GRANDVIEW, Wash. — Rosé remains the hottest category in the world of wine, and one of the Northwest’s most talented winemakers used an electric pink to flash his talents again as Brian Carter Cellars topped the Washington State Wine Competition with its 2017 Abracadabra Rosé.
“I think rosé is here to stay,” Carter told Great Northwest Wine. “We’ve seen an amazing transformation of it in the past 10 to 15 years, and personally, I think it’s a delightful wine. I drink a fair amount of it.”
The June 22 judging marked the second straight year that a rosé featuring the Italian grape Sangiovese won not only best of class but also best of show at the Washington State Wine Competition. The 35th year of the statewide contest was staged in Grandview on the campus of Yakima Valley College, and the event serves as a scholarship fundraiser for the school’s viticulture and enology program — Yakima Valley Vintners.
Until last year, the competition’s home was in Yakima and owned by the Central Washington State Fair, which discontinued it after 2014. Two years later, Great Northwest Wine entered into an agreement with fair officials to take over the storied judging.
“I’m glad to see that the judging has been resurrected. David Lake and I were on the judging committee to help organize it when they first started,” Carter said, reminiscing about the late Master of Wine who helped put Washington on the international map with his winemaking for Columbia Winery. “Wine competitions were a unique thing to do at that time.”
Ironically, Carter’s 2009 Solesce Red Wine won best-of-show honors at the 2014 Washington State Wine Competition, the final time it was staged on Yakima’s storied fairgrounds. And the following year, Brian Carter Cellars was named the 2015 Washington Winery of the Year by Wine Press Northwest magazine.
Maryhill grabs 17 golds in Indy, 12 in Grandview
Maryhill Winery, the wine touring destination along the eastern edge of the Columbia Gorge that captured best of show last year with its rosé of Sangiovese, again dominated the field at the Washington State Wine Competition by amassing 12 gold medals, which included four best-of-class wines.
It comes on the heels of Richard Batchelor receiving the award for Winemaker of the Year at at the prestigious Indy International Wine Competition after also winning five double gold medals — signifying an unanimous vote among the judging panel — and 12 golds on the campus of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. Batchelor also won that same Midwest award in 2013.
At the Yakima Valley judging, Batchelor’s wines pulled in awards for the Best Chardonnay with the 2016 Proprietor’s Reserve Chardonnay, best of class with Sangiovese and showed stellar work with Rhône varieties in standalone bottlings of Cinsault, Mourvèdre, Petite Sirah as well as the best GSM blend in the 2015 Elephant Mountain Vineyard Marvell. It was in 2015 when Wine Press Northwest selected Maryhill as its Pacific Northwest Winery of the Year.
Batchelor’s vineyard-designate series also produced multiple golds that showcased McKinley Springs (Cinsault and Mourvèdre) in the Horse Heaven Hills, Tudor Hills in the Yakima Valley (Cabernet Franc and Sèmillon) and Art den Hoed’s Painted Hills (Dolcetto and Petite Sirah) as well as Joe Hattrup’s Elephant Mountain Carménère. That Hattrup-Batchelor work in 2015 on the obscure red Bordeaux grape led to the award for Best Red Wine at this spring’s Cascadia International Wine Competition in Richland.
Palencia turns Merlot into Best Red
Another of Washington’s top winemakers, Victor Palencia, helped make the case for Merlot when he won the title for Best Red Wine of the Washington State Wine Competition with his upcoming release from the 2015 vintage under his Vino la Monarcha brand.
Palencia works primarily with fruit from the hot Wahluke Slope and the fascinating Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley, but his award-winning Merlot ($22) hails from a 20-year-old vineyard between those two regions along the Royal Slope.
“Frenchman Hills is a high-elevation vineyard, the type that we are seeking to work with for the la Monarcha brand because the skins on the berries grow thicker to protect themselves from the UV rays,” Palencia said. “So naturally, you are going to have a more intense flavor profile through the skin contact during fermentation, making for a dark and inky Merlot.”
