Westport Best of Class at Washington State Wine Competition

Westport Best of Class at Washington State Wine Competition

Westport Winery’s Dawn Patrol, a luscious blend of Riesling and raspberry, earned a gold medal and Best of Class at the Washington State Wine Competition held in Grandview, Washington, on June 20. This is the 34th year of this competition. According to competition organizers, “More than 60 wineries combined to enter 311 wines in the Washington State Wine Competition, which now also serves as a fundraiser for the next generation of Washington winemakers. A portion of proceeds from the judging will help fund scholarships at Yakima Valley College, Washington State University, South Seattle College and Walla Walla Community College winemaking programs.”

Dawn Patrol is vinted from grapes harvested at Red Willow Vineyard in the Yakima Valley AVA. A portion of the proceeds from this wine benefits the Twin Harbors Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. The sculpture commemorating this wine was crafted by Raymond artist Ernest Kuntz.

Lighthouse, the winery’s new dry Riesling, with grapes from Red Willow Vineyard, also earned a gold medal. A portion of the proceeds from this wine benefits the Grays Harbor Lighthouse Restoration and the Westport Maritime Museum. The label’s watercolor of the winery’s iconic lighthouse was painted by Darrel Easter.

Message In A Bottle, a roséof Sangiovese, earned a silver medal as did Mermaid Merlot, Shiver Me Timbers (passionfruit, orange and guava Riesling), and Nirvana. Bronze medals were awarded to Shorebird Chardonnay and Rapture of the Deep, the winery’s sparkling cranberry wine. Each of these wines is also commemorated in the winery’s 15-acre display garden.

In 2016 Westport Winery was honored as one of the top twenty most-admired wineries in North America by Winery & Vineyard Management Magazine. It was named 2011 Washington Winery to Watch by Wine Press Northwest. They have been voted Best Winery by King 5 Evening Magazine seven times. They were named the Best Washington Family Business Silver Medal winners in 2012, received the Grays Harbor Environmental Stewardship Award in 2015, and were name Best Winery, Best Wine Shop, and Best Boutique Winery for 2016 by South Sound Magazine.

Family-friendly Westport Winery Garden Resort, is located on the corner of Highway 105 and South Arbor Road halfway between Aberdeen and Westport. The resort (including the restaurant, bakery, plant nursery and 15-acre display garden) is open daily or breakfast, lunch, and dinner from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Westport Winery’s second store, TASTING @ Cannon Beach, is located at 255 N. Hemlock. The Oregon tasting room is open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information or reservations call 360-648-2224.