CANNON BEACH Puffin Winess pinot noir and pinot gris recently rose above others to take Gold and Double Gold medals at this years Oregon Wine Awards.

After hundreds of wines were carefully swirled, sipped and spit as a part of the evaluation process, the 2013 Puffin Pinot Gris was awarded one of only two Double Gold medals in that category. The 2010 Puffin Pinot Noir was awarded a Gold Medal in the Pinot Noir category for bottles between $20.01 and $35.

Puffin Brand Wines are owned by Steven and Maryann Sinkler, who also own The Wine Shack in Cannon Beach. While neither are winemakers, they work with some of Oregons finest winemakers. The Oregon Wine Awards is Oregons most prestigious wine recognition program to determine the states outstanding wines of the year.

The Double Gold medal-winning 2013 Puffin Pinot Gris is made by Ray Walsh, the winemaker at Capitello Wines in Eugene. As the former head winemaker at King Estate, Walsh is one of the most well-respected winemakers in the state. This is the second vintage of Puffin Pinot Gris Ray has made.

The Gold medal-winning 2010 Puffin Brand Pinot Noir is made by Sean Driggers, the winemaker at Pudding River Wine Cellars in Salem. Made with estate fruit from their on-site vineyard, this is also the second vintage of pinot noir that Sean has made for Puffin Brand Wines.

The Puffin Wine lineup includes two other medal winners, a dry Grenache Rosé and a Malbec.

Steven Sinkler pours Puffin Brand Wines in The Wine Shack Tasting Room, as well as at the Cannon Beach and Manzanita farmers markets throughout the summer.

For information on Puffin Brand Wines, visit www.beachwine.com or The Wine Shack at 503-436-1100.