JACKSONVILLE, OREGON–The Oregon Wine Competition awards were announced Wednesday, August 24 at 6 p.m. at the Oregon Wine Experience in Jacksonville, Oregon, with Best of Show awards going to Cuckoo’s Nest Cellars, Pebblestone Cellars, and Plaisance Ranch.

All of the award-winning wines will be available at the Grand Tasting on Sunday, August 28, 2016 from 2 to 5 p.m. at Bigham Knoll in Jacksonville, Oregon.

Best of Show Awards(in alphabetical order)

Cuckoo’s Nest Cellars, Gold Hill, Oregon, (cuckoosnestcellars.com).
Label “Fizzé, Early Muscat,” 2015, AVA Oregon, winemaker Bryan Wilson, retail $15.

Pebblestone Cellars, Medford, Oregon, (pebblestonecellars.com).
Label “Viognier,” 2015, AVA Rogue Valley, winemaker Bryan Wilson, retail $25.

Plaisance Ranch, Williams, Oregon, (plaisanceranch.com).
Label “Shiraz,” 2013, AVA Applegate Valley, winemaker Joe Ginet, retail $30.

The winemakers receiving top awards this year were Bryan Wilson, Herb Quady,  Brian Gruber, and Joe Ginet. In all, 62 vintners received 130 Double Gold, Gold, and Silver medals.

The Oregon Wine Competition is a key ingredient of the annual Oregon Wine Experience, and this year the competition was opened to wineries throughout Oregon.

218 wines–66 white, 136 red, and 16 Rosé and dessert wines–were entered in 30 classifications by 56 winemakers for 68 wineries. Grapes from 13 different American viticultural areas (AVAs) were used to produce the wines, all from Oregon and 70 percent of them from the Southern Oregon AVA. Vintages ranged from 2006 to 2015. Retail prices ranged from less than $15 to $79. All wines entered into the competition are commercially available.

There were twice as many Double Gold and Gold medals awarded this year compared to last year. This was due to the limitation of four wine entries per winery, which forced wineries to be very selective of their entries and send up to four of their very best wines. In all, there were 14 Double Golds, 28 Golds, and 88 Silvers.

This competition provides an excellent opportunity for winemakers to have their wines judged by a panel of six nationally renowned experts, three of them this year are masters of wine. Silver and Gold medals are awarded to the best wines, regardless of classification. Double Gold medals are awarded to wines receiving Gold medal scores from all judges on a panel and a Best of Show Award is given to the top wine in each of three categories: white, red, and other (blush, sparkling, and dessert).

For biographical information about the judges, please visit  http://www.theoregonwineexperience.com/wine-competition.

For a complete list of winners, please see: http://www.theoregonwineexperience.com/wine-competition/.