Guide to Wine Scores

This winery project originated when four people from assorted backgrounds—a Mexican, a Texan, a Frenchman and a Buckeye from Ohio—all met while working in different capacities at Owen Roe Winery, one of the celebrated producers of the Yakima Valley founded by David O’Reilly. “We realized that we could make our own wine at the facility and that was an opportunity too good to … [Read more...] about Inaugural Releases From Sin Banderas Wines

Marc Leahy is churning out small lots of vineyard-designated wines that reveal talent and proficiency mixed with his unabashed curiosity and intellect. “I’d never seen a 100% whole cluster Syrah [made with fruit] from Klipsun Vineyard,” says Marc. “So, I made one.” The Syrah is a head-turner and worth seeking out. Dillon Cellars launched in Walla Walla’s airport neighborhood … [Read more...] about Dillon Cellars Brings Years of Experience to New Winery

Years ago Joshua and Cheryl West both became fans of musicians who were a part of Elephant 6, a collective of musicians who started their own label regardless of the spoils of commercial success. In similar spirit, Elephant Seven, or E7 for short, is dedicated to “the craft of making great wine independent of commercial expectations and preconceptions,” proclaims Joshua … [Read more...] about Elephant Seven Evokes Sense of Place

Complete quality control in the vineyards allows Mercer Estates Winery owners Rob and Brenda Mercer the ability to deliver exciting estate-grown wines at exceptional values, ranging from everyday reds and whites, to ultra-premium reserves. Founded in 2005, this winery continues to impress at every turn. The Mercer’s family has been farming in the Horse Heaven Hills since … [Read more...] about 3 Releases From Mercer Estates Winery

Ryan and Dusty Kramer are the husband and wife team behind Dusty Cellars Winery, a modest family-run operation founded in 2006 on Camano Island (north of Seattle). Producing approximately 700 cases of wine annually, it’s only natural that all the releases are small lot wines, each solidly crafted and offering boutique appeal. You can learn more  at … [Read more...] about 3 Releases From Dusty Cellars Winery

Formerly located at Walla Walla’s airport, Revelry Vintners has moved to the town’s Southside. The new winery sits on 20 acres of farmland, framed by vineyards, with breathtaking views of the Blue Mountains. The premise for the new construction was to use modern materials and engineering in the silhouette of a century barn, common to the Walla Walla Valley. “It was … [Read more...] about Revelry Vintners “Aerials Series” Focuses On Single Vineyards

Chris Daniel Stewart got his start in wine at age 14 when he began working summer and weekends at a local winery. At the same time he started helping out at the company run by his father, Michael Stewart, who has been heavily involved in the grape growing process for two decades as a vineyard consultant. Chris was instantly hooked. “I loved everything about the industry and … [Read more...] about Chris Daniel Winery: From Vineyard To Bottle

Thane Hawkins came to a crossroad in his life in 2005. Over the previous decade he had worked for Pixar in the Bay Area on some of the most groundbreaking animated films of our time, including Shrek, ANTZ and Monster’s Inc. Meanwhile his life outside of the animation studio was one of endless exploration in nature. “I love the West Coast and wanted to explore every inch of … [Read more...] about 3 Releases From Hawkins Cellars

The inventor Alexander Graham Bell is quoted as saying, “When one door closes, another opens.” When Woodinville Wine Cellars' owner Stan Barrett decided to close his doors in 2017 it seemed a great loss to the wine community who had grown fond of the wines crafted by talented Sean T. Boyd. Now winemaker Sean T. Boyd and his wife Kristin Jostad have opened a new tasting room … [Read more...] about Sean T. Boyd & Kristin Jostad Launch Sightglass Cellars

Standing among the perfect vine rows at the estate Double Canyon Vineyard in the sweeping Horse Heaven Hills AVA gives one a sense of historic perspective gazing at bordering vineyards that include the famed Champoux Vineyard on the southern edge and the immaculate Phinny Hill Vineyard on the ridgetop. Here, in the tiny community of Alderdale, was where Will Beightol was … [Read more...] about Double Canyon Opens Tasting Room in West Richland

