Betz Family Winery
Washington, United States
Established in 1997 by Bob and Cathy Betz, Betz Family Winery has emerged as a celebrated small-scale wine producer in the Columbia Valley viticultural area of Washington. With a focus on crafting exceptional Bordeaux-style and Rhône-style wines, the winery has garnered a reputation for its dedication to quality and meticulous attention to detail.
Bob Betz, a seasoned winemaker with a wealth of experience, embarked on a year-long training journey through the vineyards of France, Italy, and Germany in 1974. This formative experience laid the foundation for his illustrious career, which began in 1975 at Chateau St. Michelle, Washington’s preeminent wine company.
.
.
Over the years, Bob’s expertise and passion for winemaking flourished, leading him to become Vice President Winemaking Research at Chateau St. Michelle in 1984. However, driven by a desire to create his own wines, Bob and Cathy crushed their first vintage of Betz Family wines in 1997. With the support of their dedicated volunteer friends, they produced a limited quantity of approximately 150 cases in the warehouse district of Woodinville.
Bob’s pursuit of excellence didn’t stop there. In 1998, he achieved the prestigious Master of Wine degree, joining the ranks of only 278 MWs worldwide. His exceptional performance in the exams earned him the Robert Mondavi Award for the highest scores in theory exams and the Villa Maria Award for the highest scores in the viticultural exam.
The success of Betz Family Winery continued to soar, leading to the construction of a state-of-the-art winery in Woodinville in 2005. This facility provided the ideal environment for Bob and his team to craft their exceptional wines, showcasing the unique terroir of Washington’s wine regions.
.
.
Recognition for Betz Family Winery’s exceptional wines followed suit. In 2007, Bob was honored as Sunset Magazine’s Winemaker of the Year, a testament to his expertise and dedication. The accolades continued in 2008 when the Betz Family Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 was named Washington’s Number One Wine of the Year by esteemed wine critic Paul Gregutt of the Seattle Times.
In 2011, Bob and Cathy made the decision to pass the torch and sold Betz Family Winery to Steve and Bridgit Griessel. However, Bob’s role as the winery’s patriarch, mentor, and Winemaker remained intact, ensuring a seamless transition and the preservation of the winery’s legacy.
Under Bob’s guidance, Betz Family Winery continued to flourish. The 2009 Pere de Famille, Cabernet Sauvignon was honored as Washington red wine of the year by Seattle Magazine in 2012, solidifying the winery’s reputation for excellence. In 2014, the 2010 Pere de Famille ranked #6 in the World in Wine Enthusiast’s Top 100 Cellar Selections, further cementing Betz Family Winery’s status as a producer of world-class wines.
.
.
Expanding their portfolio, Betz Family Winery acquired the Old Stone Vineyard in the Rocks of Milton Freewater and 40 acres on SeVein in Walla Walla in 2015. These new vineyard holdings added further depth and diversity to the winery’s sourcing capabilities.
In 2016, a new chapter began for Betz Family Winery as Louis Skinner was promoted to Winemaker, while Bob Betz transitioned into the role of Consulting Winemaker. This strategic move ensured the continuation of the winery’s commitment to crafting exceptional wines that reflect the unique characteristics of Washington’s terroir.
Today, Betz Family Winery stands as a testament to the Betz family’s passion, expertise, and unwavering pursuit of winemaking excellence. With a focus on Bordeaux-style and Rhône-style wines sourced from esteemed partner vineyards across the Columbia Valley, the winery continues to captivate wine enthusiasts and connoisseurs with its exceptional offerings.
.
Video
Betz Family's Wines
-
Betz Family Winery Pere de Famille Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon
-
Betz Family Winery Clos de Betz
Bordeaux Blend Red
-
Betz Family Winery Heart of the Hill Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon
-
Betz Family Winery La Cote Rousse Syrah
Syrah
-
Betz Family Winery "The Untold Story" Red Blend
Cabernet - Merlot - Syrah
Winery STAR GUIDE
NORTH AMERICA
Opus One Winery Star Wine Leaders’ Choice California,…
Inglenook Winery Star Wine Leaders’ Choice California, United…
Westcott Vineyards Winery Star Wine Leaders’ Choice Niagara,…
Castello di Amorosa Winery Star Wine Leaders’ Choice…
Lava Cap Winery Star Wine Leaders’ Choice Placerville,…
Domaine Carneros Winery Star Wine Leaders’ Choice Napa…
L’Ecole No 41 Winery Star Wine Leaders’ Choice…
Bachelder Winery Star Wine Leaders’ Choice Niagara, Canada…
Walter Scott Winery Star Wine Leaders’ Choice Salem,…
Ridge Vineyards Winery Star Wine Leaders’ Choice California,…
Martha Cisneros WIA Ambassador USA Martha Cisneros is the Wine Blogger, Content Creator, and Sommelier in the works behind WineDivaa.com. She earned her nickname ‘WineDivaa’ in College, where her friends used to ask for wine recommendations. She graduated from Tec de Monterrey, one of only 45 universities in the World…
Frederik Mintz WIA Ambassador Denmark Frederik Mintz is on a journey experiencing the wonders of the grapes. A love affair that started with exploring the Champagnes of France – and with curiosity for Sparkling wines in general. It’s not education, it’s not work – but pure dedication and love for champagne.. As a…
