Westport Winery garnered gold medals on both Smoky Nor’wester and Willapa White at the 28th Annual Florida State Fair International Wine Competition held on February 2 and 3 in Tampa.
Smoky Nor’wester is the winery’s most popular wine. The heart of its blend is 60% Merlot from Red Willow Vineyard in the Yakima Valley AVA. The remaining grapes were harvested at May’s Discover Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA with 24% Cabernet Franc and 16% Sauvignon. A portion of the proceeds from this wine benefits the Museum of the North Beach in Moclips, Washington. It is currently available in a decorated bottle from the winery’s ten-year anniversary celebration although in the future the label will feature a new watercolor by Roberts’ family friend Darryl Easter who has contributed a dozen pieces to their line-up. The sculpture commemorating this wine is located near the water hazard of the garden resort’s executive golf course. The wood carving by Nikki Demmert of Ocosta, Washington, depicts the legend of the raven holding back the rain.
Willapa White features grapes harvested in the Rattlesnake Hills AVA on two of Hattrup Farms’ vineyards. It is a balanced blend with 50% Pinot Gris from Sugarloaf Vineyard and 50% Riesling from Elephant Mountain Vineyard. This wine benefits WEfish a community organization dedicated to promoting and supporting local commercial fishing families. Unfortunately, this wine is currently unavailable for tasting since it is sold out until the next vintage is bottled.
Silver medals were awarded to Sunflower, the winery’s non-alcohol Riesling juice and Shiver Me Timbers their unique blend of passionfruit, orange, guava and Riesling.
Westport Winery Seaside received the 2019 Rising Star Award from the Seaside Chamber of Commerce. Westport Winery and the Roberts family were honored with Seattle Business Magazine’s Community Involvement Business of the Year for 2018. In 2017 the Westport Winery Garden Resort was named Greater Grays Harbor Business of the Year. USA Today named the Sea Glass Grill at Westport Winery Garden Resort one of the top five winery restaurants in the nation. The business has been voted Best Winery by King 5 Evening Magazine.
In 2016 Westport Winery was honored as one of the top twenty most-admired wineries in North America by Winery & Vineyard Management Magazine. The business earned Best Winery, Best Wine Shop, and Best Boutique Winery for 2016 by South Sound Magazine. They received the Grays Harbor Environmental Stewardship Award in 2015. They are finalist to the Best Washington Family Business competition by Seattle Business Magazine. And in 2011 they garnered Washington Winery to Watch by Wine Press Northwest.
In Oregon, Westport Winery Seaside and Seaside Kites are open daily from 11am to 6pm. For more information on the Oregon operation guests can visit their website at www.westportwinery.com. Family-friendly Westport Winery Garden Resort is located on the corner of Highway 105 and South Arbor Road halfway between Aberdeen and Westport. The Sea Glass Grill at the resort is open daily or brunch, lunch, and dinner from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and until 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. For more information or reservations call 360-648-2224.