Kudos to Maryhill!  Former Islander Craig Leuthold and his wife, Vicki, walked away with top honors at the largest ever San Francisco International Wine Competition in late June.

After judging more than 4,500 wines from 1,400 wineries, 26 states and 31 countries, the 2014 San Francisco International Wine Competition awarded Washington State’s Maryhill Winery as “Winery of the Year.” In addition to the overall honor, Maryhill won 30 awards for its wines at this competition, including four gold, 11 bronze and 10 silver plus two “Best of Show” and three Double Golds.

The two “Best of Show” were 2011 Mourvedre from Sugarloaf Vineyards in the Rattlesnake Hills and 2011 Grenache, Proprietor’s Reserve from Columbia Valley.

Now in its 34th year, the San Francisco International Wine Competition is the largest and arguably the most-respected international  competition in the United States. Each year a panel of nearly 60 judges, including journalist and industry professionals from around the world, participate in a blind tasting to ensure integrity.

“It’s been a thrilling year for Maryhill,” said Leuthold. “We’ve had big wins at the Seattle Wine Awards, Northwest Wine Summit and Riverside International but winning Winery of the Year at a competition of this scale is an incredible achievement for our entire winemaking team and Washington wines as a whole.”

Leuthold is a member of a group of Mercer Island High School graduates who are now winemakers and/or winery owners.

Other graduates are Paul Portteus and Marilyn Dehn Portteus of Portteus Winery, class of 1967 and 1966 respectively; Chris Howell of Cain Vineyard and Winery of Napa Valley, class of 1970; Leslie Lind Balsley, William Church Winery in Woodinville, class of 1976; Andrew Lodmell of Lodmell Cellars in Walla Walla; class of 1982, Nina Buty Foster of Buty Winery in Walla Walla, class of 1993; Anna Shafer of aMaurice Winery in Walla Walla, class of 1997.

Almost all these “kids” have parents who still live on Mercer Island. Other grads to still be contacted are Bill Owen formerly of OS Winery and Paige Stevens of Stevens Winery.

Craig and Vicki worked in Spokane. Craig sold plastic raw materials for 10 years; Vicki sold coffee for her family’s business. They joined the North Idaho Enological Society in 1988. Craig served as president while Vicki was program director, meeting with winemakers and distributors across the country.

Many wineries have baby steps. They start out in a garage. Maybe they piggyback on another winery’s storefront. Craig and Vicki created a destination winery as soon as their doors opened. Visitors were greeted with a 3,000 square foot tasting room, picnic grounds and a 4,000 seat amphitheater which hosts summer concerts. Productions has grown from 4,300 cases to 80,000 cases today. It is the 10th largest winery in Washington State. There are now over 700 wineries.

“We bottled 51 different wines this year from 33 different varietals sourced from 15 different growers and 26 different vineyards,” commented Leuthold. “We launched our vineyard series of wines which are vineyard-designated from some very prestigious vineyards in Walla Walla, Horse Heaven Hills, Red Mountain Rattle Snake Hills and Wahluke Slope.”

Wineries are usually picturesque, but Maryhill’s scenery is breathtaking. Overlooking the Columbia River, guests can see across the river at Mt. Hood.

In the tasting room, the Leutholds found and rescued a 20-foot bar quarter-sawn from tiger oak in the late 1800s. It is embellished with carvings and inset mirrors. The tasting room welcomes 75,000 guests each year, making it the fifth most visited winery in the state.

Craig and Vicki’s journey into wine resembles many winery principals.

“We started Maryhill based on our intense love of wine. Recognizing the Washington wines were on the cusp of greatness,” said Leuthold, “we wanted to be involved. The Washington Wine Commission had it right with their motto: ‘The Perfect Climate for Wine.’”

“We truly have the best raw materials to work with,” Leuthold continued. “Year after year the quality of the grapes is outstanding.”

Maryhill Winery is located at 9774 Highway 14 in Goldendale. It is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Call 886-627-9445 or email info@maryhillwinery.com. It is dog and family-friendly.

Dee Hitch can be reached at rockypointlane@aol.com.