The co-founders behind Archeus are doctors Donn Hogan and Erik Geiger, pals from medical school who share a genuine camaraderie that includes the discovery of great wine. They were captivated early on in their winery project with the terroir of Red Mountain and enlisted winemaker and consultant Charlie Hoppes (Fidelitas Wines) to help them define their wine … [Read more...] about 2 New Releases from Archeus Wines

Bob and Lauren Bullock, owners of Eye of the Needle Winery, celebrate the winery's tenth anniversary with a new lineup of red, white and Rosé wines. Washington Tasting Room magazine has written before about their diverse range of small-lot wines that underscore the Bullock's singular talent for scouting and delivering top quality wines sourced from some of the region's best … [Read more...] about 6 New Releases From Eye of the Needle Winery

Always leading with Merlot, this flagship label from DeLille Cellars has been going strong for a quarter century now. This red wine is sourced from 15 vineyards and composed of Merlot (59%), Cabernet Sauvignon (34%), Cabernet Franc (4%), Malbec (2%) and Petit Verdot (1%). The name pays tribute to the scenic road, known as route D2, that runs from along the Medoc peninsula in … [Read more...] about DeLille Cellars 2016 D2 25th Vintage, $45

Crafting small-lot wines that emulate a sense of the complex rocky soils and sunny micro-climates found throughout Eastern Washington’s varied wine regions seems to be a defining point with winemaker and owner Lisa Warr-King Packer of Warr-King Wines. “I try to take a minimalist approach to winemaking,” she says. “I believe in letting the wine be the wine it’s going to … [Read more...] about 3 Releases from Warr-King Wines in Woodinville

When Tim and Jen Armstrong were newlyweds, they shared a love of Bordeaux wine, a journey that started with stocking the cellar of their Chicago bungalow after getting married. Their infatuation with winemaking and vineyards led to online distance courses through UC Davis’ wine program. In 2009, Tim discovered a bottle of Merlot from Walla Walla at his local wine shop that … [Read more...] about Armstrong Family Winery Spreads Wings To Walla Walla

You won’t find any glitzy hype here—just smooth, patiently-crafted red wines and a tasting room designed with a nod to the functionality that arose with the Arts and Crafts movement of the early twentieth century. “Simpler is better. Square and solid. Timeless. Honest. Built to last,” reiterates winemaker Greg Shelman, a former wood worker whose work was inspired by the … [Read more...] about 4 Well-Honed Reds From Craftsman Cellars

Jens and Karle Coppenrath, together with family and friends, planted 11 acres of European grapes (including newcomers Rondo, Ortega, Golubok and Muscat of Norway) on one of Port Townsend's original homestead sites and former cattle ranch known as Portuguese Hill in 2015. “As we now prepare for our second harvest, we look forward to using the grapes for local production of still … [Read more...] about Port Townsend Vineyards Reinvests In Hometown

Phillip and Patricia Butterfield are the faces behind Spokane’s newest winery. The wines are made inside an old farmstead and new production facility on Spokane’s South Hill. Designed by Seattle-based architect Tom Kundig, the production building overlooks Winescape’s 14-acre site, which is also home to the owners’ 1918 small home and orchard, as well as a revolving assortment … [Read more...] about Medical College Teachers Launch Winescape

Aerospace engineer Randolph “Randy” Schemkes started as a hobby winemaker in his Snohomish garage in 2006. His son, also named Randolph, but who goes by his middle name of Alexander, joined his dad two years later while he was attending the University of Washington. Over a game of pool one Thanksgiving, Alexander floated the idea by his dad of a launching a commercial winery. … [Read more...] about 3 Releases From Randolph Cellars

When you walk through the doors of this downtown Spokane tasting room, it’s clear a lot of love was put into renovating the historic building, originally built in 1911. The tasting room, which hosts live music Friday nights, shows off the original brick-wall construction with open beam supports and vintage hardwood floors. Wine barrels and stainless tanks share the space with … [Read more...] about 2 Reds From Bridge Press Cellars

A highly knowledgeable and articulate winemaker, Alphonse de Klerk has for years consistently delivered red and white wines that yield authenticity of character, depth and balance—a reflection it could be said, at least in part, of his own personality. Born in the Netherlands, the longtime devotee of fruit from Upland Vineyard is slowly spreading his wings to include other … [Read more...] about Rolling Bay Winery Expands on Bainbridge Island