By Andy Perdue and Eric Degerman

Wine Press Northwest

It is August, and that means great bargains at Washington liquor stores.

Washington Wine Month at state liquor stores generally brings tremendous discounts while supporting state vintners. Last year, Washington Wine Month moved to September, but the state has returned it to August this year.

This year, wine lovers will see price reductions on nearly 200 different wines, with discounts ranging from 5 percent to nearly 50 percent. While many of the wines come from larger producers such as Columbia Crest, Hogue Cellars and Covey Run Winery, there also are several wines from smaller wineries, including Hyatt Vineyards, Randall Harris, Hoodsport Winery and Steppe Cellars.

Looking for even better prices? Buy a case, and you should see another 10 percent discount.

Here are a few of the best bargains we picked out:

— Washington Hills, which is owned by Precept Brands in Seattle, produces a three-liter premium boxed wine, the equivalent of four bottles of wine. Each box costs $14.99 at the liquor store, bringing the cost per “bottle” down to $3.75. It comes in Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Grigio and Merlot.

— Ste. Michelle Wine Estates in Woodinville produces a label called Stimson Estate Cellars (a nod to the company’s former name, Stimson Lane). These wines come in 1.5 liter bottles, double the normal size. The price for each during Washington Wine Month is $9.98, bringing the cost per 750-milliliter bottle down to $4.99. The wines include Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

— Precept Brands, which has become one of Washington’s largest wine producers in a short period of time, has six wines in standard 750 milliliter bottles priced at $4.99 each. They are: Washington Hills Rainier Red, Washington Hills Syrah, Washington Hills Chardonnay, Rainier Ridge Chardonnay, Rainier Ridge Merlot and Pine & Post Merlot.

— Five wines have been discounted more than 40 percent off the normal liquor store price. They are: Sagelands Vineyard Riesling ($6.99/47.25 percent off), Canoe Ridge Vineyard Merlot ($14.99/45.44 percent off), Randall Harris Merlot ($6.99/43.72 percent off), Columbia Winery Merlot ($7.99/42.89 percent off) and Columbia Winery Cabernet Sauvignon ($7.99/42.89 percent off).

— Barnard Griffin in Richland, one of the state’s largest and most celebrated family-owned wineries, has five wines on the list, including the Cabernet Sauvignon that recently won best in show at the Washington State Wine Competition. The wine retails for $17 at the winery and is on sale at the liquor store for $11.99. Barnard Griffin’s Fumé Blanc, a delicious white wine, goes for $5.99.

— Chateau Ste. Michelle, Washington’s oldest and best-known winery, has 10 wines listed — and all but two are under $10. Its Syrah, which normally sells for $15, is just $8.99, while its Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are $11.49 each. Its Dry Riesling, which wowed an international panel of Riesling experts in July, is $5.99, perhaps making it the steal of the month.

— Not to be outdone, Columbia Crest has nearly 20 wines on sale for Washington Wine Month. The state’s largest winery — also owned by Ste. Michelle — lists its “Two Vines” Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Vineyard 10 red blend at $6.95 each. Its extremely popular Grand Estates wines (Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Shiraz) will sell for $8.98 each.

— And Hogue Cellars in Prosser includes 13 wines, all under $10. Best bets include the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot for $7.99 each and the Gewürztraminer, Riesling and Fumé Blanc for $5.99 each.

Andy Perdue and Eric Degerman are the editors of Wine Press Northwest. For more information, go here.