Submitted by Westport Winery
This week we were excited to get the text that said, “Your Cabs are kicking a** in Hood River.” This the first time we were invited to participate in the Great Northwest Invitational Wine Competition held at the Columbia Gorge Inn in Hood River, Oregon.
The prestigious event offers twenty wine judges the opportunity to invite up to 100 wines each to compete for top honors. That means a win, is a BIG win!
We had three 2017 Cabernet Sauvignons represented in this competition. Charterboat Chick, MV Endeavor, and MV Argonaut. All three received double gold medals (unanimous panel decisions).
Our Cabernet Sauvignon “program” is one that our director of winemaking Dana Roberts has been nurturing for years. He is convinced that Washington State grows the best Cab Sauv grapes. For Dana, the best way to finish wine from his favorite vineyards is to age it in special French oak barrels. The results of this event proves that his passion is in the right place.
To accomplish this feat we are fortunate to partner and collaborate with the top wine grape growers in Washington.
Joe Hattrup, who owns both Sugarloaf and Elephant Mountain Vineyards in the Rattlesnake Hills AVA, grew the fruit Dana used to craft MV Endeavor—named after the dive boat Blain built at Westport Shipyard where he met his future wife Kim Irving. We also harvest Malbec, Mouvedre, Grenache, Syrah, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Merlot, and of course, our beloved Cabernet Sauvignon at Hattrup Farms.
Charterboat Chick features 52% Cab from Conner-Lee Vineyard in the Columbia Valley AVA and 48% from May’s Discovery Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA.
MV Argonaut (named after Blain’s first dive boat on Maui) is made from grapes exclusively grown at Conner-Lee Vineyard.
During your next visit to Westport Winery Garden Resort you will see the new tasting room for Ocean’s Daughter Distillery. We hope to have our first few selections available for tasting and purchase by Thanksgiving. Just like at the winery we will offer complimentary gift wrapping to be sure to include spirits in your holiday gift list.
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.
