Don't Miss

Maryhill Winery climbs atop Platinum Awards all-time leaderboard

By Eric Degerman on January 12, 2022

*Richard Batchelor used seven Platinum Awards in 2021 to lift Maryhill Winery into the overall lead with 95 Platinums. (Photo courtesy of Maryhill Winery)*

KENNEWICK, Wash. — Maryhill Winery in Goldendale, Wash., moved atop the all-time leaderboard for the Platinum Awards after judges in 2021 elevated seven of its gold medal bottlings to the next level, providing Craig and Vicki Leuthold with 95 career Platinums.

When the Leutholds recruited New Zealand-born winemaker Richard Batchelor to the Pacific Northwest from Napa giant Duckhorn Wine Co., ahead of the 2009 harvest, Maryhill had won nine Platinums since the judging began in 2000. The Leutholds launched their brand in 1999, and now operate four tasting rooms with bistros across Washington state.

“Vicki and I as well as the whole Maryhill family are thrilled to have earned more Platinum awards than any other winery,” Craig Leuthold said. “It’s a testament to the quality of the fruit being grown by our vineyard partners and their tireless dedication to providing the best they possibly can. To have such a great growing region like we have in Washington is a blessing, and we are truly grateful.”

As a result of the pandemic and the closed border, Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery south of Oliver, British Columbia, did not enter wines for the 2021 judging and moved into second with 92 Platinums.

Reustle-Prayer Rock Vineyard remains in third place ahead of Chateau Ste. Michelle after each brand earned five Platinums in 2021.

Clearwater Canyon earns 9 Platinum Awards in 2021

Vineyard manager Karl Umiker, and his winemaking wife, Coco, own and operate Clearwater Canyon Cellars in Lewiston, Idaho. They won nine Platinum Awards in 2021, one more than eight they were awarded in the 2020 judging. (Richard Duval Images)

Idaho-born winemaker Coco Umiker at Clearwater Canyon Cellars in Lewiston, Idaho, used the year’s strongest showing with nine Platinums — one more than last year as the Pacific Northwest Winery of the Year — to secure the title of “Empress of the Platinum” and vault into sixth place on the all-time list with 34 career Platinums.

Below is the list of wineries that have won 10 or more Platinums during the competition’s 22 years. Newcomers to that list are King Estate Winery in Eugene, Ore. — the reigning Pacific Northwest Winery of the Year — Spoiled Dog Winery on Washington’s Whidbey Island and Mt. Hood Winery in Hood River, Ore.

Editor’s note: Cellardoor Winery is in the state of Maine, but all of their Platinum winners have been produced with grapes from the Pacific Northwest.

All-time Platinum leaderboard

1, Maryhill Winery, Goldendale, Wash. — 95

2, Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery, Oliver, British Columbia — 92

3, Reustle-Prayer Rock Vineyards, Roseburg, Ore — 48

4, Château Ste. Michelle, Woodinville, Wash. — 45

5, Zerba Cellars, Milton-Freewater, Ore. — 41

6, Clearwater Canyon Cellars, Lewiston, Idaho — 34

7, Thurston Wolfe, Prosser, Wash. — 30

7, Westport Winery Garden Resort, Aberdeen, Wash. — 30

9, Coyote Canyon Winery/H/H Estates, Prosser, Wash. — 28

9, Palencia Wine Co./Vino la Monarcha, Kennewick, Wash. — 28

11, Brian Carter Cellars, Woodinville, Wash. — 26

11, Tsillan Cellars, Chelan, Wash. — 26

13, Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estate, Oliver, British Columbia — 25

14, Barnard Griffin Winery, Richland, Wash. — 23

14, La Frenz Winery, Penticton, British Columbia — 23

16, Jones of Washington, Quincy, Wash. — 20

16, Kiona Vineyards and Winery, Benton City, Wash. — 20

16, Spangler Vineyards, Roseburg, Ore. — 20

19, Basalt Cellars, Clarkston, Wash. — 19

19, Wild Goose Vineyards, Okanagan Falls, British Columbia —19

21, The Bunnell Family Cellar, Prosser, Wash. — 18

21, Walla Walla Vintners, Walla Walla, Wash. — 18

23, Alexandria Nicole Cellars, Paterson, Wash. — 17

23, Cave B Estate Winery, Quincy, Wash. — 17

23, Cellardoor Winery, Lincolnville, Maine — 17

23, Smasne Cellars, Kennewick, Wash. — 17

27, Mellisoni Vineyards, Chelan, Wash. — 16

27, Milbrandt Vineyards, Prosser, Wash. — 16

29, Abacela, Roseburg, Ore. — 15

30, Domaine Ste. Michelle, Paterson, Wash. — 14

30, Dusted Valley Vintners, Walla Walla, Wash. — 14

30, Northwest Cellars, Kirkland, Wash. — 14

30, Saviah Cellars, Walla Walla, Wash. — 14

34, Brandborg Vineyard & Winery, Elkton, Ore. — 13

34, * King Estate Winery, Lorane, Ore. — 13

34, L’Ecole No. 41, Lowden, Wash. — 13

34, Watermill Winery, Milton-Freewater, Ore. — 13

38, 14 Hands Winery, Prosser, Wash. — 12

38, Cardwell Cellars, Philomath, Ore. — 12

38, Schmidt Family Cellars, Grants Pass, Ore. — 12

38, * Spoiled Dog Winery, Langley, Wash. — 12

42 * Mt. Hood Winery, Hood River, Ore. — 11

42, Reininger/Helix by Reininger, Walla Walla, Wash. — 11

44, Dunham Cellars, Walla Walla, Wash. — 10

* — New to leaderboard in 2021

About Eric Degerman

Eric Degerman is the President and CEO of Great Northwest Wine. He is a journalist with more than 30 years of daily newspaper experience and has been writing about wine since 1998. He co-founded Wine Press Northwest magazine with Andy Perdue and served as its managing editor for a decade. He is a frequent wine judge at international wine competitions throughout North America and orchestrates 10 Northwest competitions each year.