015 Reserve Chardonnay, Okanagan Valley
Wayne Gretzky Okanagan No.99 2014 Signature Series Cabernet-Merlot, British Columbia
Commended
A to Z Wineworks 2014 Pinot Noir, Oregon
Charles Smith Wines 2014 Eve Chardonnay, Washington State
Chehalem Wines 2014 Three Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley
JM Cellars 2015 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley
L’Ecole No. 41 2014 Merlot, Walla Walla Valley
L’Ecole No. 41 2015 Sèmillon, Columbia Valley
Lone Birch 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon, Yakima Valley
Marks & Spencer 2015 Kings Ridge Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley
Marks & Spencer 2015 The Originals Riesling, Columbia Valley
Marks & Spencer 2015 Underwood Pinot Noir, Oregon
Willamette Valley Vineyards 2014 Bernau Block Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley
50th Parallel 2015 Chardonnay, Okanagan Valley
Bench 1775 2013 Cabernet Franc, Okanagan Valley
Bench 1775 2015 Glow Rosé, Okanagan Valley
Bench 1775 2014 Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley
Black Sage Vineyard 2014 Shiraz, Okanagan Valley
Burrowing Owl 2014 Athene Red Wine, Okanagan Valley
Burrowing Owl 2014 Merlot, Okanagan Valley
Burrowing Owl 2015 Sauvignon Blanc, Similkameen Valley
C.C. Jentsch Cellars 2013 The Chase Red Wine, Okanagan Valley
CedarCreek 2013 Platinum Desert Ridge Single Vineyard Merlot, Okanagan Valley
Church and State 2015 Viognier, Okanagan Valley
Cloa du Soleil 2013 Estate Reserve, Similkameen Valley
Clos du Soleil 2015 Capella White Wine, British Columbia
Culmina 2014 Dilemma White Wine, Okanagan Valley
Culmina 2012 Hypothesis Red Wine, Okanagan Valley
Dirty Laundry Vineyard 2015 Say Yes Pinot Gris, Okanagan Valley
Fort Berens 2015 Cabernet Franc, British Columbia
Inniskillin-Okanagan 2016 Estate Chardonnay, Okanagan Valley
Inniskillin Okanagan 2016 Pinot Grigio, Okanagan Valley
Jackson-Triggs Okanagan 2016 Estate Chardonnay, Okanagan Valley
Marks & Spencer Meyer Family Vineyards 2015 Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley
Mission Hill Family Estate 2015 Reserve Chardonnay, Okanagan Valley
Mission Hill Family Estate 2014 Reserve Merlot, Okanagan Valley
Mission Hill Family Estate 2014 Terroir Organic No.39 Merlot, Okanagan Valley
Monster Vineyards 2015 Merlot, Okanagan Valley
Nk’mip Cellars 2014 Qwam Qwmt Merlot, Okanagan Valley
Noble Ridge 2013 Reserve Chardonnay, Okanagan Valley
Poplar Grove 2014 Cabernet Franc, Okanagan Valley
Red Rooster 2014 Reserve Merlot, Okanagan Valley
Sandhill Wines 2014 Three Red Wine, Okanagan Valley
See Ya Later Ranch 2016 Chardonnay, Okanagan Valley
See Ya Later Ranch 2016 Gewürztraminer, Okanagan Valley
See Ya Later Ranch 2016 Pinot Gris, Okanagan Valley
Sumac Ridge Estate Winery 2016 Rosé, Okanagan Valley
Sumac Ridge Estate Winery 2016 Private Reserve Pinot Grigio, Okanagan Valley
The View Winery and Vineyard 2016 Pinot Gris, Okanagan Valley
The View Winery and Vineyard 2016 Revolution White Wine, Okanagan Valley
Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2014 Merlot, Okanagan Valley
Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2013 Oldfield Series 2Bench Red, Okanagan Valley
Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2013 Oldfield Series Merlot, Okanagan Valley
Township 7 Vineyards & Winery 2015 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc, British Columbia
Wayne Gretzky Okanagan No.99 2015 Signature Series Chardonnay, Okanagan Valley
Wayne Gretzky Okanagan No.99 2014 Signature Series Pinot Noir, British Columbia
Wayne Gretzky Okanagan No.99 2014 Signature Series Shiraz, Okanagan Valley
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