The 2015 Best of the Northwest

Sip Northwest magazine is excited to release its fourth annual Best of the Northwest issue. Printed with two unique covers, this collector’s edition showcases the winners of the grand tasting competition from wine, beer, spirits and cider, along with top Northwest travel locations, locally focused restaurant and bars, upright industry influencers and more.

An open call for submissions last spring drafted more than 430 entries from wine, 269 beers, 122 from spirits and 131 ciders. The magazine recruited an accomplished, qualified group of nearly 70 of the Northwest’s premier palates to judge and determine the top three in each respective beverage category. Together, Sip Northwest and the judging panels built a comprehensive listing of winners that deem themselves particularly notable to add to readers’ liquor cabinets, beer fridges, wine cellars and cider coolers.

The issue also profiles some of the most influential personalities in each beverage, along with features of locally supporting restaurants, bars, tours, festivals and retailers.

To subscribe to the magazine and pick up this collector’s edition in print, click here.

Sip Northwest’s 2015 Best of the Northwest issue is a versatile compilation of the top billing beverages of the year. The full list of winners is below.

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BEST OF TRAVEL

Oregon
Sunriver Resort, Sunriver
Whale Cove Inn, Depot Bay
The Nines, Portland

Washington
Camano Island Inn, Camano Island
The Edgewater Hotel, Seattle
Cave B Estate Winery & Resort, Quincy

British Columbia
Sparking Hill Resort, Vernon
The Fairmont Empress Hotel, Victoria
Watermark Beach Resort, Osoyoos

Idaho
Hotel McCall, McCall
The Lodge at Sandpoint, Sagle

Montana
The Resort at Paws Up, Greenough

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BEST OF WINE

BEST SPARKLING
1^st Place: Blue Mountain Vineyard & Cellars NV Brut, Okanagan Valley
2^nd Place: Treveri Cellars NV Blanc de Noir, Columbia Valley
3^rd Place: Argyle Winery 2011 Brut

Panel Picks:
College Cellars 2014 Muscat Ottonoel, Walla Walla Valley
Castillo de Feliciana 2013 Brilliante, Columbia Valley
Blasted Church 2011 OMG, Okanagan Valley

BEST PINOT BLANC
1st Place: Foris Vineyards 2014, Southern Oregon
2^nd Place: The Four Graces 2014, Willamette Valley
3^rd Place: Youngberg Hill 2014, Willamette Valley

Panel Picks:
Winter’s Hill Estate 2014, Dundee Hills
Torii Mor 2014, Willamette Valley
Z’IVO 2011, Willamette Valley

BEST SAUVIGNON BLANC
1^st Place: Hedges Family Estate 2014 CMS, Columbia Valley
2^nd Place: Gamache Vintners 2013 Heritage, Columbia Valley
3^rd Place: Reustle Prayer Rock Vineyards 2014, Umpqua Valley

Panel Picks:
Mercer Estates 2014, Yakima Valley
Va Piano Vineyards 2013, Columbia Valley
Lodmell Cellars 2013, Columbia Valley

BEST PINOT GRIS
1^st Place: King Estate 2014 Acrobat, Oregon
2^nd Place: King Estate 2014 Signature, Oregon
3^rd Place: Wy’East Vineyards 2014, Columbia Gorge

Panel Picks:
Solena Estate 2014, Willamette Valley
Long Shadows Vintners 2014 Nine Hats, Columbia Valley
Portlandia Vintners 2014 Portlandia, Willamette Valley

BEST RIESLING
1^st Place: Chateau Ste. Michelle & Dr. Loosen 2013 Eroica Gold, Columbia Valley
2^nd Place: Ancestry Cellars 2013 Reminiscence, Columbia Gorge
3^rd Place: For A Song Wines 2013 Caliche Lake Vineyard, Ancient Lakes

Panel Picks:
A to Z Wineworks 2014, Oregon
Long Shadows Vintner 2013 Poet’s Leap, Columbia Valley
Chateau Ste. Michelle & Dr. Loosen 2013 Eroica, Columbia Valley

