Chelan, WA, February 11th, 2026 – The results of the 2026 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, the largest judging of wines in North America, were announced in January. Once again, Tsillan Cellars was the most awarded Washington winery in the competition. Yet even more impressive, all nine Double Gold and Gold medals awarded for Tsillan Cellars were varietal wines sourced from grapes grown in their Estate vineyards—a tribute to the unique growing conditions on the south shore of Lake Chelan.
Not only were the grapes homegrown, but Head Winemaker Garrett Grubbs and Vineyard Manager/Assistant Winemaker Nic Stevens are Chelan County born and raised. Both were born in Wenatchee and graduated from Eastmont High School where they became and remained best friends. Their careers diverged for twenty years before becoming an unbeatable vineyard and winemaking team for Tsillan Cellars in 2020.
Garrett’s Story
“I grew up in the tree fruit business. My family still farms orchards in the Entiat Valley. The lure of wine pulled me from tree fruit to a journey of adventure learning the art and science of winemaking. With a degree in Business Management and Enology from WSU I became a wine nomad, spending a decade being mentored by some of Washington’s best winemakers.
“When Nic called to inform me the head winemaker position at Tsillan Cellars was open in 2020 it was like a call from heaven. Thirty years ago, my father farmed Red Delicious apples on the property that is now the Tsillan Cellars estate. What a gift. I could now work with my long-time friend and make wine from an iconic property I once roamed as a kid while having support from owner, Dr. Bob, to once again raise the bar even higher for Lake Chelan wine.”
Nic’s Story
“I was raised in Entiat and East Wenatchee. After detours in the workforce, the wine passion grabbed both my wife and I. About 2017 we started taking date-days out to visit local wineries
and I fell in love with everything wine. My grandparents had a small orchard in the Entiat Valley and farming is in my blood.
“In 2019 I was accepted into the Viticulture and Enology program at WSU. I took a harvest internship at Tsillan Cellars and was promoted to Vineyard Manager and Assistant Winemaker the following year. I thank Dr. Bob for trusting my new vineyard management ideas and giving me the resources to apply them in the estate vineyards. It is an honor working with my friend Garrett, our dedicated vineyard crew, and Dr. Bob to provide the grapes that continue to win national accolades.”
World Class vineyards, vineyard management and winemaking continue to vault Tsillan Cellars and their Lake Chelan Estate into unprecedented success in major national and international wine competitions.
