WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Richard Batchelor of Maryhill Winery repeated as Winemaker of the Year and Barrister Winery received a trio of double gold medals as Pacific Northwest producers again proved their mettle at the 28th annual INDY International Wine Competition on the campus of Purdue University.
Batchelor, a native of New Zealand, amassed 11 double gold medals and 17 gold medals for Maryhill owners Craig and Vicki Leuthold. In all, Pacific Northwest wines earned 112 medals at last week’s competition spanning 1,800 entries.
Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery of Oliver, British Columbia, showcased its skill with four double gold medals and two gold medals during the May 22-23 judging inside the Purdue Memorial Union ballrooms. No winery in the 19-year history of Wine Press Northwest magazine’s Platinum Judging has won more top awards in the competition among gold medal wines than Gehringer.
“It’s unique to have a competition based at a university,” Jill Blume, executive director of the INDY International and Purdue enology specialist, stated in a news release. “Although there has been an increase in wine competitions over the last 15 years, particularly for charity auctions, we have stayed independent. We concentrate on judging and promoting quality wines, not gaining revenue.”
This month marked the third time in the past four years that the trophy for the top winemaker at the INDY International has found its way to the Pacific Northwest. Walter Gehringer won the trophy in 2016, four years after first earning it in 2012. Competition organizers established the award in 2008, when Brooks Painter won it for historic Napa producer V. Sattui.
Spokane pours an array of top INDY wines
Ironically, many of the top wines from the INDY International are available in Spokane, Wash., where Barrister, Cougar Crest, Maryhill and Nodland Cellars each operate tasting rooms. A year ago, Spokane attorney Tim Nodland’s 2014 Malbec won best of show at the INDY International.
Oregon wineries won four gold medals at the Purdue judging, including a pair for Apolloni Vineyards, the Forest Grove winery co-owned and operated by Laurine Apolloni, who graduated from Purdue with an engineering degree.
Purdue continues Vine-inspired competition
Richard Vine, professor emeritus of food science, launched the INDY International in 1991 with 450 entries. Blume and chief judge Christian E. Butzke tout the INDY International as the largest independently organized wine competition in the U.S., with more than 1,800 entries both commercial and amateur, from 14 countries and 40 states. Since the competition’s inception, Indiana’s wine industry has grown beyond 100 wineries combining to produce more than 800,000 cases of wine per year, ranking No. 11 in the U.S.
Purdue’s Wine Grape Team, which oversees the INDY International, is a blend of faculty and staff from the Food Science, Horticulture and Landscape Architecture departments.
WINERY OF THE YEAR
Trinchero Family Estates, St. Helena, Calif.
WINEMAKER OF THE YEAR
Richard Batchelor, Maryhill Winery, Goldendale, Wash.,
INDIANA WINERY OF THE YEAR – GOVERNOR’S CUP
Satek Winery, Fremont, Ind.
INDIANA FARM WINERY OF THE YEAR
Daniel’s Vineyard, McCordsville, Ind.
WINE OF THE YEAR
Dubuque Heritage Winery, 2018 Eagle Point White La Crescent, Iowa
SPARKLING WINE OF THE YEAR
Barefoot Bubbly, Pink Moscato, California
RED WINE OF THE YEAR
Michael Gill Cellars, 2016 Black Tie, California
WHITE WINE OF THE YEAR
Dancing Dragonfly Winery, 2017 Ballet La Crescent, Wisconsin
ROSÉ WINE OF THE YEAR
Brown County Winery, 2018 Vista Rose’ Wine Catawba, Indian
DESSERT WINE OF THE YEAR
Oliver Winery, 2017 Creekbend Vidal Blanc Ice Wine, Indiana
FRUIT WINE OF THE YEAR
Talon Winery & Vineyard, Sugar Lips Peach, Kentucky
INDIANA WINE OF THE YEAR
Huber’s Orchard & Winery, 2017 Vignoles, Indiana
INDIANA TRAMINETTE OF THE YEAR
Butler Winery, 2018 Traminette
Pacific Northwest results at the 28th Indy International
Double gold medal
Barrister Winery 2016 Bacchus Vineyard Cabernet Franc, Columbia Valley
Barrister Winery 2015 Dionysus Vineyard Petit Verdot, Columbia Valley
Barrister Winery 2016 Kiona Estate Sangiovese, Red Mountain
Basalt Cellars 2015 Rim Rock Red, Columbia Valley
College Cellars 2018 Sauvignon Blanc, Walla Walla Valley
Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery 2018 Private Reserve Dry Riesling, Okanagan Valley
Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery 2018 Dry Rock Sauvignon Blanc, Okanagan Valley
Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery 2018 Ehrenfelser, Okanagan Valley
Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery 2018 Desert Sun White Wine, Okanagan Valley
Maryhill Winery 2017 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery 2018 Proprietors Reserve Albarino, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery 2017 Winemaker’s White Wine, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery 2016 Elephant Mountain Cabernet Franc, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery 2016 Proprietor’s Reserve Merlot, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery 2016 Elephant Mountain Merlot, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery 2016 Zinfandel, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery 2016 Proprietor’s Reserve Grenache, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery 2016 McKinley Springs Cinsult, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery 2016 Proprietor’s Reserve Serendipity Red Wine, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery 2016 Elephant Mountain Marvell GSM, Columbia Valley
Gold medal
Apolloni Vineyards 2016 Estate Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley
Apolloni Vineyards 2015 Dolce Vino Late Harvest Viognier, Willamette Valley
Barrister Winery 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley
Barrister Winery 2015 Merlot, Walla Walla Valley
Basalt Cellars 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley
Belle Fiore Winery 2015 Terramisso Tempranillo, Rogue Valley
College Cellars 2016 Cabernet Franc, Walla Walla Valley
Cougar Crest Estate Winery 2015 Cabernet Franc, Walla Walla Valley