BEST WHITE SINGLE VARIETAL
1^st Place: Savage Grace 2014 Grüner Veltliner, Columbia Gorge
2^nd Place: Ransom Spirits 2014 Redford-Wetle Albarino, Eola-Amity Hills
3^rd Place: Lagana Cellars 2014 Roussanne Sagemoor Vineyards, Columbia Valley

Panel Picks:
Abacela 2014 Albarino, Umpqua Valley, Southern Oregon
Castillo de Feliciana Vineyard & Winery 2014 Albarino, Columbia Valley
College Cellars 2014 Marsanne, Walla Walla Valley

BEST CHARDONNAY (Tie)
1st Place: Mercer Estates 2013, Columbia Valley
1st Place: Stoller Family Estate 2014, Dundee Hills
2^nd Place: Goose Ridge Vineyards 2012, Columbia Valley
3^rd Place: Long Shadows Vintners 2013 Dance, Horse Heaven Hills

Panel Picks:
Lemelson Vineyards 2013, Willamette Valley
Solena Estate 2013, Willamette Valley
Poplar Grove Winery 2014, Okanagan Valley

BEST WHITE BLEND
1^st Place: College Cellars 2014 Scholarship White, Walla Walla Valley
2^nd Place: Rocky Pond Winery 2013 Glacial Treasure, Lake Chelan
3^rd Place: Genoa Cellars 2014 Tell-Tale, Columbia Valley

Panel Picks:
Cliff Creek Cellars 2014 MRV, Rogue Valley
Alexandria Nicole Cellars 2014 Shepherds Mark, Horse Heaven Hills
Le Vieux Pin Winery 2013 AVA, Okanagan Valley

BEST VIOGNIER
1^st Place: Maryhill Winery 2014, Columbia Valley
2^nd Place: 2Hawk Vineyard & Winery 2013, Southern Oregon
3^rd Place: Reustle Prayer Rock Vineyards 2014, Umpqua Valley

Panel Picks:
Grizzly Peak Winery 2013, Rogue Valley
Alexandria Nicole Cellars 2014 Crawford, Columbia Valley
Vin du Lac 2013 Vie!, Columbia Valley

BEST DESSERT WINE
1^st Place: Rocky Pond Winery 2013 Late Harvest Riesling Clos CheValle Vineyard, Lake Chelan Valley
2^nd Place: Torii Mor Winery 2011 Syrah Port, Rogue Valley
3^rd Place: ArborBrook Vineyards 2012 Sydney Semillon, Klipsun Vineyard, Red Mountain

Panel Pick: Gordon Estates 2014 Ice Wine, Columbia Valley

BEST ROSE
1st Place: College Cellars 2014 Mourvèdre Rosé Nostra Terra Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley
2^nd Place: Genoa Cellars 2014 Wind’s Eye Grenache, Horse Heaven Hills
3^rd Place: King Estate 2014 Acrobat Rose of Pinot Noir, Oregon

Panel Picks:
Abacela 2014 Grenache, Umpqua Valley
Maryhill Winery 2014, Columbia Valley
Goose Ridge Vineyards 2014 Rose de Pinot Gris, Columbia Valley

BEST PINOT NOIR
1st Place: Hyland Estates 2013 Estate, Dundee
2^nd Place: Van Duzer 2013, Willamette Valley
3^rd Place: ArborBrook Vineyards 2013 Estate 777 Block, Chehalem Mountains

Panel Picks:
Hyland Estates 2013 Coury Clone, McMinnville
Ransom Spirits 2012 Cattrall Vineyards, Eola-Amity Hills
Savage Grace 2013 Underwood Mountain Vineyards, Columbia Gorge

BEST RED SINGLE VARIETAL
1^st Place: Saviah Cellars 2013 Barbera, Walla Walla Valley
2^nd Place: Ancestry Cellars 2012 di Donato Sangiovese, Columbia Valley
3^rd Place: Beresan Winery 2012 Carmenere, Walla Walla Valley

Panel Picks:
Le Chateau Winery 2012 Petit Verdot, Columbia Valley
Tamarack Cellars 2013 Petit Verdot, Columbia Valley
Locati Cellars 2012 Estate Barbera, Walla Walla Valley

