YVC’s Vineyard & Winery Technology Program Awarded 6 Medals at the 2019 Tri-Cities Wine Festival

Grandview, WA – Yakima Valley Vintners (YVV), YVC’s teaching winery, received six awards for their student crafted wines at the 2019 Tri-Cities Wine Festival this month. YVV’s 2016 Dean’s List Merlot and 2016 Lemberger each received a gold medal. The 2016 Primitivo, 2015 Semester Abroad Sangiovese, 2018 Research Paper Roussanne each garnered silver medals. Lastly, the 2018 History Class Pinot Gris earned a bronze medal.

“These wines pair wonderfully with traditional holiday menus. The Roussanne and Lemberger are particularly nice pairings with turkey and cranberries” shared Brad Smith, YVC Winery Sommelier.

All wines submitted were judged blindly by a panel of prominent wine professionals. YVC student wines are included in with all of the other commercial wineries during the competition. There were more than 62 labels that competed this year, and 324 wines were judged over a three day period leading up to the festival on Saturday.

These award winning wines, submitted by Yakima Valley Vintners, were produced by students completing course work in YVC’s Vineyard & Winery Technology program. The wines are marketed through the program at YVC’s Grandview Campus which houses a winery facility and tasting room. Students managed all aspects of producing these wines from grape to glass.

“This is an opportunity for the student winemakers to get feedback from their peers and the wine judging community.  Going six for six with wines submitted and awards received speaks a lot about the student’s abilities as winemaking professionals,” stated YVC Vineyard and Winery Technology Instructor Trent Ball.

For more information about the Tri-Cities Wine Festival, visit: https://www.tricitieswinesociety.com/tri-cities-wine-festival.html

For more information about Yakima Valley Vintners and the Yakima Valley College Vineyard and Winery Technology Program: www.yvcc.edu/wine or call 509.882.7007.

Press Release Contacts:
Jay Frank / 509.574.6870 / jfrank@yvcc.edu
Stefanie Menard / 509.574.4646 / smenard@yvcc.edu