Winners of the 2023 NCW Wine Awards were announced at the Wenatchee Wine & Food Festival held at the Town Toyota Center on August 26th. Thirty wineries from North Central Washington submitted over 300 wines for judging. Tsillan Cellars again established its reputation as one of Washington States premier wineries by sweeping nearly all the top awards in the recent North Central Washington Wine Awards. Tsillan Cellars wines were voted the competition’s BEST RED WINE, BEST WHITE WINE, BEST OF SHOW in addition to four BEST OF CLASS Awards.
Judges awarded Tsillan Cellars 2020 Estate Barbera distinction as the competition’s BEST RED WINE and BEST OF SHOW honors as the highest scoring wine in the 2023 competition. It was awarded 96 points by the judges, the highest score in this year’s competition. Barbera is a difficult grape to grow, requiring lots of sun and extended hang time to achieve its full potential. It has thrived in the Tsillan Cellars estate vineyards located on the South Shore of Lake Chelan. This wine also won top honors at the 2023 Seattle Wine Awards. Dr. Bob Jankelson, owner of Tsillan Cellars, credits Head Winemaker Garrett Grubbs and Vineyard Manager Nic Stevens for orchestrating this world class Barbera from the vineyards to bottle.
Tsillan Cellars 2022 Sempre Amore, a blend of 75% Pinot Grigio and 25% Riesling was judged the NCW Wine Awards BEST WHITE WINE, and scored an outstanding 95 points. In addition to these Sweepstake honors, Tsillan Cellars wines received an unprecedented four BEST OF CLASS awards with their 2022 Sauvignon Blanc, 2020 Estate Merlot, 2020 Estate Dolcetto and 2022 Estate Pinot Grigio. The 2020 Estate Dolcetto was also judged best Dolcetto in the prestigious 2023 San Francisco Chronical Wine Competition winning another Best of Class award.
Wine writer Rick Steigmeyer in Foothill Magazine commented, “Each year, it seems, the wines and the Italian themed resort attract more awards, stunning reviews and a stampede of visitors for a vision done right.”
