When it comes to blogging about the people and places producing wine in Washington state, there is one site that stands out for its focused, in-depth coverage: Sean Sullivan's Washington Wine Report.

With his independent blog, Sean's mission is "bringing Washington wine to you and bringing you to Washington wine". Having followed the Washington Wine Report since its launch in June 2007, Sean has clearly fulfilled this mission, at least with this reader. In fact, Sean's success in connecting me to Washington wine is best articulated in a couple of recent posts on his blog.

The first piece, Best of Washington Wine Report, is a compilation of Sean's favorite posts from several hundred he published in 2009. While just a sample of Sean's terrific work going beyond the bottle, these highlighted posts demonstrate the breadth and depth of coverage afforded to each reader visiting his blog.

For example, his "Focus Reports" on wineries are both substantive and insightful, offering the reader connections not found elsewhere online. Sean's detailed Wine Reports provide a unique frame of reference on Walla Walla Valley wines released these last few years. And his multi-part series analyzing Washington wine ratings and reviews across the Wine Advocate, Wine Spectator, and Wine Enthusiast was extraordinary.

In another year-end feature, A Look Back at 2009, Sean offers a nice summary of the events, trends, and coverage influencing and impacting Washington wine. This compilation of news is one of the features I appreciate most about Washington Wine Report. Several times a month, Sean collects media coverage and organizes it into his "Washington Wine Round-up", a fantastic distillation of news from around the nation, blogosphere, and local sources.

If that weren't enough, Sean hosts a monthly virtual tasting event and conducts an annual reader survey to determine the state's wine of the year. As a result, the Washington Wine Report has initiated and maintained an ongoing dialogue with wine consumers currently enjoying or just discovering our state's wines. These efforts certainly speak to Sean's mission statement of bringing folks to Washington wine and vice versa.

With all that the Washington Wine Report comprises, it's no surprise that Sean Sullivan has become a recognized authority on our state's wine industry. His coverage has repeatedly been cited by wine blogger and professional writer alike, not just within the state or region, but around the nation. Best of all, Sean remains a modest blogger, someone you won't find posting about his blog's success or rankings.

If you are a consumer seeking to learn more about Washington wine, then the Washington Wine Report is a blog to follow. And if you are a blogger seeking to improve your coverage of wine, then Sean's focused, substantive approach is worth emulating. I certainly have benefitted as a wine consumer and blogger by following the Washington Wine Report these last few years.

Thanks Sean for all that you are doing to connect us to Washington wine. Keep up the good work in 2010!

Related Links
Beyond the Bottle's "Connections" Series