Palencia describes it as a “meat-and-potatoes wine with fresh-fruit flavors” that will shine in the cellar.
“Some people dismiss Merlot as an easy, everyday-drinking red, but wow, ours is a big one that’s full-bodied with texture — and polished,” Palencia said. “We have to barrel-age our Merlot 24 months, when 14 months is the average for our other reds. It’s a challenge and fun to work with in order to tame down those tannins, so I’m excited that it’s tasting so well this early.”
By the end of the judging, Palencia-made wines returned six gold medals. He scored a double gold with his Vino la Monarcha 2017 Pinot Noir Rosé and 2016 Pinot Grigio, as well as a gold medal for his 2017 Sauvignon Blanc. His 2016 Pinot Gris for Jones of Washington was voted best of class, and there was another gold for the Jones of Washington 2016 Sauvignon Blanc. His work led Jones of Washington’s selection at Wine Press Northwest’s 2012 Washington Winery of the Year.
Historic Hinzerling Winery wins best dessert
There was a taste of history and a heartwarming story line within the 2018 Washington State Wine Competition as the Hinzerling Winery nonvintage Angeliqua Dessert Wine won the vote for best sweet wine of the judging. The fortified Gewürztraminer was produced in Prosser by the late Mike Wallace, and it was delivered to the YVC campus by his widow, Frankie. There are a few remaining cases of both the Angeliqua, bottled in 2009, and the Rainy Day Tawny Port at the state’s oldest family-owned and operated winery, which opened in 1976.
The state’s two winemaking schools enjoyed a strong showing in the competition. Walla Walla Community College, Palencia’s alma mater, and its College Cellars 2017 Clarke Vineyard Sèmillon was voted the best white wine of the judging and instructor Tim Donahue’s students also earned a double gold medal and best of class for its 2017 Sauvignon Blanc. Yakima Valley Vintners, guided by Yakima Valley College instructors Trent Ball and Brad Smith, received gold medals for its 2015 Merlot, 2015 Primitivo and 2017 Pinot Gris.
Ste. Michelle Wine Estates means gold, bargains
Several of Washington’s most respected producers of Bordeaux-inspired red wines took center stage at the state competition. DeLille Cellars relied on a historic vineyard in the heart of the Yakima Valley to produce the best Cab-based blend of the day — the 2015 Harrison Hill Red Wine off Snipes Mountain. Red Mountain pioneers Kiona Vineyards and Winery, Wine Press Northwest’s reigning Washington Winery of the Year, received a double gold for its Estate Reserve Red Wine.
Chateau Ste. Michelle earned the prestigious honor for the best Cab of the competition with its Ethos Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. It also won a double gold for 2016 Canoe Ridge Estate Chardonnay. Columbia Crest amazed judges with its 2016 Grand Estate Syrah ($12), which earned a double gold and was selected best Syrah of the judging. Domaine Ste. Michelle’s Brut ($12) reached the best-of-show voting as the best sparkling wine of the competition. And the 14 Hands Winery 2017 Rosé, another $12 wine, earned a gold.
Other bargains included a double gold for Spokane’s Townshend Cellar NV Red Table Wine ($10), the Saviah Cellars 2015 The Jack Cabernet Sauvignon ($18) and a gold for Silver Lake Winery’s Orca Red Blend, another entry into the emerging market for wine offered in an aluminum can. It retails for $5 per 375-milliliter can.
Wineries that earned multiple gold medals included L’Ecole No. 41, Northwest Cellars, Saviah Cellars and Tsillan Cellars.
Two Island wineries combine for 9 gold medals
Amelia Wynn Winery on southern tip of Bainbridge Island wowed judges with five gold medals across a broad spectrum of styles. Owner/winemaker Paul Bianchi received best-of-class and double gold awards for his 2015 Cabernet Franc and 2016 Tempranillo, a double gold for his 2015 Syrah, and gold medals for the 2017 Crawford Vineyard Albariño and 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon.