BEST MERLOT
1^st Place: L’Ecole No 41 2012, Walla Walla Valley
2^nd Place: Seven Falls Cellars 2011, Wahluke Slope
3^rd Place: Gamache Vintners 2011 Estate, Columbia Valley

Panel Picks:
Lodmell Cellars 2009 Estate, Columbia Valley
Eye of the Needle 2012 Reserve, Columbia Valley
Hedges Family Estate 2013 House of Independent Producers, Columbia Valley

BEST TEMPRANILLO
1^st Place: Jaxon Vineyards 2012, Rogue Valley
2^nd Place: Saviah Cellars 2012, Walla Walla Valley
3^rd Place: Girardet Wine Cellars 2012 Bush Vine, Umpqua Valley

Panel Picks:
Castillo de Feliciana Vineyard & Winery 2012 Reserve, Columbia Valley
Weisinger Family Winery 2012, Rogue Valley
Abacela 2012 Fiesta, Umpqua Valley

BEST CABERNET FRANC (Tie)
1st Place: Saviah Cellars 2011, Walla Walla Valley
1st Place: Grizzly Peak Winery 2012, Southern Oregon
2^nd Place: Gamache Vintners 2012 Estate, Columbia Valley
3^rd Place: Dusty Cellars Winery 2013 The Queen, Columbia Valley

Panel Picks:
Willamette Valley Vineyards 2011 Griffin Creek, Rogue Valley
Tamarack Cellars 2013, Wahluke Slope
Savage Grace Wines 2014, Rattlesnake Hills

BEST MALBEC (Tie)
1st Place: Skylite Cellars 2011 Verhey Vineyard, Yakima Valley
1st Place: Ledger David Cellars 2013, Rogue Valley
2^nd Place: Obelisco Estate 2012, Red Mountain
3^rd Place: Reustle Prayer Rock Vineyards 2013, Umpqua Valley

Panel Picks:
College Cellars 2013, Walla Walla Valley
Abacela 2012, Umpqua Valley
Weisinger Family Winery 2012, Rogue Valley

BEST CABERNET SAUVIGNON
1st Place: Chateau Ste. Michelle 2012 Cold Creek Vineyard, Columbia Valley
2^nd Place: Columbia Winery 2013, Columbia Valley
3^rd Place: (tie) Obelisco Estate 2012 Electrum, Red Mountain and Obelisco Estate 2011, Red Mountain

Panel Picks:
Woodward Canyon 2012 Old Vines, Washington State
Goose Ridge Vineyards 2012 g3, Columbia Valley
Gård Vintners 2012, Columbia Valley

BEST SYRAH
1st Place: Maryhill Winery 2011, Columbia Valley
2^nd Place: Tenor 2012, Columbia Valley
3^rd Place: (tie) Sinclair Estate Vineyards 2012, Wahluke Slope and Gordon Estate 2013 Syrah, Columbia Valley

Panel Picks:
Purple Star Wine 2012, Columbia Valley
Ambassador Wines of Washington 2012 Estate, Red Mountain
Dunham Cellars 2012, Columbia Valley

BEST RHONE-STYLE RED BLEND
1^st Place: Rocky Pond Winery 2013 Stratastone, Red Mountain
2^nd Place: Buried Cane 2012 Heartwood, Columbia Valley
3^rd Place: Cadaretta 2012 Windthrow, Columbia Valley

Panel Picks:
College Cellars 2013 GSM, Walla Walla
Gård Vintners 2012 Vaucluse, Columbia Valley
Robert Ramsay Cellars 2012 Le Mein, Columbia Valley

BEST BORDEAUX-STYLE RED BLEND
1^st Place: Chateau Ste. Michelle 2011 Artist Series Meritage, Columbia Valley
2^nd Place: (tie) Monster Vineyards 2013 Cabs, Okanagan Valley and Goose Ridge Vineyards 2012 Elements Cellar Select Artist Series, Columbia Valley
3^rd Place: Ancestry Cellars 2012 Le Frère, Columbia Valley

