The second state in wine production after California, Washington boasts over 200 wineries, where you can find everything, from boutique to large volume producers. The bulk of the wineries are located in the beautiful Walla Walla and Yakima valleys, two of the most important viticultural areas in the region.
Starting in the 1970s, Washington state wines began to gain great acclaim. The '70s were the time of Rieslings and Chardonnays. Merlot ruled in the '80s, while the '90s were the time of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.
Washington Wines Champions
If you want to go to the people who know the most about regional wines, you should check out the
Washington State Wine Club
Offering wine events, tasting notes, recipes, and winemaker interviews every month; this Washington wine club is committed to helping local wines rise in the international market. Their wine plans are called Vintage, Reserve, and Premier. Selection prices vary from month to month.
Committed to the same cause, the "WOW" (Wines of Washington) Wine Club offers a Standard membership at a cost of $25-40 per bottle and a Premium membership at $60-80. If you love Washington state wines, this is a great place to discover the best of them. WOW also prides itself in having a stock of hard-to-find wines in their cellars, so, if you are looking for one of those elusive jewels, you might want to check them out.
Tasting Rooms and Gala Dinners
One of the best Washington state wineries is Chateau Sainte Michelle. If you are looking for a Washington wine club that can offer you the best of the region, they are probably a great option.
Chateau Ste. Michele's wine club is at the top of my list, and it should be at the top of yours too. I was amazed to find out that over 50 of the wines included in their selections over a 10-year period have earned 90+ scores. Their wine plans are called Classic (red and white), Red, and Dual Focus (Classic plus Red); with prices ranging between $19 and $40 per bottle. I'd say, for 90+ wines, that is a fantastic deal.
If you are all about tradition and excellence in regional wines, this club will be your paradise. :-)
The Tasting Room Seattle Wine Club is a slightly different option. Specializing in boutique wineries, this Washington wine club offers different wine plan levels, from Crew Member to Harvester, according to the number of bottles you wish to receive. Shipments are accompanied by tasting notes and food pairings. As its name indicates, you'll find that this club's social focus is also highly developed.
There is another interesting Washington wine club at Brian Carter Cellars, a winery run by a veteran Washington winemaker, who specializes in hand-crafted European-style blended wines.
Among the wine plans on offer, Club Savant is the most exclusive. The benefits included in this membership surpass anything I have seen before, as far as wine clubs are concerned.
Some of them are: an Annual Club Members Gala Dinner for two, an annual practical winemaking and grape growing seminar for two, a 'Private' wine tasting for you and 6 guests including barrel tasting with the winemaker, 16 bottles of Brian Carter Cellars wine, and the list goes on and on.
Of course, as you may have guessed, the price, at $1200, is no bargain, but the club will surely take you to the next level in wine appreciation. If you are not ready to spend that kind of money on wine, you might prefer The Club Vivant, with its quarterly 4-bottle selections ranging from $100 to $140.
Surprising...
So as you can see, there is a surprisingly large number of Washington wine clubs exclusively dedicated to regional wines. Perhaps this is due to the size of the state's wine production; however, I like to think that Washingtonians have an unparalleled passion for their local wines.