Eleven Winery, a short walk from the Eagle Harbor ferry terminal in the center of Bainbridge Island, continued its recent string of excellence with four gold medals at the Washington State Wine Competition. Matt Albee’s winemaking returned a double gold medal for his 2016 Roussanne and golds for the 2016 Lem, 2016 The Deputy Mourvèdre and 2014 Late Harvest Viognier.
A year ago in Grandview, Albee won Best Red Wine for his 2015 Malbec from Hattrup-farmed Sugarloaf Vineyard.
Rosé indicative of Brian Carter blending
In Grandview, Brian Carter Cellars also merited a double gold for its Petit Verdot-based 2014 Trentenaire Red Wine and gold medals for the Malbec-led 2015 Takahashi Dedication Series Red Wine and a gold with the 2015 Opulento, which continues Carter’s award-winning tradition with Port-style wine.
The Oregon State University grad also has a decorated track record with rosé. A year ago, his 2016 Abracadabra Rosé outscored 122 entries in Wine Press Northwest’s exploration of the category. That same wine went on to merit a 2017 Platinum, the magazine’s year-end judging of qualifying gold-medal wines.
In Grandview, it beat out 286 entries for best of show.
“Rosé is not a huge emphasis for us, but it probably should be a bigger one,” quipped Carter.
His early efforts with rosé take in his time at Washington Hills in Sunnyside, and he debut his Abracadabra rosé with the 2009 vintage. Carter’s primary source for Sangiovese is Willard Farms, a venerable vineyard managed by Jim Willard along Snipes Road and known by some as Solstice Vineyard. Carter, one of the Northwest’s premier producers of blended wines, also includes Syrah, Grenache, Malbec and Mourvèdre in his rosé.
“We call it our ‘magical blend’ because while it does not vary significantly from year to year, I don’t agonize over ‘two percent of this’ or ‘two percent of that’ like I do with my other blends. It’s more serendipitous where this wine ends up each year.”
He uses both barrel and stainless-steel fermentation. And he readily admits to bleeding off juice early on from some lots of still red wine to make the rosé he desires.
“I find that saignée adds some depth,” he said.
There’s a barely perceptible amount of residual sugar (0.4%).
“It’s pretty dry, but not bone-dry,” he said. “The natural acidity that Sangiovese has is the real key, and the lower pH. That lower pH not only helps with the brightness of the acidity but also helps hold onto the color.”
Carter is not looking to compete with the rosé of Sangiovese by Barnard Griffin — the Richland, Wash., winery that’s dominated the category at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Rob Griffin produced 15,000 cases of his 2017 rosé. Carter — less than 400 cases. However, the growing thirst for these styles of wines make it easier to sell visitors to his Woodinville winery on thinking pink.
“It used to be that in the tasting room we’d offer them rosé and (the customer) would look askance at it, saying that rosé was what their mother or grandmother used to drink,” Carter said. “I think people are realizing what a delightful wine it is. Part of it is that some of them have gone to Europe, particularly southern France where everyone is along the sidewalk drinking rosé and enjoying it.”
They come back home looking for a similar experience. Alas, too many stop drinking rosé after Labor Day.
“It suffers from the fact that people see it as a seasonal wine,” Carter said. “Now, there’s nothing better than rosé on a summer day, especially with salmon and other regional food that’s often featured at this time of year.
“But there is also this misconception that you have to drink rosé when it’s first out in the market,” Carter continued. “I like them when they’ve been around for a year or so, and I drink them in the middle of winter. I think it’s important for people to expand their appreciation for rosé with different types of food, throughout the year and with a little more age to them.”
