Goldendale, Wash. – After judging more than 4,500 wines from 1,400 wineries, 26 states and 31 countries, the 2014 San Francisco International Wine Competition (the largest-ever in its 34 year history) awarded Washington state’s Maryhill Winery as “Winery of the Year.”
Above: Maryhill Winery won Double Gold’s for these wines, as well as top honors as “Winery of the Year” and other medals at the prestigious San Francisco International Wine Competition. Right: Winemaker Richard Batchelor of Maryhill Winery.
In addition to the overall honor, Maryhill won 30 awards for its wines at this year’s competition, including four gold, 11 bronze, and 10 silver as well as three double gold and two “Best of Show” honors:
• Best Mourvedre, Double Gold (97 pts): 2011 Mourvedre, Sugarloaf Vineyards, Rattlesnake Hills
• Best Grenache, Double Gold (95 pts): 2011 Grenache, Proprietor’s Reserve, Columbia Valley
• Double Gold (95 pts): 2011 Syrah, Classic, Columbia Valley
Now in its 34th year, the San Francisco International Wine Competition is the largest and most-respected international competition in the United States. Each year a panel of nearly 60 prestigious judges, including journalists and industry professionals from around the world, participate in a blind tasting to ensure competitive integrity.
“It’s been a thrilling year so far for Maryhill,” said Craig Leuthold, co-owner of Maryhill Winery. “We’ve had big wins at the Seattle Wine Awards, Northwest Wine Summit and Riverside International, but winning ‘Winery of the Year’ at a competition of this scale is an incredible achievement for our entire winemaking team and Washington wines as a whole.”
Along with other Best of Show, Top Awards and Double Gold medal winners, Maryhill will participate in select stops in the 11-city Double Gold Tour for trade and media sponsored by The Tasting Panel magazine and produced by Blue Lifestyle. A full list of the tour stops, dates and winners is available here.
“I have the privilege of working with the best cellar crew, growers and grapes in the industry, and Maryhill winning this honor is proof of that,” said Richard Batchelor, winemaker at Maryhill. “We’ve known for a long time that the diversity and quality of Washington grapes are unmatched and, as we continue to release award-winning wines like the Mourvedre, Grenache and our Vineyard Series, more people are recognizing and seeking out Maryhill wines.”
About Maryhill Winery
Established in 1999 by Craig and Vicki Leuthold, Maryhill Winery is the 10th largest winery in Washington state and produces 90,000 cases annually. Nestled among rows of vines along the stunning Columbia River in Goldendale, Wash., Maryhill is a popular destination for wine tastings, tours and special events, with an adjacent 4,000-seat outdoor amphitheater that hosts a world-class summer concert series and free live music on the vine-covered terrace every weekend (Memorial Day – September). Maryhill’s 3,000 sq. ft. tasting room and 1,200 sq. ft. Reserve Room draw more than 75,000 wine enthusiasts from around the globe each year, ranking among the top five most visited wineries in the state. Maryhill sources more than 30 different varietals of grapes from some of the most highly-regarded vineyards in the state, producing nearly 40 different wines, and has claimed more than 2,000 awards since its first vintage in 2001.