Cougar Crest Estate Winery 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley
Cougar Crest Estate Winery 2015 Merlot, Walla Walla Valley
Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery 2018 Dry Rock Chardonnay, Okanagan Valley
Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery 2018 Gewürztraminer/Schonburger, Okanagan Valley
Maryhill Winery 2017 Riesling, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery 2017 Viognier, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery 2017 Semillon, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery 2017 Proprietor’s Reserve Roussanne, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery 2016 Proprietor’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery 2016 Kiona Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain
Maryhill Winery 2016 Les Collines Merlot, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery 2016 Art denHoed Petite Sirah, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery 2016 Elephant Mountain Sangiovese, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery 2016 Proprietor’s Reserve Syrah, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery 2016 Proprietor’s Reserve Barbera, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery 2016 Elephant Mountain Carmenere, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery 2016 Elephant Mountain Mourvedre, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery 2016 Painted Hills Tempranillo, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery 2017 Winemaker’s Red Wine, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery 2016 Proprietor’s Reserve Tavolo Rosso Red Wine, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery 2018 Proprietor’s Reserve Rosé, Columbia Valley
Silvara Vineyards 2016 Malbec, Columbia Valley
Tsillan Cellars 2016 Estate Bellissima Rossa Red Wine, Lake Chelan
Zerba Cellars 2016 Wild Z Red Wine, Walla Walla Valley
Silver medal
Apolloni Vineyards 2018 Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley
Basalt Cellars 2015 Merlot, Columbia Valley
Basalt Cellars 2016 GSM, Columbia Valley
Basalt Cellars 2016 Estate Cuvee, Columbia Valley
Belle Fiore Winery 2015 Estate Teroldego, Rogue Valley
Belle Fiore Winery 2015 Numinos Cabernet Sauvignon, Rogue Valley
Belle Fiore Winery 2017 Syrah Rose, Rogue Valley
College Cellars 2016 Merlot, Washington, US
College Cellars 2018 Rose of Grenache, Washington, US
Cougar Crest Estate Winery 2015 Reserve Syrah, Walla Walla Valley
Cougar Crest Estate Winery 2015 Syrah, Walla Walla Valley
Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery 2018 Optimum Pinot Gris, Okanagan Valley
Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery 2018 Classic Riesling, Okanagan Valley
Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery 2018 Old Vines Auxerrois, Okanagan Valley
Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery 2017 Dry Rock Merlot, Okanagan Valley
Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery 2018 Rose, Okanagan Valley
Maryhill Winery 2017 Proprietor’s Reserve Chardonnay, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery 2018 Muscat, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery 2016 Cabernet Franc, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery 2016 Clifton Hill Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery 2016 Les Collines Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery NV McKinley Springs Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery 2016 Malbec, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery 2016 Proprietor’s Reserve Malbec, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery 2016 Kiona Merlot, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery 2016 McKinley Springs Petit Verdot, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery 2016 Sangiovese, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery 2016 Proprietor’s Reserve Sangiovese, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery 2016 Syrah, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery 2016 McKinley Springs Syrah, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery 2016 Northridge Vineyard Syrah, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery 2016 Proprietor’s Reserve Zinfandel, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery 2016 McKinley Springs Mourvedre, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery 2016 Proprietor’s Reserve Rosso Granato Red Wine, Columbia Valley
Nodland Cellars 2016 Syrah, Columbia Valley
Silvara Vineyards 2018 Vintner’s Reserve White Blend, Columbia Valley
Silvara Vineyards 2016 Grenache, Columbia Valley
Silvara Vineyards 2016 Vintner’s Reserve Red Blend, Columbia Valley
Tsillan Cellars 2018 Estate Dry Riesling, Lake Chelan
Tsillan Cellars 2016 Estate Bella Vigna Red Wine, Lake Chelan
Tsillan Cellars 2016 Estate Grenache Syrah, Lake Chelan
Tsillan Cellars 2016 Estate Piccolo Rosso Red Wine, Lake Chelan
Zerba Cellars 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley
Zerba Cellars 2016 Syrah, Walla Walla Valley
Bronze medal
College Cellars 2018 Muscat, Columbia Valley
Cougar Crest Estate Winery 2015 Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Walla Walla Valley
Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery 2018 Private Reserve Pinot Gris, Okanagan Valley
Maryhill Winery 2017 Pinot Gris, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery 2017 Sauvignon Blanc, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery 2016 Eagle Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery 2016 Merlot, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery 2016 Les Collines Syrah, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery 2016 Painted Hills Primitivo, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery 2016 Elephant Mountain Cinsault, Columbia Valley
Maryhill Winery 2018 Sangiovese Rose, Columbia Valley
Nodland Cellars 2015 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley
Nodland Cellars 2016 Bad Attitude Red Wine, Columbia Valley
Zerba Cellars 2016 Petit Verdot, Wallla Walla Valley
Zerba Cellars 2016 Barbera, Wallla Walla Valley
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