CHELAN, WA, June 25, 2024 – Garrett Grubbs grew up in the Wenatchee Valley and learned winemaking at Washington State University. Since joining Tsillan Cellars as Head Winemaker in 2021, Grubbs has elevated the pioneering Lake Chelan winery to unprecedented accolades from wine judges and thousands of guests that visit the Italian inspired winery every year. Last year, Tsillan Cellars was the highest scoring and most awarded Washington winery in the 2023 California based West Coast Wine Competition with six Best of Class awards, including a rare 100 Points for Tsillan Cellars’ iconic Bellissima Rossa Bordeaux Blend. Grubb’s winemaking talents garnered five Platinum Awards in the 2023 Great Northwest Best of the Best Platinum Competition. This elevated Tsillan Cellars into the Top Ten All time Platinum Winner’s circle. This competition includes over 2,000 wineries in the Pacific Northwest.
Tsillan Cellars’ 2023 success was just a premonition of what was to come in 2024. Held in January, the San Francisco Chronical Wine Competition is the largest wine competition in the United States with over 1,000 wineries and 5,500 wines competing for honors. Winning 4 Double Gold and 5 Gold medals, Tsillan Cellars was the most awarded Washington winery in the competition. Great start to a record year. A month later, Tsillan Cellars submitted twenty Grubb’s inspired wines to the Seattle Wine Competition, resulting in 18 Gold and Double Gold Medals. Another unprecedented first.
Great Northwest Wine.com recently announced the results of the2024 Cascadia Wine Competition with the headline TSILLAN CELLARS LEADS WASHINGTON WINE WITH SIX GOLDS. The article added to the accolades noting: “Lake Chelan leader Tsillan Cellars received Best-of-Class awards for two Rhone varieties grown on Dr. Bob Jankelson’s estate—Syrah and Viognier—which were among the total of six gold medals entered by Tsillan Cellars winemaker Garrett Grubbs…”
Recognition as the most awarded Washington winery in two major California and Washington competitions in early 2024 suggests the magic of Lake Chelan’s Golden Mile vineyards and Garrett Grubbs mastery of the wines continues to elevate the Lake Chelan AVA to new heights in the Washington wine world.