Vanessa Fabiani WIA Ambassador Italy Vanessa Fabiani is a wine content creator for social media. She is a certified international sommelier, member of the Italian Sommelier Association and official certified technical wine taster. She lives in Rome and she loves Italian wine such as Barolo and Barbera and especially Sicilian…
Mary John WIA Ambassador Australia Mary John, the face behind @perthwinegirl, is a wine enthusiast from Perth, Australia, who loves sharing simple, fun and inclusive forms of wine communication outside the box. She is a Latin American Aussie with local and international experience traveling to many wine regions and writing…
Tabitha Watson WIA Ambassador Scotland Tabitha Watson is from the beautiful Scottish city of Edinburgh. Between her home and London, she works as a full time Theatrical Agent representing professional Actors in the Creative Arts Industry. Tabitha is also qualified in Business Administration, Digital Marketing and Business Management and Leadership.…
Maxence Jacquot WIA Ambassador France Maxence Jacquot is a wine professional from France. After attending a business school specializing in wine (Institut Supérieur du Vin à Montpellier en France), he worked as a press officer. Maxence was lucky to work for some of the biggest names in the French wine…
Karla & André Baader WIA Ambassadors Brazil Karla and André Baader are a couple of professional chefs and wine enthusiasts from Brazil. They started their journey into the world of wine and food, when they left their countries, Brazil and Guatemala, their full-time jobs, friends and family to become chefs…
Kirsty Woodgate WIA Ambassador UK Kirsty Woodgate DipWSET is a wine expert and communications professional from England, UK. She works as a Wine Writer, Wine Judge and Content Creator, and regularly hosts interactive wine tastings in her home county. . Wine ties together her passions, skills, qualifications and abilities. Her…
Jared Bayley WIA Ambassador UK Jared Bayley is the founder of Pour Some More – the concept being to meet some great people and review some fabulous drinks. For its creators, it was a challenge to build a social media following however the themes of being engaging, fun and informative…
Emma Brajkovic WIA Ambassador Spain Emma Brajkovic’s first introduction to the world of wine, was when she was a child, through the eyes of her parents, who owned and managed a restaurant in Paris specialized in Wines and Champagnes. She was regularly attending wine auctions at l’Hôtel Drouot while her…
David Martínez WIA Ambassador Spain David Martínez is a Sommelier from Sitges, Barcelona, Spain. He has been in the wine business for the last 20 years. He started his job as sommelier in a gastronomic restaurant, combining it with wine reviews in magazines, wine contests and traveling around to…
Simona Geri WIA Ambassador Italy Simona Geri lives in Tuscany, near Bolgheri. She is a Sommelier and founder of “The Winesetter.” She is a judge for wine competitions and also a content creator, wine communicator and wine taster. Simona collaborates with wineries, press offices, wine events as a media partner.…
Karen Kraakevik WIA Ambassador USA Karen, AKA The Napa Cowgirl, is a 5th generation rancher from Oklahoma bringing a mix of wine and country together that offers a relaxed western vibe into wine. She truly believes wine should be enjoyable for any lifestyle.. Karen is a wine representative helping wineries in the United…
Mariana Gil Juncal WIA Ambassador Argentina Mariana Gil Juncal is a Spaniard born in Argentina who lives in Buenos Aires, the daughter of a Galician father and a Buenos Aires mother. She is a specialist in social communication, journalist, and Certified Sommelier by the Court of Master Sommeliers.…
Ian Green WIA Ambassador UK Located in the heart of the beautiful English wine region of Sussex, Ian Green is a wine enthusiast and content creator whose mission is to break down the barriers to wine and to make it more approachable and accessible to all. . Ian’s passion for…
Madalena Vidigal WIA Ambassador Portugal Madalena Vidigal has a degree in Hotel Management and a postgraduate degree in Wine Tourism, Digital Marketing and Viticulture. She is a wine producer in Alentejo, the south of Portugal. She has two great passions that are present in everything she does: wine and travel!. For 10…
STAR GUIDE LAtin america
Viña MontGras Awarded By: Viña MontGras In 1993…
Familia Schroeder Awarded By: Mariana Gil Juncal Marisol…
El Cielo Winery Winery Star Wine Leaders’ Choice…
Família Geisse Winery Star Wine Leaders’ Choice Pinto…
Bodega Monteviejo Winery Star Wine Leaders’ Choice Argentina,…
Viña Undurraga Winery Star Wine Leaders’ Choice Talagante,…
Vinícola Góes Winery Star Wine Leaders’ Choice Canguera,…
Viapiana Awarded By: Fabiana Aguinsky Viapiana Viapiana Vinhos…
Is there anything better than exploring the wine valleys of Napa Country, California, on a vintage train with amazing views, delicious meals and wine tastings? Solve…
Brooklyn Winery is an urban, boutique winery located in the heart of Williamsburg in Brooklyn, New York. At this boutique urban winery set in Brooklyn’s vibrant…
Yarra Valley is a well-respected Australian wine region located on the eastern half of the Port Phillip viticultural zone in the state of Victoria. The Valley…
Whether it’s to perfect your favourite blend or to broaden your palate with new variations, custom wine can be a lot of fun! Try Wives Wine…
