Washington state winery named top in U.S.

NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) - A winery in Washington state set up four years ago by American vintner Allen Shoup was named Winery of the Year on Wednesday in Food & Wine magazine's 10th annual American Wine Awards.

Long Shadows was set up in 2003 by Shoup, a key figure in the Washington wine industry who ran the Simson Lane wine group for about 20 years before retiring in 2000 and going alone.

The winery is an umbrella winery for several separate brands made by world renowned vintners from Italy, Australia, France, Germany, Chile and Napa Valley.

Under the Long Shadows name, each operates their individually owned and managed wineries to produce blends of reds and whites with grapes from all over Washington state.

The winery was chosen by editors from the magazine published by American Express Publishing and a panel of wine experts who each year select the best American wines from under and over $20 in eight categories.

Following is a list of this year's list of winners, as featured in the magazine's October issue:

Winery of the Year: Long Shadows in Walla Walla, Washington

Winemaker of the Year: Robert Foley at Robert Foley Vineyards in Napa, California

Wine Importer of the Year: Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant in Berkeley, California

BEST WINES $20 AND UNDER:

Sauvignon Blanc: 2006 Westerly Vineyards ($19)

Chardonnay: 2006 Chehalem Inox ($19)

Pinot Noir: 2005 Au Bon Climat Santa Barbara Country ($20)

Merlot: 2004 Praxis ($15)

Cabernet Sauvignon: 2004 Edge ($20)

Zinfandel: 2005 Joel Gott California ($17)