Submitted by Westport Winery
Westport Winery earned high honors at the Great Northwest Invitational Wine Competition held on October 7 and 8 at the historic Columbia Gorge Hotel in Hood River, Oregon.
The winery’s 2017 Mermaid earned a Best of Class and a gold medal featuring Merlot from May’s Discovery Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA and Malbec from Joe Hattrup’s Elephant Mountain Vineyard in the Rattlesnake Hills AVA.
The evocative label features an eagle ray photograph by winery co-owner Blain Roberts from when he owned Lahaina Divers on Maui. A shadowy glimpse of a mermaid amidst the rays is a reminder that a portion of the proceeds from the wine benefits the future International Mermaid Museum at Westport Winery Garden Resort. Grayland, Washington, artist Lisa Humbyrd-Murphy created the sculpture designed for this wine in the 15-acre display garden.
Courage, made from 100% Sagrantino grapes grown at Inland Desert Vineyard, earned a double gold medal. This grape was once nearly extinct with one vineyard in Italy causing its resurrection. There are few wineries in the United States that make Sagrantino. Westport is honored to have earned unanimous evaluations from the judges to earn the award. This label features original art by winery co-founder, Kim Roberts with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the American Lung Association. A sculpture by Tyler Hansen of McCleary, Washington, commemorates this wine in the sculpture garden.
For more information you may visit Ocean Daughter’s Distillery or Westport Winery or call 360-648-2224. Westport Winery Garden Resort, Ocean’s Daughter Distillery and the Sea Glass Grill are open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The International Mermaid Museum will open on International Mermaid Day, March 29, 2021. The mission is to teach ocean ecology from seashore to sea floor immersed in mermaid mythology uniting oceanic cultures.
