Chelan, WA — Best of the Best Platinum Wine Judging is a prestigious annual invitational wine competition that invites gold medal winning wines from state, regional, national and international wine competitions to compete for coveted Platinum Awards. The Platinum Competition invites wines from the almost 2,500 wineries in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and British Columbia to participate.
Seven Lake Chelan wineries received one or more Platinum awards in the 24th Annual Competition staged by Great Northwest Wine. Mellisoni Vineyards (6) and Tsillan Cellars (5) led the Platinum parade, followed by early pioneering Lake Chelan Winery (2), Tipsy Canyon Winery (2), Siren Song Winery (2), Chelan Ridge Winery (2) and Sigillo Cellars (1) winning Platinum or Double Platinum awards.
Highest honors in the competition went to Sigillo Cellars 2020 Carménère, which won “Best of the Best” in addition to “Best Red Wine” honors and scored 98 points. Tsillan Cellars’s 2021 Estate Dry Riesling was also awarded Double Platinum and 98 points, which was the highest scoring Lake Chelan AVA estate grown wine. Other notable Double Platinum awards scoring 95 or more points included Siren Song Winery 2019 Auberge (97 points), Mellisoni Vineyards 2020 Lake Chelan AVA Syrah (95 points,) and Tipsy Canyon Winery 2020 Mélange Noir Red Wine (95 points.)
Mark Garvin, Tipsy Canyon Winery owner/winemaker opened their Manson winery 5 years ago and is one of the newest contributors to Chelan’s parade of platinum awards. “With so many wonderful wines being produced in the Northwest, it is humbling to receive Platinum recognition for the wines we enjoy creating,” says Garvin. “We are proud to be part of the Lake Chelan Wine Valley community that continues to produce remarkable wines getting more and more recognition.”
Tsillan Cellars moved into the top 10 all-time Northwest Platinum winner circle with 36 all-time Platinum awards. Mellisoni Vineyards has quickly moved up the elite all-time Platinum winner circle tied for thirteenth with 26 Platinums. “We’re proud to represent our Lake Chelan wine community with these awards,” says Rob and Donna Mellison, owners and winemakers. “The Lake Chelan Wine Valley has the potential to be one of the best growing regions in the Northwest. The level of dedication wineries here are putting into their products, from better viticulture to winemaking, enhances the quality of the wine and the Platinum level wine tasting experience for which Lake Chelan is becoming known.”