Panel Picks:
Balboa Winery 2012 Mith, Walla Walla Valley
Ancestry Cellars 2012 Provocant, Columbia Valley
Lodmell Cellars NV Sublime, Columbia Valley

BEST PROPRIETARY RED BLEND
1^st Place: Sinclair Estate Vineyards 2011 Vixen, Wahluke Slope
2^nd Place: Maryhill Winery 2013 Winemaker’s Red, Columbia Valley
3^rd Place: Robert Ramsay 2012 La Previa, Snipes Mountain

Panel Picks:
Mercer Estates 2012 Sharp Sisters, Columbia Valley
Terra Blanca Winery 2009 Signature Series Batholith, Red Mountain
DeLille Cellars 2012 Doyenne Aix, Red Mountain

Industry Influencer: Chris Peterson, Avennia and Passing Time Winery, Woodinville, WA

Best Northwest Wine Tour: Bon Vivant, Woodinville, WA

Best Local Wine List: Barrel Thief, Seattle

Best Newcomer: Bella Wines, Naramata, BC

Best Northwest Wine Festival: Taste Washington, Seattle

Best for Liquid Lessons: Pairings, Portland

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BEST OF CIDER

BEST TRADITIONAL APPLE
1^st Place: 2 Towns Ciderhouse Cidre Bouche
2^nd Place: Cider Riot! 1763
3^rd Place: Alpenfire Cider Spark!

BEST MODERN APPLE
1^st Place: Rambling Route
2^nd Place: Finnriver Farm & Cidery Oak & Apple
3^rd Place: Anthem

BEST PERRY
1^st Place: Spire Mountain Pear
2^nd Place: Finnriver Farm & Cidery
3^rd Place: Tieton Cider Works Sparkling Perry

BEST SINGLE VARIETAL
1^st Place: Montana CiderWorks Small Batch McIntosh
2^nd Place: Alpenfire Cider Glow
3^rd Place: Traditions Ciderworks 2013 Riverwood

BEST BARREL-AGED
1^st Place: Finnriver Farm & Cidery Fire Barrel
2^nd Place: Whitewood Cider Co. Kingston Black
3^rd Place: Snowdrift Cider Co. Cornice

BEST HOPPED
1^st Place: 2 Towns Ciderhouse Hop & Stalk
2^nd Place: Reverend Nat’s Hard Cider Hallelujah Hopricot
3^rd Place: Anthem Hops

BEST FRUIT-INFUSED
1^st Place: Locust Cider Dark Sweet Cherry
2^nd Place: 2 Towns Ciderhouse Made Marion
3^rd Place: Seattle Cider Co. Berry

BEST SPECIALTY
1^st Place: Number 6 Hard Cider Stumptown Cold Brew
2^nd Place: Snowdrift Cider Co. Red
3^rd Place: Spoke and Sail Cider Abeille

BEST SPICE/HERB
1^st Place: 2 Towns Ciderhouse Nice & Naughty
2^nd Place: Seattle Cider Co. Gin Botanical
3^rd Place: Tieton Cider Works Spice Route

BEST SPARKLING
1^st Place: Snowdrift Cider Co. Perry Reserve
2^nd Place: 2 Towns Ciderhouse Cider Master Reserve Batch No. 1, Barrel Select Blend
3^rd Place: 2 Towns Ciderhouse Serious Scrump

BEST ICE/POMMEAU
1^st Place: Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse Pomona
2^nd Place: Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse Black Applejack
3^rd Place: Traditions Ciderworks 2013 Pommeau

Industry Influencer: Nat West, Reverend Nat’s Hard Cider, Portland

Best Northwest Cider Tour: Port Townsend Cider Route, Port Townsend, WA

Best Local Cider List: Portland Cider House, Portland

Best Newcomer: WildCraft Cider Works, Eugene, OR

Best Northwest Cider Festival: Cider Rite of Spring, Portland

Best for Liquid Lessons: Capitol Cider, Seattle

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BEST OF BEER

BEST LAGER
1^st Place: Full Sail Brewing Co. Session Black
2^nd Place: Red Truck Beer Co. Red Truck Lager
3^rd Place: Full Sail Brewing Co. Session Premium

