• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Contact Us
  • Wine of the Week newsletter
  • Wine submission guidelines
Great Northwest Wine

Great Northwest Wine

News, reviews and info about the wines of Washington, Oregon, British Columbia and Idaho

  • Home
  • About us
    • Awards and honors
    • Advertising on Great Northwest Wine
    • Wine submission guidelines
  • e-edition
  • Events calendar
    • Submit an event
  • Reviews
    • Latest wine reviews
    • Wine of the Week
    • Best Buys
    • Washington wines
    • Oregon wines
    • Idaho wines
    • British Columbia wines
  • Competitions
    • Cascadia International Wine Competition
    • Idaho Wine Competition
    • “The Invite” – Great Northwest Invitational Wine Competition
    • Platinum Awards
    • Walla Walla Valley Wine Competition
    • Washington State Wine Competition
  • Explore
    • Wine news
    • Grapes and viticulture
    • Washington wine
    • Oregon wine
    • Idaho wine
    • British Columbia wine
    • Product reviews
    • Recipes
    • Podcast

Pacific Northwest winemakers populate writer’s top 100 list

July 30, 2013 by Eric Degerman 2 Comments

Lynn Penner-Ash worked at famed Stag's Leap Wine Cellars in the Napa Valley before moving to Oregon in 1988 and becoming the state's first female head winemaker.
Lynn Penner-Ash worked at famed Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars in the Napa Valley before moving to Oregon in 1988 and becoming the state’s first female head winemaker. (Photo courtesy of Andrea Johnson Photography)

Pacific Northwest winemakers and vintners with close ties to the region made up 17 percent of IntoWine.com‘s recent list of Top 100 Most Influential U.S. Winemakers.

Michael Cervin, a writer from California’s Central Coast, developed the list for IntoWine.com. He’s authored a series of travel books, most recently California Wine Country, and his résumé notes contributions to magazines such as Decanter, Tasting Panel, Wine Enthusiast and Wine & Spirits. He’s also a member of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association and judges several California wine competitions.

Cervin’s blog devoted to adult beverages is BoozehoundZ. A quick search indicates the lone post related to Pacific Northwest wine in the past 12 months was made Dec. 23. It highlighted Columbia Gorge producer Naked Winery and reviewed the Wanderlust White from its Outdoor Vino brand, packaged  in an innovative lightweight, recyclable plastic bottle.

From a Northwest perspective, Cervin created an intriguing and not absurd list, although there are a number of surprising omissions from Walla Walla and the Willamette Valley. There’s a placement or two that are curious but at the same time refreshing and show some insight. And each entry includes a short, informative snapshot of the winemaker’s place in the history of American wine.

The Northwest mentions kick off at No. 95 with Ron Bitner (Bitner Vineyards, Caldwell, Idaho).

* No. 94, Garrit Stoltz (Stoltz Vineyards, Hood River, Ore.)

* No. 92, Steve Doerner (Cristom Vineyards, Salem, Ore.)

* No. 76, Caleb Foster (formerly of Buty Winery, Walla Walla, Wash.)

* No. 75, Charles Smith (Charles Smith Wines, Walla Walla)

* No. 73, Ben Smith (Cadence, Seattle)

* No. 59, Jim Bernau (Willamette Valley Vineyards, Turner, Ore.)

* No. 57, Bob Betz (Betz Family Winery, Woodinville, Wash.)

* No. 54, Wendy Stuckey (Chateau Ste. Michelle, Woodinville, Wash.)

* No. 49, Gregg Harrington (Gramercy Cellars, Walla Walla)

* No. 48, Cameron Hughes, a negociant who often reaches into the Northwest

* No. 46, Tony Soter (Soter Vineyards, Lafayette, Ore.)

* No. 40, Lynn Penner-Ash (Penner-Ash Wine Cellars, Newberg, Ore.)

* No. 33, Chris Camarda (Andrew Will Winery, Vashon, Wash.)

* No. 29, Rick Small (Woodward Canyon Winery, Lowden, Wash.)

* No. 11, Randall Grahm (whose history includes founding Pacific Rim Winery, West Richland, Wash.).

* No. 1 — Napa and Sonoma valley producers understandably crowded everyone else out of the top 10. However, topping the list is Phillipe Melka, the Napa superstar from Bordeaux whose long list of winemaking partnerships includes the Pirouette label for Long Shadows Vintners in Walla Walla.

Most of us with an interest in sports, cars, music and/or wine find lists interesting, especially if you have a favorite or a friend who gets mentioned.

So who deserved or didn’t deserve to make Cervin’s top 100?

Filed Under: News Tagged With: featured, ticker

About Eric Degerman

Eric Degerman is the President and CEO of Great Northwest Wine. He is a journalist with more than 30 years of daily newspaper experience and has been writing about wine since 1998. He co-founded Wine Press Northwest magazine with Andy Perdue and served as its managing editor for a decade. He is a frequent wine judge at international wine competitions throughout North America and orchestrates 10 Northwest competitions each year.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Marc says

    July 30, 2013 at 10:50 am

    I’m rather surprised that Charlie Hoppes isn’t included in this list.

    Reply
  2. Chris says

    July 30, 2013 at 8:51 pm

    Christophe Baron is glaringly absent. Also missing are Chris Figgins and Alex/Paul Golizin. These 3/4 are top winemakers in the state of WA over last 15-20 years.

    If the writer’s only experience with PacNW wines is Naked winery they are hardly qualified to write on the topic.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Wine of the Week

Mt. Hood Winery 2018 Gunkel Vineyard Barbera, Columbia Valley $38

July 8, 2022

Latest Wine Reviews

Trella Vineyards 2016 Pinot Gris, Umpqua Valley $16

July 23, 2022 By Great Northwest Wine

Flora Jane Cellars 2021 Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley $22

July 23, 2022 By Great Northwest Wine

More Northwest Wine News

Footer

Grapes

Northwest vineyards enter August as much as 12 days behind normal

Oregon stands out throughout Pinot Gris tasting

The Wine Knows: Mastering the magical blend of GSM

Sniff, Sip, Swirl: Holmes family unveils Arneis on Red Mountain

Northwest Merlot remains memorable in talented hands

Food

Match Maker: Thiessen puts his brand on WW with Walla Walla Steak Co.

Match Maker recipe: Chocolate Crémeux Tart with Cocoa Nibs and Hazelnuts

Ellen on Wine: 19th century French chef’s legacy inspires 21st century NW women in hospitality with Les Dames d’Escoffier

Match Maker recipe: Cast Iron Cowboy Ribeye with Marinated Spring Vegetables

Expect heavy bidding as Reveal Walla Walla wine auction returns 

History

Ellen on Wine: 19th century French chef’s legacy inspires 21st century NW women in hospitality with Les Dames d’Escoffier

Kiona, Barnard Griffin toast 40th Red Mountain harvest with fundraiser Cab

Parks Redwine, owner of NorthWest Wine Summit competition, dies in Atlanta

Yakima Valley thrives as historical heart of Washington wine

Washington Wine Hall of Fame Gala raises record $105,000 for Clore Center

© 2022 Great NW Wine. All Rights Reserved.