2018 Washington State Wine Competition results
Best of show
Brian Carter Cellars 2017 Abracadabra Rosé, Columbia Valley $25
Best red wine
Vino La Monarcha Winery 2015 Merlot, Columbia Valley $22
Best white wine
College Cellars of Walla Walla 2017 Clarke Vineyard Sèmillon, Walla Walla Valley $18
Best sparkling wine
Domaine Ste. Michelle NV Brut, Columbia Valley $13
Best sweet wine
Hinzerling Winery NV Angeliqua Dessert Wine, Yakima Valley $30
Best of class/double gold medal
Amelia Wynn Winery 2015 Cabernet Franc, Red Mountain $32
Amelia Wynn Winery 2016 Tempranillo, Yakima Valley $30
College Cellars of Walla Walla 2017 Sauvignon Blanc, Walla Walla Valley $18
Columbia Crest 2016 Grand Estates Syrah, Columbia Valley $12
DeLille Cellars 2015 Harrison Hill Red Wine, Snipes Mountain $90
Maryhill Winery 2015 McKinley Springs Mourvèdre, Horse Heaven Hills $34
Obelisco Estate 2014 Malbec, Red Mountain $50
Best of class/gold medal
Chateau Ste. Michelle 2014 Ethos Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley $55
Jones of Washington 2016 Pinot Gris, Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley $14
Maryhill Winery 2015 Elephant Mountain Marvell GSM, Rattlesnake Hills $44
Maryhill Winery 2015 Sangiovese, Columbia Valley $26
Maryhill Winery 2016 Proprietor’s Reserve Chardonnay, Columbia Valley $29
Upchurch Vineyard 2015 Counterpart Red Wine, Red Mountain $50
Double gold
Ambassador Wines of WA 2015 Estate Merlot, Red Mountain $38
Amelia Wynn Winery 2015 Syrah, Walla Walla Valley $32
Brian Carter Cellars 2014 Trentenaire Red Wine, Yakima Valley $50
Chateau Ste. Michelle 2016 Canoe Ridge Estate Chardonnay, Horse Heaven Hills $30
Eleven Winery 2016 Roussanne, Yakima Valley $24
14 Hands Winery 2017 Rosé, Columbia Valley $12
Kiona Vineyards and Winery 2013 Estate Reserve Red Wine, Red Mountain $50
L’Ecole No. 41 2017 Chenin Blanc, Columbia Valley $16
Maryhill Winery 2015 Art den Hoed Vineyard Painted Hills Dolcetto, Columbia Valley $40
Vino la Monarcha Winery 2016 Pinot Grigio, Columbia Valley $20
Rocky Pond Winery 2017 ClosChevalle Vineyard Gewürztraminer, Lake Chelan $20
Saviah Cellars 2015 The Jack Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley $18
Sparkman Cellars 2014 Darkness Syrah, Yakima Valley $62
Townshend Cellar NV Red Table Wine, Columbia Valley $10
Vino la Monarcha Winery 2017 Pinot Noir Rosé, Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley $20
Gold medal
Amelia Wynn Winery 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley $34
Amelia Wynn Winery 2017 Crawford Vineyard Albariño, Yakima Valley $22
Brian Carter Cellars 2015 Opulento, Yakima Valley $40
Brian Carter Cellars 2015 Takahashi Dedication Series, Columbia Valley $38
Cedergreen Cellars 2016 Sauvignon Blanc , Columbia Valley $17
Eleven Winery 2014 Late Harvest Viognier, Washington $15
Eleven Winery 2016 Lem, Red Mountain $26
Eleven Winery 2016 The Deputy Mourvèdre , Washington $44
Gård Vintners 2017 Grand Klasse Reserve Rosé, Columbia Valley $22
Harbinger Winery 2013 Bolero, Rattlesnake Hills $28
Jones of Washington 2016 Sauvignon Blanc, Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley $15
L’Ecole No. 41 2017 Grenache Rosé, Horse Heaven Hills $22
Madsen Family Cellars 2012 Cabernet Franc, Columbia Valley $30
