Oscar Castillo has quietly been making some of the Northwest’s best red wines in the Lake Chelan community of Manson, Wash.

Earlier this month, judges in California determined that Castillo crafted one of the country’s most delicious wines when the Wapato Point Cellars 2018 Cougar Crest Vineyard Cabernet Franc emerged as the No. 1 entry at the Sunset International Wine Competition. It marked the first time that a bottle from Washington state topped the historic lifestyle magazine’s wine judging.

“It was unexpected but well-deserved,” Debra Del Fiorentino, founder and president of Wine Competitions Management & Productions, stated in a news release. “We had some really great wines in the final sweepstakes rounds, and Wapato Point Cellars swoops in and takes it all. Results like this are why competitions are so valuable.”

Castillo’s Cabernet Franc, made with grapes grown in the Walla Walla Valley, received 99 points from the panel, which described the wine with comments such as “righteously herbal” with “beautiful oak,” “blackberry” and “focused.” Its path began with a double gold medal and best of class in the Cabernet Franc category, then onto Best of Show Red and ultimately “Best of the Best.”

Ultimately, Castillo’s talents were reflected in four wines that won a gold medal or better at the Sunset International. He is in his second decade as a winemaker for The Lake Chelan Trading Co. — an operation that includes Wapato Point, Lake Chelan Winery and restaurants at each property — after spending years working alongside acclaimed winemaker Ray Sandidge. Castillo’s 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2019 Cabernet Franc for Lake Chelan Winery each received a double gold medal at Sunset. There was also a gold medal for his Lake Chelan Winery 2019 Exclusive Red IX produced with Lake Chelan fruit.

“It’s an honor to be able to work with fruit from across the state,” Castillo said. “It highlights the potential Washington state has in the wine industry. I believe this award is a huge win not only for us but for the state as well.”

Castillo has been the winemaker at Lake Chelan Winery since 2005, and he took over at Wapato Point after Jonathon Kludt moved to California in 2019 to pursue a career in business coaching. That same year, Castillo also took over the production at Washington Gold Cider and vineyard management.

“This award-winning Cabernet Franc is a great example of their teamwork and collaboration,” owner April Williams wrote in an email to Great Northwest Wine.

“That the esteemed judges of a prestigious competition scored the wine so high is an incredible honor. We look forward to seeing our boutique family winery name in with the big named wineries more and more in the future,” Williams added. “More important than points, Oscar’s wines are consistently award-winning quality yet approachable and unpretentious. It’s everything you want in a wine and a winemaker.”

Last year’s “Best of the Best” recipient at Sunset was the Miro Cellars 2019 Chevalier Vineyard Cuvée Sasha, a $24 Grenache-driven blend from California’s Mendocino County.

Sunset International awards gold to 128 NW wines

There were 38 double gold medals amid the 128 gold medals awarded to Pacific Northwest entries, a showing highlighted by 12 best-of-class winners in the wine category. Those BOC winners spanned categories such as Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Malbec, Tempranillo and Pinot Gris — as well as Cabernet Franc.

Rogue Valley winemaker Jean-Michel Jussiaume once again showed himself to be one of the country’s top talents with rosé as the Del Rio Vineyards 2021 Rosé of Grenache was the other Northwest wine to reach the sweepstakes. Last year, his Maison Jussiaume 2019 Peil de Perdrix Rosé from Del Rio Vineyard stood atop the sparkling wine category at Sunset.

Ron Bunnell and The Bunnell Family Cellar in Prosser, Wash., led the Northwest contingent with five wines that merited a gold medal or better.

Alexandria Nicole Cellars in Washington’s Horse Heaven Hills pulled in four gold medals, as did King Estate in Eugene, Holesinsky Vineyard & Winery in Hagerman, Idaho, and Cougar Crest Estate Winery in Walla Walla — which also grew the grapes for the best wine of the competition.

Those with three gold medals or better were Coventina Vineyards in the Umpqua Valley, Lumos Wine Co., in Philomath, Ore., Rellik Winery in Jacksonville, Ore., Seven Bridges Winery in Portland, young Siderius Vineyard & Winery in Cornelius, Ore., and Silvan Ridge Winery in Eugene.

