It's no wonder that the Washington Wine Commission calls their terroir, "the perfect climate for wine." In this article, I will take you on a little trip around the state and highlight a few of the exceptional Washington wineries. You don't have to travel to Washington State to enjoy their wines, as all of the wineries mentioned will ship to other states. However, your experience will be enhanced if you taste the wines while touring the glorious countryside.

Washington wines fit nicely on the world stage of excellent wines. As it grows, the Washington appellation is receiving more attention for its sense of place, with an extraordinary combination of natural elements. These wines are unlike any other domestic wines because they grow in ideal soil with lots of sunlight and just the right amount of rain.

Often, when we think of domestic wine, California wine comes to mind. That's natural, as California is the leading producer of domestic wine, but Washington State is second and catching up rapidly.

In the last twenty-five years, Washington has evolved into a region with over 350 wineries producing over twenty varietals. The reason for their success is that the growing regions are so diverse, yet similar in many ways to the excellent growing regions in Europe. There are six major American Viticultural Regions (AVAs) in Washington and applications are in process for new ones.

Being a lover of big bold blends, I am focusing on a few of my favorites. Here are just a few wineries that we will be "visiting" on our tour.

Amavi Cellars (http://www.amavicellars.com/) draws from grapes grown in the rich Pepper Bridge, Seven Hills, and Los Collines vineyards. Their 2001 Cabernet was awarded a Silver Medal, and has received glowing reviews. I am partial to big wines with carefully crafted blends, and the Amavi Cabernet blends in 14% Merlot as well as 2% Malbec. It is amazing what a difference each of these components makes in that blend.

Of particular note is Amavi's luscious 2001 Syrah, awarded several Gold Medals. The 2002 Syrah scored 91 in Wine Enthusiast, 89 in Wine Spectator, and Wine News gave it a 92; this is a wine not to be missed.

Cave B Estate Wines (http://www.caveb.com/) are produced in the Columbia Gorge region by Rusty Figgins, one of Washington's premier winemakers. Distinctive to the award-winning Cave B wines is that all grapes are "estate grown." I recently spent several days with Rusty, as he finished the blending for the 2003 Cuvée (the 2002 vintage sold out immediately). I was fortunate to taste the new Cuvée during the blending and it is a stunner. Expect this wine to be released in Spring 2006. Join their wine club to reserve a bottle; this is a limited production wine and is in high demand.

I am not normally a fan of white wines, but their Late Harvest Sémillon is beyond belief. Sweet, but not overly so, this wine is a perfect afternoon or dessert wine and is also terrific paired with cheese.

Touring the different regions in Washington State is a great experience. The scenery is beautiful and finding the boutique wineries is a special event in itself. There is no place better to begin than the winery's companion resort, the Cave B Inn at SageCliffe. An easy two-hour drive from Seattle, this spectacular destination resort has everything. At Cave B, you'll find Tendrils, a world-class restaurant featuring award-winning chef Fernando Divina. Their magnificent guest accommodations are in a breathtaking setting unparalleled elsewhere. You are literally in the vineyard! To learn more or to book a stay, visit http://www.cavebinn.com/.

Di Stefano (http://www.distefanowinery.com/) is one of my favorite "local" wineries. Their tasting room is a short half-hour drive from Seattle, and is very popular on weekends. Their wines are top-notch and are created from Eastern Washington grapes. Two of their incredible wines are the 2002 Syrah "R" and the 2000 Ottimo (which means "the ultimate" in Italian). Their award-winning Cabernet and Meritage wines are also excellent choices.

Dunham Cellars (http://www.dunhamcellars.com/) is a family-owned winery, specializing in fantastic Cabernet blends. Named for their dog Port, "Three Legged Red" is a wine that makes me smile and is price-friendly as well. Dunham's motto is "Experience the Power of the Paw." Their 2001 Trutina (Latin for "balance") is a luscious treat, as is their 2001 Cabernet.

That about wraps it up for our whirlwind tour of Washington Wine Country. I hope you enjoyed your jaunt and will come and experience it firsthand. Cheers!