Maryhill Winery 2015 Art den Hoed Petite Sirah, Yakima Valley $32
Maryhill Winery 2015 Elephant Mountain Carménère, Rattlesnake Hills $40
Maryhill Winery 2015 McKinley Springs Cinsault, Horse Heaven Hills $36
Maryhill Winery 2015 Painted Hills Tempranillo, Columbia Valley $34
Maryhill Winery 2015 Proprietor’s Reserve Tavolo Rosso Wine, Columbia Valley $32
Maryhill Winery 2015 Tudor Hills Proprietor’s Reserve Cabernet Franc, Columbia Valley $36
Maryhill Winery 2017 Tudor Hills Vineyard Sèmillon, Columbia Valley $14
Mullan Road Cellars 2015 Red Blend, Columbia Valley $45
Muret-Gaston 2015 Petit Verdot, Yakima Valley $42
Northwest Cellars 2014 Carménère, Columbia Valley $48
Northwest Cellars 2014 Malbec, Yakima Valley $28
Saviah Cellars 2014 Big Sky Cuvée, Columbia Valley $38
Silver Lake Winery NV Orca Red Blend, Rattlesnake Hills $5
Spoiled Dog Winery 2014 Estate Pinot Noir, Puget Sound $36
Tsillan Cellars 2015 Estate Malbec, Lake Chelan $42
Tsillan Cellars 2017 Estate Viognier, Lake Chelan $24
Vino la Monarcha Winery 2017 Sauvignon Blanc, Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley $18
Yakima Valley Vintners 2015 Merlot, Yakima Valley $16
Yakima Valley Vintners 2015 Primitivo, Horse heaven Hills $22
Yakima Valley Vintners 2017 Pinot Gris, Naches Heights $20
Silver medal
Ambassador Wines of WA 2015 Estate Petit Verdot, Red Mountain $75
Ambassador Wines of WA 2015 Estate Plenipotentiary Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain $50
Ambassador Wines of Washington 2015 Estate Grenache, Red Mountain $44
Amelia Wynn Winery 2017 Rosé of Tempranillo, Yakima Valley $21
Armstrong Family Winery 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, Yakima Valley $36
Armstrong Family Winery 2014 David’s Folly Red Wine, Yakima Valley $42
Armstrong Family Winery 2014 Four Birds Red Wine, Yakima Valley $32
Armstrong Family Winery 2014 The Scotsman Syrah, Horse Heaven Hills $36
Armstrong Family Winery 2015 Wild Angels White Wine, Columbia Valley $18
Borne of Fire 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley $23
Brian Carter Cellars 2014 Byzance Red Wine, Columbia Valley $38
Brian Carter Cellars 2014 ONE Syrah, Wahluke Slope $85
Brian Carter Cellars 2015 Abracadabra Red Wine, Columbia Valley $25
Brian Carter Cellars 2016 Oriana White Wine, Yakima Valley $25
Chateau Ste. Michelle 2014 Artist Series Red Wine, Columbia Valley $65
College Cellars of Walla Walla 2016 Malbec, Walla Walla Valley $25
College Cellars of Walla Walla 2016 Tempranillo, Walla Walla Valley $25
DeLille Cellars 2015 Doyenne, Red Mountain $42
DeLille Cellars 2016 Chaleur Blanc, Columbia Valley $38
DeLille Cellars 2017 Roussanne, Red Mountain $37
Domaine Ste. Michelle NV Brut Rosé, Columbia Valley $13
Double Canyon 2015 Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon, Horse Heaven Hills $25
Eleven Winery 2016 Elephant Mountain Vineyard Syrah, Yakima Valley $26
Eleven Winery 2016 Malbec, Yakima Valley $41
Eleven Winery 2016 Viognier-O, Yakima Valley $40
Eleven Winery 2017 The Prodigy Mourvèdre, Washington $26
14 Hands Winery 2015 Stampede Red Blend, Columbia Valley $12
Fortuity Cellars 2017 Chardonnay, Yakima Valley $28
Fortuity Cellars 2017 Rosé of Cinsault, Yakima Valley $24
