Press: Pr%f Magazine Awards Öömrang Hüs 2023 Winery of the Year
Each year, the Pr%f Awards, affiliated with the premier industry magazine Food & Beverage, honors the best in spirits and wines in the beverage industry. Ööramg Hüs is honored to be unanimously chosen by all judges as Winery of the Year for the 2023 Pr%f Awards.
A boutique winery located in Stanwood, Washington - Öömrang is owned and operated by Christine and Edmund Stoecklein. The Stoecklein family acts as the vineyard’s founders, growers, distillers, and winemakers on their 85-acre farm.
The brand pays homage to the Stoecklein’s German heritage, with Edmund being born in Germany, as well as Christine’s family. The name Öömrang is derived from the dialect of the North Frisian language spoken on the island of Amrum in the North Frisia region of Germany, called Amrum Frisian. Öömrang refers to the Öömrang Frisian name of Amrum, which is Oomram.
Christine’s passion for German regional wines started in 2016, during a family trip to the Franconian wine region of Northern Bavaria, where Edmund grew up. Christine knew these German white wine varietals were of the best quality and far surpassed the quality and taste of other wines.
"We were on a summer visit to my relatives, who have been vintners since 1870, for over 150 years," explains Edmund. "Christine was immediately taken by the robust yet drinkable flavors for which these varietals of the local terroirs are known."
Christine’s love of German wines developed into a basement hobby, where she began to make different white wine varieties for her family and friends. In 2016, a serendipitous moment at a Thanksgiving gathering transformed Edmund and Christine Stoecklein's basement winemaking hobby into this viticultural journey. The winery was officially incorporated in December 2016 and by 2017, the Stoeckleins planted their first two varietals, formally launching their winemaking venture. Thus, the family operation emerged, passionately crafting high-end, Washington-grown, German white wine varietals within an unparalleled micro-climate.
Today, Öömrang is an 85-acre farm thriving in a micro-climate that is a rarity in Washington State, benefiting from the sheltering presence of the mountains, creating a rain shadow and mimicking the exact climate of the regions found in Germany. The Stoeckleins pride themselves on delivering the highest quality of authentic German white wine using a blend of sustainable, innovative, and traditional practices.
“"It was never our intention to invest in and create a winery," says Edmund, "but once Christine had some early limited success with small batch production of the wines, we decided to make a full commitment to the area and these varietals."
As a result, Öömrang's Müller-Thurgau, Siegerrebe, Sylvaner and Kerner wines benefit from this incredible consonance of climate and soil, as well as the dedication that the Stockleins bring to their vineyards and product.
In the first two years of operation, 2018 and 2019, they purchased identical varietals of Müller-Thurgau and Siegerrebe from other local vineyards, trucking bins of uncrushed grapes to their winery. There, with the help of their family from Franconia, they crushed, fermented, and bottled the first non-estate wines. In 2020, their crop had matured to the point where only Estate varieties were used. With the experience gained in the first non-estate years, the Stockleins' wines had reached a level of quality where the 2020 Oömrang Estate Siegerrebe scored 99 points in a major competition, higher than any of the other approximately 500 red and white entries. This was also the highest score ever for a white wine varietal in the seven years of this blind-tasting competition.”
Using state-of-the-art technology and sustainable methods, Öömramg grows, tills the soil, harvests, presses, and processes their grapes right on the property. Grapes are hand-picked at the peak of ripeness and are then immediately pressed and fermented, right from the vine.
Öömrang is currently producing four German white wine varietals, Müller-Thurgau, Siegerrebe, Sylvaner, and Kerner.
"All this effort has paid off, with three of our wines scoring very well in double-blind tastings after only the fifth leaf. We are particularly proud of the fact that of the six wines entered in the 2023 PR% Awards, three were awarded perfect scores of 100 points, scored unanimously by a panel of judges. The other three entries received two double gold and one gold awards. On top of that, we are incredibly pleased and humbled that we were also awarded 2023 Winery of the Year."
Öömrang’s premium wines are priced at $60 - $75 per bottle and can be purchased online or through their esteemed club named The Estate Circle.
"Öömrang is quickly establishing itself as one of the premier Puget Sound-focused new producers," - Sean P. Sullivan, founder of the Washington Wine Report.
To read Pr%f the Magazine’s full article, “Öömrang Crafting Legacy, Heritage, and Excellence in Every Bottle”, please visit this link. The article begins on page 68.