Cider producers also receive a platform at the Sunset International and Portland Cider Company in Clackamas, Ore., repeated as winner of Best in Show Cider, this time with Strawberry Pineapple hard cider with Northwest apples as the foundation. Last year, the cidery established in 2013 won with the nonvintage Sorta Sweet.

Sunset International judging began in 2012

The Sunset International immediately earned its place among North America’s most prestigious judgings in 2012 with respected journalist Sara Schneider at the helm as the magazine’s wine editor. However, the competition went dark during 2018 following the magazine’s sale by Time Warner in 2017 to Regent — a private equity group headquarters in Beverly Hills. The event was restarted for Sunset in 2019 under the leadership of Del Fiorentino. (Schneider now serves as consulting wine and spirits editor for Robb Report, a relationship that began in 2018 with the Penske Media Corp., publication focused on international luxury.)

Del Fiorentino’s cadre of judges for this year’s Sunset International included Liz Thach, Master of Wine/journalist/educator, Sonoma, Calif; winemaker Erik Olsen, formerly of Chateau Ste. Michelle; certified sommelier/journalist Ellen Landis, St. Petersburg, Fla.,; certified sommelier/journalist Christopher Sawyer, Petaluma, Calif.,; columnist Mike Dunne, Sacramento, Calif.; Traci Dutton, certified sommelier/beverage manager, Culinary Institute of America, Napa, Calif.; Christopher O’Gorman, director of communications, Rodney Strong Wine Estates; and Wilfred Wong, chief storyteller/photographer, Wine.com, San Francisco.

2022 Sunset International Wine Competition
Sonoma County, Calif.

Pacific Northwest winners
Best of the Best / Best of show / Best Red Wine/ best of class / double gold medal
Wapato Point Cellars 2018 Cougar Crest Vineyard Cabernet Franc, Walla Walla Valley
Best Rosé / double gold medal
Del Rio Vineyard 2021 Estate Grenache Rosé, Rogue Valley
Best of show / gold medal
Portland Cider Co. NV Strawberry Pineapple, Yamhill County
Best of class / double gold
Alexandria Nicole Cellars 2018 Destiny Ridge Vineyards Jet Black Syrah, Horse Heaven Hills
Amelia Wynn Winery 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain
Bayernmoor Cellars 2021 Rosé, Horse Heaven Hills
The Bunnell Family Cellar 2014 McClelland Family Vineyard, Malbec, Walla Walla Valley
Coventina Vineyards 2015 Estate Reserve Tempranillo, Rogue Valley
Foris Vineyards 2021 Estate Pinot Gris, Rogue Valley
Holesinsky Winery 2020 Unicorn Sparkle, Snake River Valley
King Estate Winery 2021 Rosé of Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley
Rellik Winery 2018 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Rogue Valley
Simply… 2020 Estate Chardonnay, Columbia Valley

Double gold
Abacela 2019 Estate Fiesta Tempranillo Fiesta, Umpqua Valley
Alexandria Nicole Cellars 2021 a2 “Pinky Swear” Rosé, Columbia Valley
Amelia Wynn Winery 2019 Cabernet Franc, Red Mountain
Bitner Vineyards 2018 Estate Syrah, Snake River Valley
The Bunnell Family Cellar 2014 XL Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley
The Bunnell Family Cellar 2014 Discovery Vineyard Syrah, Horse Heaven Hills
Camaraderie Cellars 2019 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, White Bluffs
Hedges Family Estate 2020 CMS Red Blend, Columbia Valley
Coventina Vineyards 2017 Estate Pinot Noir, Rogue Valley
Coyote Canyon Winery 2019 Coyote Canyon Vineyard Barbera, Horse Heaven Hills
DANCIN Vineyards 2020 Tribute, Rogue Valley
DarkRock 2019 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Horse Heaven Hills
Holesinsky Winery 2021 Dry Buhljolais Rosé, Snake River Valley
King Estate Winery 2020 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley
King Estate Winery 2017 Estate Brut Cuvee, Willamette Valley
King Estate Winery 2018 Domaine Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley
Lake Chelan Winery 2019 Cabernet Franc, Columbia Valley
Lake Chelan Winery 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley
Lindsay Creek Vineyards 2021 Winemaker Select Riesling, Washington
Page Cellars 2017 Cabernet Franc, Red Mountain
Phantom Creek Estates 2019 Kobau Vineyard Estate Syrah, Okanagan Valley
Port Townsend Vineyards 2021 Viognier, Rattlesnake Hills
Rocky Pond Estate Winery 2019 Double D Vineyard Estate Syrah, Columbia Valley
Sass 2019 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley
Seven Bridges Winery 2018 Reserve Cabernet Franc, Walla Walla Valley
Silvan Ridge Winery 2018 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley

Gold medal
2Hawk Winery 2020 Grenache Rosé, Rogue Valley
Abacela 2021 Estate Grenache Rosé, Umpqua Valley
Acrobat 2020 Chardonnay, Oregon
Alexandria Nicole Cellars 2021 Crawford Viognier, Columbia Valley
Alexandria Nicole Cellars 2018 Destiny Ridge Vineyards “Gravity” Merlot, Horse Heaven Hills
Arete 2019 Blanc de Noirs, Willamette Valley
August Cellars 2016 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley
Barnard Griffin 2021 Albarino, Columbia Valley
Barnard Griffin 2021 Rosé of Sangiovese, Columbia Valley
Basalt Cellars 2018 GSM, Columbia Valley
Bayer Family Estate Estate 2018 Rosso Grande, Rogue Valley
Block & Row Wine Co. 2021 Estate Sauvignon Blanc, Horse Estate Hills
Bluebird Hill Cellars 2019 Red Wine Blend, Oregon/Washington
Brandborg Vineyard & Winery 2021 Pinot Gris, Elkton Oregon
Brian Carter Cellars 2018 Tuttorosso, Yakima Valley
Brian Carter Cellars 2018 Le Coursier, Columbia Valley
The Bunnell Family Cellar 2016 Painted Hills Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley
The Bunnell Family Cellar 2016 Red Heaven Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain
Camaraderie Cellars 2018 Winemaker Select Grace Red Wine, Columbia Valley
Cathedral Ridge Winery 2017 The Last Best Wife Reserve Red Wine, Columbia Valley
Chris Baker 2021 Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley
Cinder Wines 2020 Syrah, Snake River Valley
Clearwater Canyon Cellars 2020 Phinny Hill Vineyard Carmenère, Washington
Cougar Crest Estate Winery 2018 Cougar Hills Vineyard Cabernet Franc, Walla Walla Valley
Cougar Crest Estate Winery 2017 Cougar Hills Vineyard Merlot, Walla Walla Valley
Cougar Crest Estate Winery 2018 Cougar Hills Vineyard Block 11 Syrah, Walla Walla Valley
Cougar Crest Estate Winery 2017 Cougar Hills Vineyard Anniversary Cuvée Red Wine, Walla Walla Valley
Coventina Vineyards 2017 Estate Pinot Noir, Rogue Valley
Coyote Canyon Winery 2021 Coyote Canyon Vineyard Life is a Rosé, Horse Heaven Hills
Daffodil Winery 2019 Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills
DANCIN Vineyards 2020 Estate Setti Pezzi, Rogue Valley
Del Rio Vineyard 2020 Estate Pinot Noir, Rogue Valley
EFESTĒ 2019 Estate Grenache, Red Mountain
Faith, Hope and Charity Vineyards 2018 Estate Marquette, Oregon
Foris Vineyard 2021 Estate Rosé of Pinot Noir, Rogue Valley
Gravel Bar 2019 Alluvial Red Blend, Red Mountain
Harbinger Winery 2017 Rapture Cabernet Franc, Columbia Valley
Harbinger Winery 2016 Petit Verdot, Columbia Valley
Hedges Family Estate 2019 Estate Red Blend, Red Mountain
Henry Estate Winery 2021 Estate Müller-Thurgau, Umpqua Valley
Holesinsky Winery 2021 Estate Unicorn Rosé, Snake River Valley
Holesinsky Winery 2020 Idawine Red Blend, Snake River Valley
HUE Wine Co. 2021 Estate Rosé, Washington State
Iris Vineyards 2019 House Call, Oregon
J Wrigley Vineyards 2020 Estate Chardonnay, McMinnville
Klipsun Vineyard 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain
Kriselle Cellars 2021 Estate Albarino, Rogue Valley