Fortuity Cellars 2017 Viognier, Yakima Valley $24
Gård Vintners 2014 Vaucluse Wine, Columbia Valley $35
Gård Vintners 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley $35
Golden Ridge Cellars 2014 Estate Red, Walla Walla Valley $36
Grantwood Winery 2016 Merlot, Walla Walla Valley $16
Grantwood Winery 2016 Heritage Red Wine, Walla Walla Valley $17
Grantwood Winery 2016 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley $30
Grantwood Winery 2016 Syrah, Walla Walla Valley $20
Harbinger Winery 2015 Grenache, Rattlesnake Hills $40
Harbinger Winery NV Dynamo Red Wine, Washington $17
Hinzerling Winery NV Rainy Day Fine Tawny Port, Washington $60
INTRINISIC Wine Co. 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley $22
Kiona Vineyards and Winery 2014 Estate Old Block Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain $75
Kiona Vineyards and Winery 2015 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain $25
Kiona Vineyards and Winery 2016 Estate Merlot, Red Mountain $25
Kiona Vineyards and Winery NV Version II Estate Pioneer Red Wine, Red Mountain $25
L’Ecole No. 41 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley $30
L’Ecole No. 41 2015 Merlot, Columbia Valley $25
L’Ecole No. 41 2016 Sèmillon, Columbia Valley $15
L’Ecole No. 41 2016 Syrah, Columbia Valley $25
Lopez Island Vineyards 2015 Fireside Port, Columbia Valley $28
Lopez Island Vineyards 2017 Siegerrebe, Puget Sound $25
Madsen Family Cellars 2012 Lady Macbeth Red Wine, Columbia Valley $32
Maryhill Winery 2016 Winemaker’s White, Columbia Valley $14
Maryhill Winery 2017 Sauvignon Blanc, Columbia Valley $15
Maryhill Winery 2016 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley $16
Maryhill Winery 2017 Moscato di Canelli, Columbia Valley $16
Maryhill Winery 2017 Pinot Gris, Columbia Valley $16
Maryhill Winery 2016 Proprietor’s Reserve Roussanne, Columbia Valley $18
Maryhill Winery 2017 Proprietor’s Reserve Albariño, Columbia Valley $20
Maryhill Winery 2015 Cabernet Franc, Columbia Valley $20
Maryhill Winery 2014 Proprietor’s Reserve Port, Columbia Valley $20
Maryhill Winery 2015 Merlot, Columbia Valley $20
Maryhill Winery 2015 Malbec, Columbia Valley $24
Maryhill Winery 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley $26
Maryhill Winery 2015 Painted Hills Primitivo, Columbia Valley $28
Maryhill Winery 2015 Gunkel Vineyards Proprietor’s Reserve Barbera, Columbia Valley $32
Maryhill Winery 2015 Proprietor’s Reserve Merlot, Columbia Valley $34
Maryhill Winery 2015 Proprietor’s Reserve Grenache, Columbia Valley $36
Maryhill Winery 2015 Proprietor’s Reserve Malbec, Columbia Valley $36
Maryhill Winery 2016 Proprietor’s Reserve Pinot Noir, Columbia Valley $36
Maryhill Winery 2015 Proprietor’s Reserve Serendipity Red Wine, Columbia Valley $36
Maryhill Winery 2015 Proprietor’s Reserve Sangiovese, Columbia Valley $36
Maryhill Winery 2015 Les Collines Syrah, Walla Walla Valley $36
Maryhill Winery 2015 Elephant Mountain Mourvèdre, Rattlesnake Hills $38
Maryhill Winery 2015 Proprietor’s Reserve Syrah, Columbia Valley $38
Maryhill Winery 2015 Proprietor’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley $40
Maryhill Winery 2015 McKinley Springs Cabernet Sauvignon, Horse Heaven Hills $40
