Happy New Year! As we begin 2018, it’s time for our annual Top Washington Wineries List. We have returned to our original list of 50, after it climbed up to 65 wineries last year. Why? As time goes on, our palates change, and our wine experiences become more focused. In addition, in 2017 we visited Walla Walla again for the first time in a few years, which shone the light on some new favorites.
Regardless, the way to get on our list is fairly simple; we only have three criteria: 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. Perhaps someone from the winery gave us a call, or sent us a personal note or samples. Or perhaps we were invited to an incredible winery party.
These people might be the winemakers or the winery owners; in some cases, they are the hard-working staff in a tasting room who went out of their way to make us feel welcome, or the amazing workers in the vineyards where it all begins.
We welcome Saviah Cellars to our list this year – we have become such fans of their wines, ranging from the very special “The Funk” (which we opened on New Year’s Eve) to “The Stones Speak” (which we adore) to “The Jack” (one of our everyday wines).
We also welcome Result of a Crush (which also specializes in funky wine from The Rocks) and Amavi Cellars, whose tasting room staff were so much fun during our visit to Walla Walla in May. And another standout winery, which joined the list for the first time last year, Two Vintners, remains one of our favorites, particularly “Some Days Are Stones” which we tasted for the first time over the holidays and loved it. Here is the full list.
Write for Wine’s Top 50 Washington Wineries (in alphabetical order):
- Alexandria Nicole Cellars
- Amavi Cellars
- Ambassador Wines of Washington
- Andrew Will
- Avennia
- B. Leighton
- Barrage Cellars
- Barrister Winery
- Bartholomew Winery
- Betz Family Winery
- Boudreaux Cellars
- Canvasback
- Chateau Ste. Michelle
- Columbia Crest
- DeLille Cellars
- Double Canyon
- Dunham Cellars
- Efeste
- Fall Line
- Fidelitas
- Fielding Hills
- Figgins
- Force Majeure
- Forgeron Cellars
- Guardian Cellars
- Hard Row to Hoe
- JM Cellars
- L’Ecole 41
- Lauren Ashton
- Leonetti
- Long Shadows
- Matthews Winery
- Mercer Estates
- Obelisco Estate
- Otis Kenyon
- Quilceda Creek
- Result of a Crush
- Reynvaan
- Ross Andrew
- Saviah Cellars
- Spring Valley Vineyard
- Tildio
- Two Vintners
- Upchurch Vineyard
- Va Piano
- Vin du Lac
- Walla Walla Vintners
- William Church
- Windy Point
- Woodward Canyon
To these people, we thank you; we support you. Cheers to Washington state wine!
Happy New Year!
Margot and Dave
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