Washington
If You Only Have Time for the Class 6 / BX / PX
Reliable, widely available picks at great prices.
| Wine | Varietal / Region | Notes | Taste | Est. Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airfield Estates Dauntless Red Blend | Yakima Valley / Merlot–Cab Franc–Cab Sauv | Affordable Bordeaux-style red; smooth tannins, spice, great QPR | Rich, plush, spicy | ~$22 |
| Airfield Estates Chardonnay | Yakima Valley / Chardonnay | 91 pts WS, balanced oak + fruit, versatile with food | Silky, fruity, elegant | ~$17 |
| Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon | Columbia Valley / Cabernet | Widely available, reliable, everyday Cab with structure & dark fruit | Bold, smooth, classic | ~$18 |
| Chateau Ste. Michelle Dry Riesling | Columbia Valley / Riesling | Washington Riesling benchmark; crisp & food-friendly | Crisp, citrus, refreshing | ~$11–$13 |
| Columbia Crest H3 Merlot | Horse Heaven Hills / Merlot | Excellent value, approachable red with soft tannins | Juicy, smooth, velvety | ~$15 |
| Milbrandt Vineyards "The Estates" Syrah | Wahluke Slope / Syrah | Consistently high-value Syrah; dark fruit & pepper spice | Dark, spicy, full | ~$20–$22 |
| L'Ecole No 41 Semillon | Columbia Valley / Semillon | Rare varietal, barrel-fermented, fresh & complex | Bright, nutty, round | ~$20 |
| Charles Smith Wines "The Velvet Devil" Merlot | Columbia Valley / Merlot | Popular, bold, fruit-driven style at an easy price | Smooth, fruity, bold | ~$12–$15 |
If You Can Go Off-Base
Seek these out at local wine shops — they're worth the trip.
| Wine | Varietal / Region | Notes | Taste | Est. Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| K Vintners Syrah Motor City Kitty 2021 | Yakima Valley, Syrah | 93-point "king of QPR," electric freshness, savory, mineral-rich finish | Bold, mineral, long | ~$40 |
| K Vintners Grenache The Boy 2020 | Walla Walla Valley, Grenache | Elegant yet powerful, spicy-floral aroma with finesse | Floral, spicy, elegant | ~$35 |
| L'Ecole No 41 Syrah Seven Hills Vineyard 2021 | Walla Walla Valley, Syrah | Intense, with dried chili & black olive, great age potential | Spicy, complex, bold | ~$40 |
| B. Leighton Gratitude 2020 | Yakima Valley, Mourvèdre-Grenache-Syrah blend | Silky texture, wild-herb and smoked-meat aromas, seamless tannins | Smoky, silky, herbal | ~$40 |
| Canvasback Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 | Red Mountain, Cabernet Sauvignon | Concentrated, black-berry and pencil-lead notes, structured typical of Red Mountain | Rich, structured, bold | ~$32 |
| 216 Miles to Go by Mark Ryan Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 | Columbia Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon | Cedar-polished, full-bodied, toasted-spice character | Polished, spicy, supple | ~$32 |
| Substance Merlot Stoneridge Vineyard 2019 | Columbia Valley, Merlot | Bright, driven, full-bodied with red-fruit and herb character | Bright, full, herbaceous | ~$35 |
| DeLille Cellars Chaleur Blanc 2022 | Columbia Valley, Semillon–Sauvignon Blanc blend | Barrel-fermented, spicy oak with vivid citrus and bright acidity | Crisp, spicy, vibrant | ~$40 |
Why Washington Wines Are Cool
Washington wines are easy to enjoy because they bring together bright fruit flavors and a smooth, balanced taste. The state's vineyards get lots of sunshine during the day and cool nights, which helps the grapes ripen with plenty of flavor while keeping the wines fresh and not too heavy.
This means the wines are tasty on their own but also go really well with food. From bold reds like Cabernet Sauvignon to crisp whites like Riesling and Chardonnay, Washington makes a wide variety of wines that are both high quality and affordable — perfect if you're just getting into wine.
Region & Grape Overview
Most Common Grapes
Cab Sauv 27.6%
Chardonnay 16.3%
Riesling 15.3%
Merlot 11.2%
Syrah 10.2%
Sauv Blanc 5.1%
Other 10.2%