Sangiovese earns Best of Class Honors in San Francisco Chronicle Wine Awards

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“This wine could be the shutters of an old and venerated Italian estate, which when thrown open at dawn reveal an inviting Tuscan landscape, its morning mist withdrawing from an ancient vineyard affectionately tended for generations. Such is the transporting power of this Washington state Sangiovese, a dark, fragrant strapping take on the varietal, packed with lush cherry/berry fruit, generous with oak, mellow in tannins.” Mike Dunne, noted wine critic and writer/author. critiquing the Tsillan Cellars Best of Class 2022 Estate Sangiovese after the 2025 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

Lake Chelan’s destination Italianate estate winery, Tsillan Cellars, began 2025 as it did in 2024 by distinguishing itself as the #1 Gold medal winning Washington State winery in the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Awards, the largest domestic wine competition in the United States with over 1000 wineries and 5500 wines competing for honors. It was déjà vu as an estate grown Italian varietal again captured the hearts of judges and Best of Class honor. The Best of Class Sangiovese was joined by nine other Tsillan Cellars wines on the Gold Medal podium in the 2025 Competition.

The Tsillan Cellars estate grown Italian varietal, Sangiovese, won Best of Class honors in this national competition only two weeks after Tasting Room Magazine rated this same wine #4 in its’ “Top 75 Washington Wines of 2024”.

Last year, another Italian varietal, a 2021 Tsillan Cellars estate Dolcetto, won Best of Class honors in the San Francisco Competition.

The judges gave high praise to this exquisite example of a favorite Italian wine. “…this is an exceptionally charming interpretation of the variety—sweet, light hearted fruit suggestive of plums and cherries, a thread of Caramel, electricity enough to light up a small town, and surprisingly perky acidity for a grape not exactly known to possess a lot.” Indeed, high praise for another home-grown world class wine from the shores of Lake Chelan.

This year the 2021 Dolcetto relinquished its’ 2024 Best of Class honors to its’ neighboring Sangiovese vineyard, but again stood on the Gold Medal pedestal in the 2025 judging. The South facing Tsillan Cellars vineyard sites on the shores of Lake Chelan have shown an amazing ability to grow even the most difficult of Italian varietals such as Barbera.

Tsillan Cellars 2020 Estate Barbera won Best of Show and Best Red Wine in the North Central Washington Wine Awards. The Tsillan Cellars Estate lineup of Sangiovese, Barbera and Dolcetto continue to deliver a stream of honors to Lake Chelan viticulture and winemaking. Tsillan Cellars estate grown Sangiovese, Barbera and Dolcetto are definitely being true to their Italian heritage.

When asked about his Italian wine program, Tsillan Cellars head winemaker Garrett Grubbs responded, “I love working with these temperamental Italian ladies from our estate vineyards. Knowing that Sangiovese and Barbera can demand unique vineyard management until the very last days of harvest and realizing how important these varietals are to the Tsillan Cellars wine portfolio, I feel incredibly satisfied when they receive continued recognition on the national and international wine stage.”

Nic Stevens, Tsillan Cellars vineyard manager, added that, “The 2022 was a relative cool vintage with very favorable late ripening days in September and October resulting in this exceptional 2022 vintage of estate Sangiovese.”