CHELAN, WA — Tsillan Cellars has once again solidified its place among the elite of Washington winemaking. Starting 2025 as it did the previous year—with top honors at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, the largest domestic wine competition in the United States—Tsillan Cellars earned the most Gold medals of any Washington winery, reaffirming its national reputation for excellence.
The momentum continued at last week’s Seattle Wine Awards, where Tsillan Cellars was named Most Awarded Washington Winery of 2025. Among an impressive medal count were seventeen Gold medals, led by the 2023 Estate Reserve Chardonnay, which earned Double Gold and an exceptional 95-point score. In total, six Tsillan wines scored between 94 and 95 points, highlighting the winery’s consistent excellence.
“It’s been incredibly exciting to witness Lake Chelan’s wineries consistently being recognized for overall excellence in a variety of expressions over the past five years,” said Christopher Chan, renowned sommelier and founder of the Seattle Wine Awards. “Tsillan Cellars is one of several Lake Chelan wineries that continues to impress vintage after vintage, having earned multiple Gold and Double Gold medals over this two-day single-blind evaluation.”
This latest recognition adds to the legacy of Tsillan Cellars’ estate Chardonnay program, first established in 2000. The same vineyard produced the 2005 Estate Chardonnay, which won the Walter Clore Trophy for Best Washington Chardonnay and Best White Wine—an extraordinary milestone for a young estate. Two decades later, the vineyard continues to yield world-class Chardonnay, as demonstrated by this year’s accolades.
“Great wine begins in the vineyard,” said Nic Stevens, Vineyard Manager at Tsillan Cellars. “Our Reserve Chardonnay is the result of meticulous farming—crop thinning, canopy management, precision irrigation, and extended hang time—all designed to enhance flavor and structure for Garrett’s reserve program.”
Dr. Bob Jankelson, owner of Tsillan Cellars, reflected on the vineyard’s beginnings: “When we planted Chardonnay on the south shore of Lake Chelan in 2000, there were no vineyards here. We trusted the soil, slope, wind, and sun exposure. It was part vision, part serendipity—and it turned out to be the perfect site.”
Just steps from the vineyard, the estate crush pad is where the winemaking journey continues under Head Winemaker Garrett Grubbs, who has led the winery to record-breaking success over the past four years.
“Grapes are gently pressed within hours of harvest and fermented using only native vineyard yeasts,” said Grubbs. “We age the wine in oak for nine months to develop texture and complexity. It’s a true collaboration—with Nic, with Dr. Bob, and with the land itself.”
With this remarkable series of achievements, Tsillan Cellars continues to set the standard for estate winemaking in Washington State—honoring tradition while reaching new heights.
