Hocking Hills Winery won a slate of medals  at the 2022 Harvest Challenge Wine Competition in Sonoma County, California! 

All 13 wines entered earned either silver medal or better, receiving 6 silver medals, 6 gold medals, and 1 double gold. The winery received a gold medal or higher for rosé, white, and red wines, earning the coveted “winemaker’s hat trick”, a difficult task by itself, and a rare occurrence at a single competition. 

Hocking Hills Winery’s most awarded wine of the competition was the 2021 Léon Millot, which received a score of 95 out of 100, a double gold medal, and was named Best of Class and Best of Ohio. 

“We're beyond thrilled with the results we received from the Harvest Challenge in Sonoma County!” said Ryan Scott, Hocking Hills Winery head winemaker. “From ownership down to our one day a week cellar worker, this couldn't have happened without having a team working together in harmony. We're excited to continue this tradition of good vibes and teamwork at our new location at 58 West.”

In addition to the outstanding performance of head winemaker, Ryan Scott, Hocking Hills Winery Assistant Winemaker, Maya Kraus, received a silver medal in her very first solo wine, estate grown Brianna. The Hocking Hills Winery ownership team is incredibly proud of both Ryan and Maya. 

About the Competition:

The Harvest Challenge is a wine competition that bases its judging on a group of vineyards (or even vines) from the same region, belonging to a specific appellation, and sharing the same type of soil, weather conditions, grapes and wine making savoir-faire, which contribute to give the specific personality to the wine. 

In other competitions, this factor is ignored. At the Harvest Challenge, judges taste wines with other wines of the same appellation. Thus, with cross-regional competition removed, the inherent quality of wines can be seen without the influences that sometimes eclipse even a wine of very high quality.

Hocking Hills Winery 2022 Harvest Challenge Award Winners (Scores out of 100)

• 2021 Léon Millot                     Double Gold Medal, Best of Ohio AVA, Best of Class, 95
• 2021 Trillium                            Gold, 92
• 2021 Léon Millot Rosé           Gold, 91
• 2021 Lake Hope Rosé            Gold, 93
• 2021 Sauvignon Blanc           Gold, 91
• 2021 La Crescent                    Gold, 91
• 2021 Honeysuckle                  Gold, 92
• 2021 Lily of the Valley           Silver
• 2021 Pinot Grigio                    Silver
• 2021 Chardonnay                   Silver
• 2021 Brianna                           Silver
• 2021 Pinot Noir                       Silver
• 2021 Vidal Blanc                     Silver