Wine Peeps: A Wine Blog Best of 2012 in Washington Wine Country

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Wine Peeps is an independent wine blog dedicated to helping you get the most bang for your buck in wine. We do this through blind tastings of wine from around the world and calculations of Quality-to-Price Ratios (QPRs). We have a special interest in Washington State wines.

In the course of our wine journey, we also enjoy numerous wine-related activities such as traveling throughout wine country, visiting vineyards, reading wine books, and trying wine gadgets, all of which we share with our readers.

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Best of 2012 in Washington Wine Country

By John ~ January 2nd, 2013.

After visiting more wineries and tasting more Washington wines than I can count, meeting many of the best winemakers in Washington, and walking the rows in many of the best known vineyards in the state, these are the Wine Peeps teamâ€™s picks as the best of 2012 in Washington Wine Country.

BEST WINE: 2009 Rasa Vineyards Plus One Cabernet Sauvignon (featured July 30); this is the third consecutive year that Rasa has produced our Best Wine.
Honorable Mention: 2010 Avennia Sestina Red Wine (featured Sept 10), 2010 Kerloo Cellars Les Collines Syrah (featured July 16), and 2009 Fall Line Winery Red Willow Vineyard Red Blend (featured Aug 6)

BEST VALUE WINE: 2008 Columbia Crest Grand Estate Amitage Red Blend, $7-$13 (featured May 3)
Honorable Mention: 2010 Saviah The Jack Cabernet Sauvignon, $14-$18 (featured April 26) and 2010 Milbrandt Traditions Cabernet Sauvignon, $11-$16 (featured Nov 28)

BEST WINERY: Rasa Vineyards
Honorable Mention: Force Majeure (formerly Grand RÃªve) and Long Shadows

BEST VARIETY/TYPE: Cabernet Sauvignon (featured in a number of posts)
Honorable Mention: Syrah

BEST WINEMAKER: Billo Naravane of Rasa Vineyards (repeat winner)
Honorable Mention: Chris Figgins of Leonetti Cellar and FIGGINS

BEST VINEYARD: Ciel du Cheval Vineyard
Honorable Mention: Red Willow Vineyard (our 2008 winner) and Boushey Vineyard (always a favorite)

BEST AVA: Red Mountain
Honorable Mention: Yakima Valley

BEST NEWCOMER: Avennia Winery (featured Sept 10)
Honorable Mention: Eight Bells Winery (featured Nov 21)

BEST WINE SHOP: Total Wine & More (featured July 23)
Honorable Mention: BevMo! Beverages & More (featured July 23)

BEST WINE EVENT: Chateau Ste. Michelle Summer Concert Series
Honorable Mention: Taste Washington

Congratulations to all of the winners! Keep up the good work. We would encourage all Washington wine lovers to patronize these producers, vendors, and events. They are the cream of the crop.