L’Ecole N° 41 Winery 2019 Merlot, Columbia Valley
L’Ecole N° 41 Winery 2019 Pepper Bridge Vineyard Estate Apogee Red Wine, Walla Walla Valley
Lacewing Cellars NV Scruffy Head, Washington State
Lake Chelan Winery 2019 Exclusive Red IX, Lake Chelan
Lumos Wine Co. 2018 Temperance Hill Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills
Lumos Wine Co. 2019 Swan Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills
Lumos Wine Co. 2018 Estate Wren Chardonnay, Willamette Valley
Martinez & Martinez Winery 2021 Chardonnay, Yakima Valley
Mercer Bros. 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, Horse Heaven Hills
Milbrandt Family 2019 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley
Naumes Family 2019 Viognier, Rogue Valley
Oak Knoll Winery 2018 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley
Overt 2019 Chardonnay, Willamette Valley
Phantom Creek Estates 2019 Kobau Vineyard Estate Merlot, Okanagan Valley
Plumb Cellars 2018 JK Vineyard Estate Syrah, Walla Walla Valley
Portland Cider Co. NV Kinda Dry Modern Cider, Oregon/Washington
Quiddity Wines 2019 SAPIT Carmenere, Columbia Valley
Quiddity Wines 2021 RHATHYMIA Roussanne, Rattlesnake Hills
Rellik Winery 2019 Malbec, Rogue Valley
Rellik Winery NV Lot 3 Three Eyed Raven, Rogue Valley
Reustle – Prayer Rock Vineyards 2021 Estate Green Lizard Grüner Veltliner, Umpqua Valley
Ryan Patrick Vineyards 2018 Estate Redhead Red Wine, Washington State
Ryan Patrick Vineyards 2021 Estate Rosé, Columbia Valley
Samson Estates 2020 Riesling, Columbia Valley
Sass 2016 Estate Vieux Amis Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley
Schmidt Family Vineyards 2020 Estate Pink Rosé’, Applegate Valley
Seven Bridges Winery 2018 Reserve Malbec, Columbia Valley
Seven Bridges Winery 2018 Collusion, Walla Walla Valley
Sidereus Vineyard & Winery 2021 Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley
Sidereus Vineyard & Winery 2021 Estate Rosé of Pinot Noir, Laurelwood District
Sidereus Vineyard & Winery 2020 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley
Silvan Ridge Winery 2021 Pinot Noir Rosé, Willamette Valley
Silvan Ridge Winery 2020 Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley
Sin Banderas Wines 2019 Syrah/Mourvedre, Yakima Valley
Stave & Stone Wine Estates 2021 Broken Boulder Vineyard Estate Pinot Noir Blanc, Columbia Gorge
Stave & Stone Wine Estates 2019 Broken Boulder Vineyard Pinot Noir, Columbia Gorge
Styring Vineyards 2017 Estate Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge
Tinte Cellars 2021 Viognier, Columbia Valley
Tinte Cellars 2019 Irish Eyes Red Wine, Columbia Valley
Westport Winery 2021 Humu Humu Nuku Nuku Apua’a Rosé, Rattlesnake Hills
Willamette Valley Vineyards 2021 Estate Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley
Willamette Valley Vineyards 2021 Estate Whole Cluster Rosé of Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley
Yamhill Valley Vineyards 2016 Estate Reserve Pinot Noir, McMinnville