Locally grown winemaking team brings home honors for Tsillan Cellars

Chelan- What happens when you put two childhood friends with farming roots in the Entiat Valley together as a winemaking team? Following in the footsteps of former Tsillan Cellars winemaker Ray Sandidge, Garrett Grubbs and Nic Stevens teamed up to produce seven Double Gold and three Gold Medals at the 2022 Seattle Wine Awards Competition. These 10 wines combined for two 97 point, four 96 point, one 95 point and three 93–94-point scores in the competition. Among the 10 Double Gold/Gold award winners were six Tsillan Cellars 2021 vintage white wines that scored 93-97 points despite the challenges of a record hot 2021 growing season.

Garrett Grubbs and Nic Stevens grew up together and have a common passion for viticulture and winemaking. Shane Collins head winemaker at Tsillan Cellars from 2007 to 2017 said that 80% of wine quality is grown in the vineyards and 20% is the winemaker’s art and science.  Stevens, Tsillan Cellars Director of Vineyard Operations and Assistant Winemaker can be found daily in the vineyards supervising the vineyard crew and nurturing the grapes to optimal perfection. The rest is up to Mother Nature and the skills of the winemakers. Grubbs brings 15 years of wine making experience to the Tsillan Cellars team to compliment Nic’s work in the vineyards.

Tsillan Cellar’s owner Bob Jankelson comments “This is an auspicious start for our new winemaking team at Tsillan Cellars. I could not be more pleased with the dedication and expertise that Grubbs and Stevens bring to our wine program.  Tsillan Cellars has won many accolades including being honored as 2020 Washington Winery of the Year. The results of this competition suggest that the reputation is in good hands with Stevens and Grubbs leading the winemaking program.

Tsillan Cellars – Seattle Wine Award Double Gold and Gold Winners – announced June 1
Double Gold – 95 Points – 2021 Estate Gewürztraminer
Double Gold – 96 Points – 2019 Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Double Gold – 96 Points – 2019 Estate Piccolo Rosso
Double Gold – 96 Points – 2021 Sauvignon Blanc
Double Gold – 96 Points –2021 Sempre Amore
Double Gold – 97 Points – 2019 Estate Syrah
Double Gold – 97 Points – 2021 Dolce Donna
Gold – 93 Points – 2021 Estate Pinot Grigio
Gold – 93 Points – 2021 Estate Riesling
Gold – 94 Points – 2019 Estate Reserve Malbec