BEST PILSNER
1^st Place: Icicle Brewing Co. Crosscut
2^nd Place: Black Raven Brewing Co. Hochzeit
3^rd Place: Long Brewing Pils

BEST SESSION ALE
1^ST Place: Fremont Brewing Co. Session Pale Ale
2^nd Place: Sumerian Brewing Co. Sumerian India Session Ale
3^rd Place: Red Truck Beer Co. Red Truck India Session Ale

BEST PALE ALE
1^st Place: Boneyard Beer Bone-A-Fide
2^nd Place: Breakside Brewery Lunch Break India Session Ale
3^rd Place: Bale Breaker Brewing Co. Field 41

BEST INDIA PALE ALE
1^st Place: Reuben’s Brews Hop Tropic
2^nd Place: Breakside Brewery Breakside
3^rd Place: Cabinet Mountain Brewing Co. Yaak Attack

BEST IMPERIAL INDIA PALE ALE
1^st Place: Hopworks Urban Brewery Ace of Spades
2^nd Place: Three Creeks Brewing Co. Vaquero
3^rd Place: Phillips Brewing Co. Amnesiac

BEST AMBER ALE
1^st Place: Fish Brewing Co. Vicious Circle
2^nd Place: Red Truck Beer Red Truck Ale
3^rd Place: Phillips Brewing Co. Blue Buck

BEST RED ALE
1^st Place: Hopworks Urban Brewery Rise Up Red
2^nd Place: Deschutes Brewery Cinder Cone
3^rd Place: Cabinet Mountain Brewing Co. Ross Creek

BEST BELGIAN-STYLE ALE
1^st Place: pFriem Family Brewers Belgian Strong Dark
2^nd Place: Propolis Brewing Zephyros Golden Elderflower Saison Brett
3^rd Place: Propolis Brewing Cedar Imperial Saison Brewed with Honey

BEST SOUR ALE
1^st Place: Wander Brewing Raspberry Millie American
2^nd Place: Driftwood Brewery Obscuritas Dark
3^rd Place: Cascade Brewing 2013 Sang Rouge

BEST BARREL-AGED
1^st Place: pFriem Family Brewers Flanders Red
2^nd Place: Two Beers Brewing Co. Fall Line Russian Imperial Stout
3^rd Place: Fremont Brewing Bourbon Barrel Aged Dark Star Oatmeal Stout

BEST CASCADIAN DARK ALE
1^st Place: Reuben’s Brews Black Imperial India Pale Ale
2^nd Place: Counterbalance Brewing Co./Flying Bike Cooperative Brewery Storm Cycle
3^rd Place: Spinnaker Bay Brewing Black High Heel

BEST STOUT/PORTER
1^st Place: Icicle Brewing Dark Persuasion German Chocolate Cake Ale
2^nd Place: Reuben’s Brews Foreign Export
3^rd Place: Deschutes Brewery Obsidian

Industry Influencer: James Walton, Storm Brewing, Vancouver

Best Northwest Beer Tour: Vancouver Brewery Tours, Vancouver

Best Local Beer List: Parkway Tavern, Tacoma, WA

Best Newcomer: Holy Mountain Brewing Co., Seattle

Best Northwest Beer Festival: Bend Brewfest, Bend, OR

Best for Liquid Lessons: Naked City Think & Drink Series, Seattle

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BEST OF SPIRITS

BEST VODKA
1st Place: Wishkah River Distillery Vodka Distilled from Honey
2nd Place: Black Heron Spirits
3rd Place: 44° North Idaho Potato

BEST FLAVORED VODKA
1st Place: 44˚ North Sunnyslope Nectarine
2nd Place: 44° North Mountain Huckleberry
3rd Place: Batch 206 Distillery Mad Mint

BEST GIN
1st Place: Vivacity Spirits Bankers’ Gin
2nd Place: Mt. Index Brewery & Distillery Wild Sky Pot Still
3rd Place: Big Bottom Distilling Oregon

