With 40 years of wine-making experience on Traverse City’s Old Mission Peninsula, Chateau Grand Traverse’s achievements at a recent wine competition should come as no surprise.

Chateau Grand Traverse’s 2012 Pinot Grigio won ‘Double Gold’ and ‘Best of Class’ medals at the 2014 International Eastern Wine Competition. The winery’s 2012 Pinot Grigio awards are just two of ten total IEWC awards, which also include:

  • 2012 Whole Cluster Riesling – Silver
  • 2012 Late Harvest Riesling – Silver
  • 2012 Late Harvest Chardonnay – Silver
  • 2012 Semidry Riesling – Silver
  • 2012 Dry Riesling – Silver
  • 2011 Edelzwicker – Silver
  • 2012 Ship of Fools – Bronze
  • 2012 Gamay Noir – Bronze

Chateau Grand Traverse President Eddie O’Keefe was elated to receive these awards: “We are primarily known for high-quality Riesling wines, however Pinot Grigio holds great promise for a leading Michigan grape variety, and this competition confirms our efforts.”

Chateau Grand Traverse’s 2012 Pinot Grigio displayed its trademark bright acidity, beautiful mineral qualities, wonderful fruit aromas and an herbaceous style. Market demand for the wine corroborates its evaluation at the International Eastern Wine Competition: the wine is the number one selling Pinot Grigio in Michigan.

The International Eastern Wine Competition was established in 1975, and is open to all wines produced in the Eastern United States. The regional wine competition is one of the oldest and largest in the country.

Earlier this year, Chateau Grand Traverse won medals for all ten wines entered into the 2014 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, including golds for their 2012 Dry Riesling and 2012 Whole Cluster Riesling; silvers for their 2012 Pinot Grigio, 2012 Semidry Riesling, 2011 Edelzwicker, 2012 Gamay Noir, 2012 Lot 49 Riesling, and 2012 Ship of fools; and bronze medals for their 2012 Late Harvest Riesling and 2012 Late Harvest Chardonnay.

For complete results from the 2014 International Eastern Wine Competition, please visit WineCompetitions.com.

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Photo(s) by Chateau Grand Traverse