Northwest wines place in top 100 for Wine Spectator

If the Washington and Oregon wine industries were a political movement, they might be known as Occupy Wine Spectator.

On the annual list of the top wines from the world's largest wine periodical, Washington and Oregon are the 11 percent.

The list, which came out Monday, includes 11 wines from the Northwest. As a region, Washington and Oregon make about 5 percent of U.S. wine, and the United States produces about 7 percent of the wine in the world.

"I think we're well represented (on the list)," said Ryan Pennington, public relations director for the Washington Wine Commission in Seattle. "I think it's a continuation of a trend. At some point, there should be broader recognition that Washington is overdelivering on quality."

One Washington wine -- Baer Winery's 2008 Ursa red blend -- was ranked No. 6 on this year's list, making it the top Northwest wine.

The winery was launched in 2000 in Woodinville by Lance Baer. Baer, 39, died in 2007, but his family continued the winery.

Two other Woodinville wineries -- Efeste and Januik -- also landed high on the list. Efeste's 2008 Yakima Valley Syrah was No. 15, while Januik's 2008 cabernet sauvignon was No. 18.

An Oregon winery, Owen Roe, was No. 25 with a syrah using Washington grapes.

Other Washington wines on the list include Andrew Will of Vashon at No. 32 with its 2008 Sorella red blend, Tamarack Cellars of Walla Walla for its 2007 cabernet sauvignon at No. 39, and L'Ecole No. 41 of Lowden at -- ironically -- No. 41 for its 2008 cabernet sauvignon from the Walla Walla Valley.

One of the notable wine companies missing this year from the Spectator list is Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, the largest producer in the Northwest.

Just two years ago, Columbia Crest's 2005 reserve cabernet sauvignon was the No. 1 wine on the Spectator list. And last year, a Columbia Crest merlot was No. 43.

Kari Leitch, vice president of communications for the Woodinville-based winery, was gracious about this year's exclusion.

"We've been fortunate to have so many wines recognized over the years on the Spectator list," she said. "Of course, we'd like to be on the list, but we are happy that so many Washington wineries are included. It's really good recognition for the industry."