The Best of the
2002 Northwest Wine Industry

By Christina Kelly
Avalon Editor/Writer

Wow, 2002 was a scrumptious year for wine in the Northwest!

Oregon Pinot Noir is getting better and better, and Syrah is the hot ticket in Washington these days, along with great Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

For consumers, the chance to taste Washington and Oregon wines in 2002 came via the Taste Washington, the International Pinot Noir Celebration, Auction Washington Wines and the Thanksgiving weekend in Oregon. If you missed those events last year, organizers promise they will be bigger and better this year.

As we organize ourselves for 2003, I thought I would look back one last time and pick some of the year's highlights and best wines.

Best Wines Tasted in 2002:

1. Domaine Drouhin 2000 WV Pinot Noir (OR)
2. Spring Valley's Uriah (WA)
3. Andrew Will's Champoux Vineyard Red 2000 WA)
4. Archery Summit's Red Hills (OR)
5. Shea Vineyards 2000 Homer Pinot Noir (OR)
6. Chehalem 2000 Rion Reserve and Ridgecrest(OR)
7. Cadence Tapteil 2000 (WA)
8. DeLille Cellars D2 2000 (WA)
9. Lynn Penner-Ash 2000 Pinot Noir (OR)
10. Columbia Crest Walter Clore Private Reserve 1999 (WA)
11. Seven Hills 2000 Merlot (WA)

Some of these wines are still available at Avalon, but in small quantities. I also barrel tasted some of the same vineyards' wine available for this year, and none of it disappointed, and in most cases, improved.

Best Winery Right Out of the Starting Gate:
Spring Valley's Uriah (WA)
Maysara Estate (OR)

Best Value Rated Syrah:
Hogue's Syrah (WA)
Viento's Syrah (OR)
Chatter Creek (WA)

Overall Best Washington Syrah:
McCrea Cellars
Cayuse Vineyards

Best Washington Merlot:
L'ecole
Seven Hills

Best Washington Bordeaux-style Blend:
Cadence
Hedges Red Hills
DeLille Cellars

Best Washington Riesling:
Eroica (Chateau Ste. Michelle)

Most Under-rated Washington Chardonnay:
Harlequin's 2000 Chardonnay

Biggest 20-Year Overnight Success:
Kiona Vineyards

Best Overall Oregon Pinot Noir:
Domaine Drouhin
Raptor Ridge Murto Vineyard
Chehalem

Best Value Rated Oregon Pinot Noir:
A to Z Pinot Noir

Best Oregon Riesling:
Elk Cove 2000 Estate Riesling

Best Oregon Varietal Other Than Pinot:
Abacela Winery (Tempranillo)
Cristom (Viognier)

Best Oregon Pinot Gris:
Rex Hill 2001 Reserve Pinot Gris
Westry 2000 Pinot Gris
King Estate 2001 Reserve Pinot Gris

Best News Event for Oregon Wine Consumers:
Gary Andrus (Pine Ridge, Archery Summit) coming back to Oregon to produce more Pinot Noir

Best Tasting Event in the Northwest:
Taste Washington (coming April 6)
International Pinot Noir Celebration (summer 2003)

These categories are subjective, however, and plenty of folks not mentioned are producing some of the best wine in the country. A list is just a list. We live in one of the best wine-producing regions in the United States, and the best way to learn develop your own list, is to visit the wineries.

So, lift your glasses to 2003. It promises to be a very good year for the Northwest!