Submitted by Madsen Family Cellars
SEATTLE – The largest and most influential independent wine recognition program in the state, the Seattle Wine Awards (SWA), announces the winning wines in 26 categories spanning three retail price ranges and comprised exclusively of Washington state appellation wines.
Among the 2012 winners are 2008 Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon from Olympia-based Madsen Family Cellars with a Gold medal, and close behind was the 2009 Othello (Bordeaux blend) with a Silver medal.
Seattle Wine Awards Executive Director, Christopher Chan, launched the awards as a wine-recognition program focused on Washington-grown grapes and wine in 2006. The inaugural event garnered only 274 entries. This year, however, the program received nearly one thousand bottles of Washington’s highest quality wines for consideration. A top-tier panel of experienced local and national wine-savvy professionals committed to tasting and evaluating this year’s entries.
What makes the Seattle Wine Awards Washington State’s best wine recognition program?
The Seattle Wine Awards Tasting Panel features the top local and national wine professionals consisting of highly respected wine buyers, sommeliers, directors and journalists. Our thorough evaluation is of the highest integrity and our thoughtful process provides both our participants and entries the best environment for tasting. Each wine is personally received, reviewed, confirmed and entered into our program. Every bottle is proofed for soundness by a team of sommeliers to ensure the wine is true to its’ origin. Wines are checked for bottle variation and no tainted wines are ever poured for our panel. The wines that earn recognition in the Seattle Wine Awards must achieve professional consensus where they earn one of the following in their respective price/wine categories: Double Gold, Gold, Silver and Bronze Grand Awards of Excellence These honors are of the highest recognition a winery can earn in the state of Washington.
You can experience these wines at Madsen Family Cellars here in Olympia at the tasting room which is open from 11 AM to 5 PM Wednesday thru Sunday just off Marvin Road. Check them out at www.madsenfamilycellars.com.
