Acclaim

What They’re Saying About Sleeping Dog Wines…

  • In 2017, we did something that I had never planned to do – create a Port-style wine (Sirius).  Released in Spring of 2019, it made quite a splash and surprised the heck out of me winning double Gold and Best of Class at both the Cascadia International Wine Competition and from  Sip Northwest Magazine!
  • At the 2018 Harvest Challenge Awards, where judging is based on AVA and all varieties go into the same pool, Sleeping Dog Wines 2014 Carménère was awarded a Gold Medal (and a 94), as well as Best of the Columbia Valley! Our 2009 Merlot received a Silver Medal and the 2012 Petite Sirah was awarded a Bronze!
  • At the Grand Harvest Awards, held in November 2015 in Santa Rosa, Sleeping Dog Wines 2008 Tail Wagger was awarded a Gold Medal,  In addition, the wine was proclaimed Best of Class (Yakima Valley), and Best Wine from the Columbia Valley!  The 2007 Syrah had to be satisfied with only a Gold…
  • Consumers voted Sleeping Dog Wines the Best of Beverage at the 2009 Taste of the Tri Cities.

Comments from customers and press

  • It’s unusual to see decade-old table wines qualify and enter the Platinum Judging, but 10 years of bottle-aging prior to its release in 2019 helped make this is a stylish effort… , and it’s simply beautiful, beginning with a color that’s lovely for its age.… “It’s remarkably fresh and so bright for its age,” said a judge. – Wine Press NW, regarding 2009 Syrah (2020)
  • The result is a red Bordeaux that brings super-ripe red fruit with savory notes and classic hints of roasted green pepper. Nicely managed tannins and currant juice combine for a long finish. – Wine Press NW, regarding 2015 Carmenere (2020)
  • “Oh Crap! —— That’s a good thing! I gotta figure out how to get this home to California…”
  • “Have you hugged your Malbec today?”
  • “Reminds me of when we first visited Napa – 30 years ago…”
  • “This has some of the brightest fruit we’ve tasted in a Merlot…” —Leschi Food Mart, Seattle.
  • “I am not much of a wine connoisseur…the Merlot was such a treat for me. I could actually TASTE the fruit instead of read the label or the review to see what I should be tasting,…” —Janet Warner, Majic Kennels
  • “Just opened the Malbec last night. Wow. What a wine…structured and robust…could be from extended skin contact, but I’m not a winemaker…” —Andrew Stover, Sommelier, OYA Restaurant & Lounge, Washington D.C.
  • “Excellent” —Wine Press Northwest, Winter 2007/08
  • “Her name is Aurora.  Winery dog is her game.  And she’s got a sweet disposition.  That is how this dessert drink by Larry Oates, a winemaker in Benton City, Wash., got its name.  And it’s a wine worth fetching.  A sniff brings in hints of crème brulee topping, bananas, pears, apple and mandarin oranges.  Lap up the sweet apple entry (8% residual sugar), apricots and more oranges, as well as cinnamon and vanilla.  Enjoy this with French Vanilla ice cream as well as a fruit plate.” —Wine Press Northwest