Clearwater Canyon flagship wine triumphs – ties for top red wine!

Almost 500 wines from 103 Northwest wineries were recently judged over a four-day period in July at the Bellingham Northwest Wine Competition.  The judging panel was composed of by a diverse group of professionals, all involved in the wine industry.  From winemakers to educators and retailers to sommeliers, they blind tasted and scored wines from some very well-known wineries, as well as a few wines from up-and-coming winemakers from Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.

We are excited to announce that our 2020 Renaissance Red took home a Double Gold, a score of 97 points, AND tied for highest rated red wine of the entire competition! Our 2020 Louis Delsol Cabernet Sauvignon and 2021 Lochsa Chardonnay, both, received Gold Medals and ratings of 90+ points. We are proud to represent the Lewis-Clark Valley AVA with these three award-winning wines, all produced with locally sourced grapes.

Our first vintage of Renaissance Red, in 2004, was the first wine we produced, using grapes from Phinny Hill Vineyard (we continue to collaborate with Phinny Hill, primarily sourcing the beloved Carmenère). The varietals and blend percentages of Renaissance Red vary each year, but it continues to be a local fan-favorite and enjoyed by many outside the Lewis-Clark Valley. Our winemaker, Coco, keeps the focus of the blend to be food-friendly and sourced from the Lewis-Clark Valley AVA, which includes our Umiker Estate Vineyard.

Thank you, Whatcom Beer and Wine Foundation, for inviting us! We look forward to participating next year with our upcoming releases. For a full list of the winners, visit the Bellingham Northwest Wine Competition website.