Seattle Wine Awards

As the nation’s second largest wine producing region, Washington offers more wine than you, the consumer, can dream of enjoying in a reasonable amount of time. You have to start somewhere. How do you decide? You can take the word of nationwide or  worldwide experts—Robert Parker, Wine Spectator, etc.—or you can turn to the people who know Washington wine best—local sommeliers and industry professionals who intimately understand Washington’s wines. Each year these prominent wine professionals come together for a single-blind tasting (grape variety known but not price or producer) and award Gold, Silver and Bronze Grand Awards of Excellence at the Seattle Wine Awards. This is the event to watch.

Started in 2006 by local sommelier Christopher Chan, the Seattle Wine Awards is the most prestigious event focused on Washington wines. "I started the event out of fear," laughs Christopher. "We have an incredible wine industry in this state and I didn’t want an outside party to come in and tell us what wines were good. I wanted it to be unique—Washington state wines being recognized by Washington state wine professionals."

Chan is uniquely qualified to create and manage the event. Always a leader, he was the first born to a family whose father was a doctor and mother studied to be a doctor. He was class president in 8^th grade, the party arranger in high school, the fraternity social chairman in college. The Miss Greek Pageant he set up in college is still carried on 22 years later. He interned with Bob Walsh & Associates on the Goodwill Games and NCAA Final Four, learning about public relations and sponsorship.

At 16, he was the breakfast butler at the Alexis Hotel and at 18 was working on the deck at Salty’s. His family traveled to France when he was 18. "In 1986, most 18 year olds couldn’t talk knowledgeably about wine," Chan says. "My dad started collecting wine when I was born." The path was clear: he was a foodie.

With a Communications degree, he went to work for KTZZ TV in promotions. Ultimately, he realized TV wasn’t where he wanted to be and wondered where he could use his media savvy, passion for food and wine, organization and communication skills. He was thinking of starting his own restaurant when he saw an ad for a wine/bar manager at the Rainier Club. He took the job in 1997. "I learned how to put on great wine events at the Club—beautiful stemware, paired menu, all the details."

Over the years, wine competitions have popped up, but none were specific to Washington with a Washington-only panel of judges. He’d found the niche. To add further credibility, he obtained his certification as a Court of Master Sommelier in 2006 and has been accepted for the advanced certification test in October 2009.

The Seattle Wine Awards has enjoyed tremendous growth each year. In 2006, there were 276 wines entered. In 2008, it was 613. "Last year we had 15 of the top local wine professionals on the tasting panel. I’m thinking of increasing that to 20 this year," Christopher says.

"What makes the Seattle Wine Awards special is that the recognition really means something," says Chan. "The tasting panel is a diverse group of wine professionals that consumers already trust and who really know Washington wine. Their integrity is on the line and they take this very seriously. Through a single-blind format tasting they come to a consensus on the most outstanding wines (of those submitted, of course). A consensus really speaks to the best of the best." About 35% of the wines in previous years have won awards. "There are many good Washington wines, but we’re recognizing the truly outstanding wines."

Wine consumers will have an opportunity to meet, greet and celebrate the award winning wines at the Grand Awards Tasting on June 14. This event is held at Seattle’s venerable Rainier Club. Guests have the opportunity to taste the award-winning wines, talk with winemakers, winery owners and panel members and enjoy a sumptuous Rainer Club buffet. It’s a unique opportunity to not only taste the award winners in one place but experience the Rainier Club, a private venue with a long Seattle history (founded 1888) that many people never visit.

The Seattle Wine Awards offer a rare chance for Washington wines to be recognized within the industry and for consumers to be intimately involved with the award winners. It’s a great way to start or continue learning about Washington wine.

Connie Adams/March 2009

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