Maryhill Winery 2015 Northridge Syrah, Wahluke Slope $40
Maryhill Winery 2015 Proprietor’s Reserve Zinfandel, Columbia Valley $44
Maryhill Winery 2015 Elephant Mountain Indira Red Wine, Rattlesnake Hills $45
MERF 2016 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley $12
Vino la Monarcha Winery 2015 Sangiovese, Wahluke Slope $24
Vino la Monarcha Winery 2016 Malbec, Wahluke Slope $24
Muret-Gaston 2015 Edythe Mae Vineyard Syrah, Yakima Valley $42
Obelisco Estate 2014 Electrum Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain $70
Obelisco Estate 2014 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon BDX, Red Mountain $50
Perennial Vintners 2015 Syrah, Rattlesnake Hills $28
Perennial Vintners 2016 Lemberger, Red Mountain $26
Plain Cellars 2014 Eclipse Red Wine, Red Mountain $35
Plain Cellars 2015 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain $70
Rider Cellars 2016 Pinot Blanc, Yakima Valley $18
Rider Cellars 2016 Zweigelt, Yakima Valley $24
Robert Karl Cellars 2014 Claret, Horse Heaven Hills $22
Robert Karl Cellars 2015 Cabernet Franc, Horse Heaven Hills $26
Rocky Pond Winery 2016 Grenache, Columbia Valley $33
Rocky Pond Winery 2016 La Domestique Red Wine, Columbia Valley $39
Rocky Pond Winery 2016 Stratastone Red Wine, Columbia Valley $35
Saviah Cellars 2014 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley $45
Saviah Cellars 2016 The Jack Syrah, Columbia Valley $18
Seven Falls Cellars 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon, Wahluke Slope $23
Silver Lake Winery 2016 Merlot, Rattlesnake Hills $15
Silver Lake Winery 2016 Sauvignon Blanc, Rattlesnake Hills $14
Silver Lake Winery NV Orca Bubbly, Rattlesnake Hills $5
Silver Lake Winery NV Orca White Blend, Rattlesnake Hills $5
Skagit Cellars 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley $42
Skagit Cellars 2015 Syrah, Columbia Valley $38
Skagit Cellars 2017 Sauvignon Blanc, Lake Chelan $23
Sol Stone Winery 2017 Grenache Blanc, Yakima Valley $22
Townshend Cellar NV NV Brut, Washington $15
Townshend Cellar NV Purple Table Wine, Columbia Valley $10
Townshend Cellar NV T3, Columbia Valley $18
Tsillan Cellars 2015 Estate Reserve Syrah, Lake Chelan $36
Tsillan Cellars 2015 Winemaker Select Estate Malbec, Lake Chelan $46
Tsillan Cellars 2017 Estate Pinot Grigio, Lake Chelan $28
Tsillan Cellars 2017 Reserve Estate Chardonnay, Lake Chelan $30
Westport Winery 2016 Surfer Syrah, Horse Heaven Hills $28
Westport Winery 2017 Maritime Carbonated Riesling, Rattlesnake Hills $28
Westport Winery 2017 Message In A Bottle Rosé of Sangiovese, Yakima Valley $27
Westport Winery 2017 Shorebird Chardonnay, Columbia Valley $26
Westport Winery NV Bog Berry Blush Cranberry Gewürztraminer, American $27
Westport Winery NV Shiver Me Timbers POG Riesling, American $27
Wind Rose Cellars 2015 Hunters Red, Yakmia Valley $22
Wind Rose Cellars 2017 Rosato, Yakima Valley $16
Yakima Valley Vintners 2015 Kolibri Vineyard Sangiovese, Rattlesnake Hills $18
Yakima Valley Vintners 2017 Study Skills Chardonnay, Horse Heaven Hills $14
Bronze medal
Brian Carter Cellars 2013 Le Coursier Red Wine, Columbia Valley $40
Brian Carter Cellars 2013 Solesce Red Wine, Columbia Valley $60
Brian Carter Cellars 2014 Corrida Red Wine, Columbia Valley $34
