Tsillan Cellars, Noble Ridge earn 2 golds at Jerry D. Mead’s New World International

Tsillan Cellars, in Chelan, Wash., spans 135 acres on the south shore of Lake Chelan. It was founded in 2000, and its 7,000-case production is limited to estate grapes. (Photo by Richard Duval Images)

ONTARIO, Calif. — Tsillan Cellars, the Tuscan-themed destination on the south shore of  Washington’s Lake Chelan, used estate reds from French varieties to claim top awards at this year’s Jerry D. Mead’s New World International Wine Competition in Southern California.

Dr. Bob Jankelson’s winery won best of class with its 2015 Estate Malbec and a double gold for its 2015 Estate Reserve Syrah. They are continued legacies of winemaker Shane Collins, who resigned from Tsillan Cellars in July 2017 to take over as general manager of Rocky Pond Winery.

A 2016 Pinot Noir rosé from Oregon’s Eola-Amity Hills claimed the award for best rosé at Jerry D. Mead’s New World International. PINO Cellars wines are produced in Richland, Wash., under the direction of Bob Stashak, a winemaker for Fred Franzia’s Bronco Wine Co. PINO Cellars, Gravel Bar Winery and Pacific Oasis Winery are among the seven labels that make up the 585 Northwest portfolio for Bronco. Earlier this year, Wine Business Monthly magazine ranked Bronco as the seventh-largest wine company in the U.S. at 10 million cases.

Noble Ridge Vineyard and Winery in British Columbia’s newly established Okanagan Falls appellation claimed top awards for two red Bordeaux wines. Jim and Leslie D’Andrea’s 2014 Meritage earned a double gold, and the winery, founded in 2001, also received a gold for its heavily decorated 2015 King’s Ransom Cabernet Sauvignon.

Friends run wine competition in memory of Mead

Past Vista, a ceramic tile mural created by artist Ricardo Duffy, provides travelers to the Ontario (Calif.) International Airport with a sense of Orange County pre-Depression agriculture with Mount San Antonio as a backdrop. (Photo by Eric Degerman/Great Northwest Wine)

Mead, a wine writer, died in 2000 at the age of 60 – a decade after founding his eponymous wine competition. He also is credited with helping to launch the Orange County Fair Wine Competition, which dates to 1977, and set the stage in 1989 for the National Orange Show’s annual judging, what is now the Pacific Rim International Wine Competition. His syndicated Mead on Wine column appeared throughout the continent, and Mead served as publisher of Wine Trader magazine. An early contributor to Wine Spectator, Mead also was viewed as a staunch supporter of direct-to-consumer wine shipping.

His start in wine writing began while he was a fire dispatcher in Orange County, contributing to the then-Anaheim Bulletin in 1971. Beyond government restrictions on wine shipments, Mead often was ahead of the curve on other topics, such as organic farming, which is reflected in this approachable, entertaining, informative yet still critical column headlined “Good bugs eat bad bugs.”

Mead also explained he supported and promoted results of wine competitions while many magazines typically do not publicize the results of wine competitions.

Chief judge is Richard Peterson, the historic Napa winemaker and author. Award winners were celebrated April 8 at the 28th annual Jerry D. Mead’s New World International Wine Competition Wine Extravaganza, which benefited the Pomona Valley Habitat for Humanity. During its 28 years, Mead’s competition and friends have generated more than $2 million for Southern California non-profits.

Jerry D. Mead’s New World International Wine Competition

New World Grand Champion, best dessert
Galleano NV Cream Sherry, Cucamonga Valley

Best red
Sean Minor 2016 Roberts Road Vineyard Sangiacomo Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast

Best white
Hart Family Winery 2017 Arneis, Temecula Valley

Best sparkling
Avissi NV Prosecco,Veneto IGT

Best of class
PINO Cellars 2016 Rosé of Pinot Noir, Oregon
Tsillan Cellars 2015 Estate Winemaker Select Malbec, Lake Chelan

Double gold
Noble Ridge Vineyard and Winery 2014 Estate King’s Ransom Meritage, Okanagan Valley

Gold
Ursa Major Estate Winery 2014 Ursa Major Borealis, Okanagan Valley
Tsillan Cellars 2015 Estate Reserve Syrah, Lake Chelan
Noble Ridge Vineyard & Winery 2015 Estate King’s Ransom Cabernet Sauvignon, British Columbia

Silver
Charles & Charles 2016 Riesling, Columbia Valley
Tsillan Cellars 2016 Estate Riesling, Lake Chelan
Tsillan Cellars 2016 Estate Dry Riesling, Lake Chelan
Noble Ridge Vineyard & Winery 2015 Reserve Meritage, Okanagan Valley
Noble Ridge Vineyard & Winery 2015 Reserve Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley
Gravel Bar 2014 Chardonnay, Wahluke Slope
PINO Cellars 2015 Pinot Noir, Oregon
Pacific Oasis Winery 2016 Riesling, Columbia Valley
Charles & Charles 2017 Rosé, Columbia Valley

Bronze
Charles & Charles 2016 Merlot, Columbia Valley
Claar Cellars 2014 Estate, Columbia Valley
Desert Hills Estate Winery 2014 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Okanagan Valley
Charles & Charles 2016 Cabernet Syrah, Columbia Valley
Desert Hills Estate Winery 2013 Mirage Red Wine, Okanagan Valley
Ursa Major Estate Winery 2013 Syrah, Okanagan Valley
Ursa Major Estate Winery 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Okanagan Valley
Noble Ridge Vineyard & Winery 2014 Estate The One Sparkling Wine, British Columbia

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