Woodinville, WA – Willows Lodge, a Northwest-style retreat in Woodinville Wine Country and its restaurant Barking Frog announce the winners of its third annual Golden Grapes Awards held Sunday, March 3. The sold out event celebrated the “best of the best” wines made in Woodinville Wine Country determined by the winemakers themselves. The winners and two runners up in each of the seven categories were:
King’s Cup Winner: Pondera Winery, SVS Number One, Bordeaux Blend, Conner Lee Vineyard, 2009.
Sauvignon Blanc: Winner, Di Stefano, CV, 2011; Runner-up, DeLille Cellars, Chaleur Blanc, CV, 2011; Runner-up, Woodinville Wine Cellars, CV, 2011.
Chardonnay: Winner, Brian Carter, Array, CV, 2010; Runner-up, Pondera, Chardonnay, CV, 2011; Runner-up, Gorman Winery, Big Sissy, CV, 2010.
Cabernet Sauvignon: Winner, William Church, CV, 2009; Runner-up, Sparkman, Rainmaker, CV, 2010; Runner-up, Alta Vineyards, CV, 2009.
Bordeaux Style Blends: Winner, Pondera Winery, SVS Number One, Conner Lee Vineyard, CV, 2009; Runner-up, Woodinville Wine Cellars, Indomitable, CV, 2009; Runner-up, Tenor, 1:1, CV, 2009.
Syrah: Winner, Guardian Cellars, informant, Wahluke Slope, 2010; Runner- up, William Church, CV, 2009; Runner-up, Stevens Winery, Black Tongue, Yakima Valley, 2010.
Rhône Style Red Varieties: Winner, Darby Winery, Flipside, CV, 2011; Runner-up, DeLille Cellars, Métier, Yakima Valley, 2010; Runner-up, Brian Carter Cellars, Byzance, CV, 2009;
The Golden Grapes Awards were hosted by Barking Frog Wine Director Matt Davis. More than 30 winemakers participated. Judging took place during three private events in February and all entries were reviewed in a side-by-side, blind tasting by category. Judges ranked each wine on six qualities: Appearance (1 point), Aroma (5 points), Flavor (5 points), Body (4 points), Balance (4 points), Overall Impression (6 points) – for a total of 25 points.
“Only winemakers and winemaking staff were allowed to be judges, and the scale is weighted toward their overall impression,” said Davis. “These are truly the wines winemakers believe exemplify Woodinville wines.”
The public joined the Woodinville winemakers on Sunday, March 3 for a special awards presentation and wine tasting event in the Sammamish Ballroom at Willows Lodge in which the winners and two runners up in each category were announced.