BEST BARREL-AGED GIN
1st Place: Captive Spirits Distilling Bourbon Barreled Big Gin
2nd Place: The Liberty Distillery Endeavour Old Tom
3rd Place: Batch 206 Distillery Count Old Tom

BEST UNAGED WHISKEY
1st Place: Bad Dog Distillery Grandpa’s Likker
2nd Place: Cowlitz River Distillery Smokey Valley Moonshine
3rd Place: Skip Rock Distillers Headwaters

BEST WHISKEY
1st Place: Big Bottom Distilling Barlow Trail, Port Cask Finish
2nd Place: Bull Run Distilling Co. Temperance Trader Bourbon
3rd Place: Hood River Distillers Pendleton 1910 Rye Whisky

BEST RUM
1st Place: Skip Rock Distillers Belle Rose Double Barrel
2nd Place: 3 Howls Distillery Gold Label
3rd Places: 3 Howls Distillery Spiced Flavored

BEST SPECIALTY
1st Place: Gnostalgic Spirits Distillery Marteau Belle Epoque Extrait d’Absinthe
2nd Place: Nightside Distillery Apple Pie Moonshine
3rd Place: Sound Spirits Aquavit

BEST EAU DE VIE/BRANDY
1st Place: BelleWood Distilling Reserve Apple Brandy
2nd Place: Skip Rock Distillers Asian Pear
3rd Place: BelleWood Distilling Eau de Vie

BEST FRUIT LIQUEUR
1st Place: Whidbey Island Distillery Raspberry
2nd Place: Whidbey Island Distillery Blackberry
3rd Place: Skip Rock Distillers Raspberry

BEST NON-FRUIT LIQUEUR
1st Place: Salish Sea Organic Liqueurs Ginger
2nd Place: Salish Sea Organic Liqueurs Hibiscus
3rd Place: RiverSands Distillery Kennewick Kennlueur

BEST DESSERT LIQUEUR
1st Place: Mt. Index Brewery & Distillery Black Cat Coffee
2nd Place: Seattle Distilling Coffee
3rd Place: Vivacity Spirits Turkish Coffee

Industry Influencer: Gordon Glanz, Odd Society Spirits, Vancouver

Best Northwest Spirits Tour: Distillery Row Walking Tour, Portland

Best Local Spirits List: Local 360 Cafe & Bar, Seattle

Best Newcomer: Salish Sea Organic Liqueurs, Lacey, WA

Best Northwest Spirits Festival: TOAST Portland, Portland

Best for Liquid Lessons: Liberty Bar, Seattle

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Sip Northwest would like to thank Kerloo Cellars, Wine World & Spirits, Capitol Cider and the panels of  judges for their participation in this issue:

BEER: Dan Armerding, Dan Armstrong, Caylee Betts, John Beuscher, Randall Breedlove, Yvonne Davis, Bean Fairbanks, Ashley Fender, Dan Freuh, Erik Gedde, Morgan Herzog, Kendall Jones, Kim Sharpe-Jones, Mark Krukar, Rob Lisaius, Steve Luke, Kevin Miller, Samantha Morin, Joe Nation, Paul Orchard, Andy Reineke, Ian Roberts, Don Scheidt, Gary Sink and Matt Younts

SPIRITS: Erick Armentrout, Erica Beindorff, Andrew Friedman, Barbara Harnish, Brett Konen, David Little, Andy McClellan, Casey Robison, Leroy Thomas and Sarah Wright

CIDER: Chris Austin, Tyler Hurst, Bean Fairbanks, David Flaherty, Dan Freuh, Kendall Jones, Sarah Silverman, Erika Tedin, Julia Wayne, Dave White and Catherine Ferrante

WINE: Dave Bender, Chris Chan, Regina Daigneault, Nick Davis, Shelly Fitzgerald, Zach Geballe, Beth Hickey, Chris Horn, Rebecca Koehler, Sharon McLean, Rebecca Murphy, Chris Nishiwaki, Thomas Price, Treve Ring, Aaron Snyderman, Paul Swanson and Peter Szymczak