Happy New Year! As we begin 2020, it’s time for our annual Favorite Washington Wineries List for the previous year. The way to get on our list is fairly simple. Above all, wineries must offer great juice and good people who provide an excellent wine experience.
Perhaps we had fun or learned something in a tasting room, a wine shop tasting, or at a wine event. Maybe someone from a winery sent us a personal note or wine samples. Likewise, we were occasionally invited to an incredible winery party.
Most noteworthy, the people who made our experience special are the winemakers, the tasting room staff, and the amazing workers in the vineyards where it all begins.
Newcomers to Our 2019 List
First of all, we welcome two new wineries to the 2019 list. Succession Wines of Lake Chelan and La Chanterelle of Bellingham. Succession Wines became a favorite during a Chelan wine tour, the Bellingham Northwest Wine Festival and at the Auction of Washington Wines picnic. Certainly, our favorites include Succession 2018 Syrah Rosé, 2017 Bridge Builder Blend and 2017 Syrah.
Furthermore, we also discovered our local winery, La Chanterelle, which generated buzz in 2019. Their 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon impressed as one of our favorite BBQ reds this summer. Their 2016 Syrah was a hit at a recent holiday party.
Consequently, we are keeping our eyes on both Succession and La Chanterelle in 2020.
Write for Wine’s Top 50 Washington Wineries (in alphabetical order):
- Alexandria Nicole Cellars
- Ambassador Wines of Washington
- Avennia
- B. Leighton
- Barrage Cellars
- Barrister Winery
- Bartholomew Winery
- Betz Family Winery
- Boudreaux Cellars
- Chateau Ste. Michelle
- Columbia Crest
- Corliss Estate
- DeLille Cellars
- Doubleback
- Double Canyon
- Dunham Cellars
- Efeste
- Eternal Wines / Drink Washington State
- Fidelitas
- Fielding Hills
- Figgins
- Force Majeure
- Forgeron Cellars
- Guardian Cellars
- Hard Row to Hoe
- Henry Earl
- J. Bookwalter
- JM Cellars
- Lauren Ashton Cellars
- La Chanterelle
- L’Ecole 41
- Le Bec Fin-Chateau Beck
- Leonetti
- Long Shadows
- Mercer Estates
- Newsprint
- Obelisco
- Otis Kenyon
- Passing Time
- Quilceda Creek
- Reynvaan
- Saviah Cellars
- Succession Wines
- The Walls
- Toil Oregon
- Two Vintners
- Upchurch Vineyard
- Va Piano Vineyards
- Walla Walla Vintners
- Woodward Canyon
Finally, to these people, we thank and support you. Most importantly, cheers to Washington state wine!
Happy New Year!
Margot and Dave
Write for Wine — it’s Wine O’clock Somewhere!