Submitted by Westport Winery
Westport Winery earned a Best of Class and two gold medals at the 2022 International East Meets West Wine Competition held in Windsor, California on February 8 and 9, 2022.
The highest score of 96-points, a double gold medal, and Best of Class was awarded to Duckleberry Grunt, the winery’s popular blueberry Gewurztraminer blend. Winery co-founder Kim Roberts said, “In some ways this award should not be a surprise. Since 2008, our guests have made this the most popular wine on our list.” The judge’s comments said that Duckleberry Grunt is perfect to enjoy on a “languid summer afternoon.”
Acclaimed artist Jill Neal, famous for her Wild Women series, painted the label for this award-winning selection. The backstory is that while there are many Bigfoot sightings, no one ever spies Bigfoot’s wife. This label’s image is of Mrs. Bigfoot, wearing her camouflage bikini with a Bigfoot tattoo on her lower back as she stomps “duckleberries” to make the wine. A portion of the proceeds from this label benefits Grays Harbor Ducks Unlimited. The musical pairing is ZZ Top performing Sharp Dressed Man, since the Roberts family says that theirs is a Duckleberry Dynasty. A sculpture commemorating this wine by Vern Jones of Westport, Wahsington, is located in the winery’s Fragrance Garden.
Shiver Me Timbers, an unusual blend of passionfruit, orange, guava and Riesling, earned 93-points and a gold medal. A portion of the proceeds from this wine benefits the Grays Harbor Habitat for Humanity. A sculpture by Mike Peterson of Aberdeen, Washington, commemorating this wine is located in the Beauty From Ashes Garden within the winery’s 15-acre display garden. The classic Jimmy Buffett song, A Pirate Looks At 40, is the musical pairing this this tropical delicacy that the judges said has a “beautiful mouth-feel and would pair well with cheese and glazed nuts.”
Message In A Bottle Grenache scored 92-points and earned a gold medal. The grapes for this spectacular wine were grown at Joe Hattrup’s Sugarloaf Vineyard in the Rattlesnake Hills AVA. The label depicting a lovely cluster of ripe grapes was painted by watercolorist Darryl Easter of Camarillo, California. He is one of winery co-owner Blain Roberts’ long-time surfing partners. A portion of the proceeds from this wine benefit the West Coast Search Dogs of Washington. The Message In A Bottle sculpture by Montesano, Washington, artist Abe Singer depicts a giant wine bottle next to the winery’s entry sign with a message inside that says, “From grape to glass, wine is good.”
Family-friendly Westport Winery Garden Resort, the Sea Glass Grill, and Ocean’s Daughter Distillery are located halfway between Aberdeen and Westport in coastal Washington State with 15-acres of display gardens and over 50 sculptures by local artists. For more information call 360-648-2224, visit the Wesport Winery website or visit daily between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.
The resort is the home of the International Mermaid Museum where the Mermaid Festival is held from March 26 through April 3.
