2010 Unofficial Classification of Washington Wineries
This is the fifth annual Unofficial Classification of Washington State Wineries. The 2010 Unofficial Classification Of Washington State Wineries represents my personal, perhaps idiosyncratic or eccentric, opinions of the quality of Washington State wineries. Out of more than 700 wineries, there are well over a hundred producing great wine. About half of the wine produced in Washington comes from wineries owned by Chateau Ste. Michelle. The other wineries are mostly small artesanal family enterprises typically producing 2000-3000 cases, in some cases up to 20,000 cases or more. In contrast to other classifications of wine such as the 1855 classification of Bordeaux, the Unofficial Classification of Washington Wineries is not set in stone and changes every year. Since it is retrospective, it does not necessarily predict future rankings, past performance is no guarantee of future results.Wines at the top of the list tend to be special wines for special occasions, whereas wines in the "Cinqieme" group tend to be outstanding values. Exclusion from this classification, in no way represents a commentary on the quality of a winery. In many cases, it may simply mean that I am not familiar enough with the wines or winemaker to form an opinion. On the other hand, not all Washington wines and wineries are great, so only the best that I am familiar with are listed here. Wineries are listed in alphabetical order and not ranked within each category. Wineries are listed as "deferred," if I have reason to believe they are worthy, but haven't tasted enough of their wines recently to form an opinion. There are exciting new wineries added to the classification this year. Pomum, Elsom , and Caderetta to name just a few. Be sure to check through the classification for new additions many of which were suggested by you in your comments last year. This year there are well over 100 classified growths in Washington State. I would be happy to drink wine from any of these wineries and you will be, too.
Premier Grand Cru ( Extraordinary)
Cayuse
Leonetti
Quilceda Creek
Deuxieme Grand Cru (Outstanding)
Andrew Will
Betz
Cadence
DeLille
Januik
Long Shadow
Pepper Bridge
Spring Valley
Troisieme Grand Cru ( Exceptional)
Abeja
Adams Bench
Amaurice
Boudreaux
Brian Carter
Buty
Caderetta
Canon De Sol
Cougar Crest
Doyanne
Elsom
Fall Line
Five Star
Glencorrie
Gorman
Hestia
Hightower
Irlandes
Isenhower
Mark Ryan
Note Bene
O-S
Palouse
Pomum
Pondera
Robert Ramsey
Ross Andrew
Saviah
Sleight Of Hand
Sparkman
Syncline
Trio
Willis Hall
Quatrieme Grand Cru ( Excellent)
426
Adamant
Amavi
Baer
Barrage
Basel Cellars
Beresen
Bergevin Lane
Canoe Ridge
Chatter Creek
Covington
Darby
Davonport
Des Voignes
Desert Wind
Domaine Pouillon
Dusted Valley
Efeste
Flying Trout
Forgeron
Gifford Hirlinger
Guardian
Hedges
Kestrel
Kiona
L'Ecole
Mountain Dome
Nicolas Cole
Northstar
Novelty Hill
Pattterson
Red Sky
Reininger
Seven Hills
Sheridan
Syzygy
Terra Blanca
Tertulia
Three Rivers
Thurston Wolfe
Trust
Tyrus Evan
Vin Du Lac
Walla Walla Vineyards
Walter Dacon
Whitman
William Church
Cinqieme Cru (Best Buys)
14 Hands
Airfield Estates
Apex
Balboa
Boomtown
Barnard Griffin
Chinook
Columbia Crest "Two Vines"
Covington
Dama
Goose Ridge
Gordon Bros
Hogue
Martinez & Martinez
Maryhill
Nelms Road
NXNW
Pavin & Riley
Pine & Post
Red Diamond
Revelry
Ryan Patrick
Sagelands
Saint Laurent
Two Vintners
Waterbrook
Willow Crest
Wines of Substance
Deferred
Agate Field
Andrake
Animale
Cameraderie
Columbia Crest Reserve
Doubleback
Dunham
Ensemble
Glacial Lake Missoula
Gramercy
Grand Reve
Latitude 46 N
Local wine Company
Massett
McKinley Springs
McCrea
Pacific Rim
Parejas
Rulo
Sandidge
Sandhill
Soos Creek
Terra Blanca - Onyx
Two Mountains
Woodward Canyon
Zefina
Premier Grand Cru ( Extraordinary)
Cayuse
Leonetti
Quilceda Creek
Deuxieme Grand Cru (Outstanding)
Andrew Will
Betz
Cadence
DeLille
Januik
Long Shadow
Pepper Bridge
Spring Valley
Troisieme Grand Cru ( Exceptional)
Abeja
Adams Bench
Amaurice
Boudreaux
Brian Carter
Buty
Caderetta
Canon De Sol
Cougar Crest
Doyanne
Elsom
Fall Line
Five Star
Glencorrie
Gorman
Hestia
Hightower
Irlandes
Isenhower
Mark Ryan
Note Bene
O-S
Palouse
Pomum
Pondera
Robert Ramsey
Ross Andrew
Saviah
Sleight Of Hand
Sparkman
Syncline
Trio
Willis Hall
Quatrieme Grand Cru ( Excellent)
426
Adamant
Amavi
Baer
Barrage
Basel Cellars
Beresen
Bergevin Lane
Canoe Ridge
Chatter Creek
Covington
Darby
Davonport
Des Voignes
Desert Wind
Domaine Pouillon
Dusted Valley
Efeste
Flying Trout
Forgeron
Gifford Hirlinger
Guardian
Hedges
Kestrel
Kiona
L'Ecole
Mountain Dome
Nicolas Cole
Northstar
Novelty Hill
Pattterson
Red Sky
Reininger
Seven Hills
Sheridan
Syzygy
Terra Blanca
Tertulia
Three Rivers
Thurston Wolfe
Trust
Tyrus Evan
Vin Du Lac
Walla Walla Vineyards
Walter Dacon
Whitman
William Church
Cinqieme Cru (Best Buys)
14 Hands
Airfield Estates
Apex
Balboa
Boomtown
Barnard Griffin
Chinook
Columbia Crest "Two Vines"
Covington
Dama
Goose Ridge
Gordon Bros
Hogue
Martinez & Martinez
Maryhill
Nelms Road
NXNW
Pavin & Riley
Pine & Post
Red Diamond
Revelry
Ryan Patrick
Sagelands
Saint Laurent
Two Vintners
Waterbrook
Willow Crest
Wines of Substance
Deferred
Agate Field
Andrake
Animale
Cameraderie
Columbia Crest Reserve
Doubleback
Dunham
Ensemble
Glacial Lake Missoula
Gramercy
Grand Reve
Latitude 46 N
Local wine Company
Massett
McKinley Springs
McCrea
Pacific Rim
Parejas
Rulo
Sandidge
Sandhill
Soos Creek
Terra Blanca - Onyx
Two Mountains
Woodward Canyon
Zefina