Chateau Ste. Michelle & Dr. Loosen 2016 Eroica Riesling, Columbia Valley $22
College Cellars of Walla Walla 2016 Carménère, Walla Walla Valley $25
College Cellars of Walla Walla 2016 Clarke Vineyard Petit Verdot, Walla Walla Valley
Columbia Crest 2016 H3 Cabernet Sauvignon, Horse Heaven Hills $15
Double Canyon 2015 Double Canyon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Horse Heaven Hills $65
Harbinger Winery 2017 Crawford Vineyard Pinot Gris, Yakima Valley $20
Harbinger Winery NV La Petite Fleur White Wine, Washington $16
INTRINISIC Wine Co. 2016 Red Wine, Columbia Valley $22
Kiona Vineyards and Winery 2016 Estate Lemberger, Red Mountain $17
L’Ecole No. 41 2016 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley $22
L’Ecole No. 41 2016 Frenchtown Red Wine, Columbia Valley $22
Lopez Island Vineyards 2012 Doc Stewart Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Wahluke Slope $38
Madsen Family Cellars 2012 Merlot, Columbia Valley $28
Maryhill Winery 2017 Riesling, Columbia Valley $14
Maryhill Winery 2017 Rosé of Sangiovese, Columbia Valley $16
Maryhill Winery 2016 Zinfandel, Columbia Valley $24
Maryhill Winery 2015 Syrah, Columbia Valley $26
Maryhill Winery 2015 McKinley Springs Syrah, Horse Heaven Hills $32
Maryhill Winery 2015 Elephant Mountain Sangiovese, Rattlesnake Hills $34
Maryhill Winery 2015 Proprietor’s Reserve Otis Cabernet Sauvignon, Yakima Valley $36
Maryhill Winery 2015 Les Collines Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley $36
Maryhill Winery 2015 Kiona Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain $36
Maryhill Winery 2015 Les Collines Merlot, Walla Walla Valley $36
Maryhill Winery 2015 McKinley Springs Petit Verdot, Horse Heaven Hills $36
Maryhill Winery 2015 Clifton Hills Cabernet Sauvignon, Wahluke Slope $40
Maryhill Winery 2015 Kiona Merlot, Red Mountain $42
MERF 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley $15
Northwest Cellars 2014 Petit Verdot, Red Mountain $48
Northwest Cellars Winery 2013 Merlot, Horse Heaven Hills $32
Robert Karl Cellars 2014 Gunselman Bench Cabernet Sauvignon, Horse Heaven Hills $36
Robert Karl Cellars 2014 Merlot, Horse Heaven Hills $24
Rocky Pond Winery 2017 Rosé of Grenache, Columbia Valley $24
Seven Falls Cellars 2015 Rapids Blend, Wahluke Slope $18
Silver Lake Winery 2015 Reserve Series Cabernet Sauvignon, Rattlesnake Hills $22
Silver Lake Winery NV Orca Rosé, Rattlesnake Hills $5
Skagit Cellars 2015 Merlot, Lake Chelan $34
Skagit Cellars 2017 Pinot Gris, Lake Chelan $22
Tucannon Cellars 2014 Red Fusion Red Wine, Columbia Valley $34
Tucannon Cellars 2014 Syrah, Horse Heaven Hills $40
Westport Winery 2016 Charterboat Chick Cabernet Sauvignon, Horse Heaven Hills $28
Westport Winery 2016 Swimmer Petite Sirah, Columbia Valley $30
Westport Winery NV Duckleberry Grunt Blueberry Gewürztraminer, American $27
Yakima Valley Vintners 2015 Campus Blend Red Wine, Columbia Valley $15
Yakima Valley Vintners 2015 Syrah, Yakima Valley $16
Brent Charnley says
Where might I find the results of the Washington State Wine competition?
Eric Degerman says
The complete results are at the bottom of this story.
https://greatnorthwestwine.com/2018/06/25/brian-carter-rose-rises-to-top-of-washington-state-wine-competition/