Seattle Wine Awards Announces Winners of 2023 Judging Competition

On Saturday and Sunday, April 15th and 16th, more than 20 local, regional and national wine professionals gathered to taste and evaluate 930-plus Washington, Oregon, and Idaho wines, mead and ciders at the 18^th Annual Seattle Wine Awards.

Held at the Women’s University Club of Seattle, in an event open only to the media, 930-plus samples sent directly from the producers were popped, proofed, poured and tasted by a panel of esteemed wine industry experts and professionals.  A national panel of wine professionals, chosen by Christopher Chan, Executive Director of Seattle Wine Award., evaluated this year’s entries using a modified 200-point scoring system.

Wines were reviewed in flights that reflected the same and similar varieties and styles. Each submission was tasted and considered on the following criteria: Aroma & Bouquet, Flavor & Palate, Typicity & Character, Balance & Complexity and Overall Impression. The 20-plus member tasting panel was comprised of masters of wine, winemakers, master sommeliers, instructors of eonology, buyers, journalists and directors of wine from the Pacific Northwest’s most renowned restaurants, media and wine shops. The names of the members of the tasting panel can be found at: www.seattlewineawards.com/tasting-panel.

In 2016 and in celebration of the 11th anniversary of the Seattle Wine Awards, Chan initiated the first ever evaluation of 10-year-old wines in the Diamond of The Decade Award Category. The award was designed to further recognize, celebrate and elevate great wines, vines, vignerons and winemakers who’ve produced world-class and age worthy expressions.

This year, Chan invited the industry to submit wines from a decade ago (2013 vintage). This acknowledgment has become the Pacific Northwest’s badge of honor and distinction for those crafting wines of: Quality, Elegance, Complexity and Maturity that can truly be considered Diamonds of The Decade.

The Diamond of the Decade award winners were announced May 8^th and included wines from the following 19 Washington wineries: Ambassador Wines of Washington, Basalt Cellars, Brian Carter Cellars, Bunnell Family Cellars, Cathedral Ridge Winery, Camaraderie Cellars, Cedergeen Cellars, Cloudlift Cellars, Cougar Crest Winery, Coyote Canyon Winery, Elevation Cellars, Harbinger Winery, Liberty Lake Wine Cellars, Mellisoni Vineyards, Mercer Estates Winery, Newhouse Family Vineyards, Palencia Wine Company and Three of Cups Winery.

Winners of medals in the other 60 categories and pricing tiers are too many to list here, but the complete list of 2023 award winners can be found at:. www.seattlewineawards.com/results.

About Christopher Chan, Executive Director – Seattle Wine Awards 

Christopher Chan first became a Pacific Northwest wine professional in 1997 when he was named Director of Wine and Spirits at Seattle’s prestigious Rainier Club. Chan has since earned the title of Advanced Sommelier from the Court of Master Sommeliers, one of approximately 900 in the U.S., and the Sommelier Diploma from the International Guild of Sommeliers.

Chan was also host of Seattle’s Happy Hour Radio which aired Saturdays on Seattle’s 570 KVI – AM from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. from 2014-2020. He is President of Yellow Bird (Chan Family) Vineyard in Walla Walla, WA. In 2006, Chan founded the Seattle Wine Awards and, in 2009, the Oregon Wine Awards and 2015, the Idaho Wine Awards. These events bring together the foremost wine professionals in the Pacific Northwest to taste and evaluate the region’s vintage and current/new wine releases.