If Tony Bennett is the sweetest guy in show business, and James Brown was the hardest-working, Bob Betz, winemaker-owner of Betz Family Winery in Woodinville, is the Bennett and Brown of the Washington state wine industry, with a little Mister Rogers thrown in for good measure.

The soft-spoken Betz, an unabashedly positive guy, has been on the Northwest wine scene since the beginning of Washington's modern wine industry - 28 years with Chateau Ste. Michelle alone. He never misses an opportunity to teach, albeit in a gentle, wide-eyed manner. At almost 60 years old, Betz still speaks with passion, eloquence and pride. His tireless advocacy and expertise convince others outside the industry to listen.

"I loved being a part of the modern birth of our industry," says Betz, who runs his family winery with wife Cathy and daughter Carmen. "I love teaching, and by doing so hope it helps to give rise to the next generation of winemakers. We are coming into our own as winemakers, but this is still the beginning for us."

Interns are a common sight at Betz Family Winery. Betz himself is a frequent guest speaker at wine seminars and fundraisers. You'll even see him answering questions at the local grocery store.

"He is extremely caring," says Cathy, who met Bob at an ice cream parlor in the late 1960s while attending the University of Washington. "He has a hard time saying no to people."

Betz left Chateau Ste. Michelle to focus on his small boutique winery because he "wanted to get my hands dirty again. I wanted those purple stains," he says.

Quietly, and on the side, Betz began producing small lots of wine in 1997,making the Rhone blends, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah that he enjoyed drinking. Washington state produces very good red grapes, and Betz said his philosophy was to use the best ingredients to start with, focusing on the purity of the varieties, and be meticulous in the winery, from cleanliness to careful attention to even the smallest details.

Indeed, it's that very attention to detail that scores big with national wine critics. He was recently named Winemaker of the Year by Sunset Magazine, which cited the intense fruit and structure of all his wines, reflecting Betz's artisanal passion. Betz Family Winery has been named Artisan Winery of the Year by Wine & Spirits Magazine. And Wine Spectator recently dubbed his 2005 Syrah offerings "stunning."

The Betzes say they are thrilled by all the accolades and attention, and then quietly go about their business in their relatively new (2005) but modest winery, located about 200 feet from their house. They have been in the industry long enough to know that no two years are the same in the vineyard and consistency year after year is full-time work. "We produce a certain style of wine because we like it," says Cathy. "There is plenty of room for different styles, but we are thrilled that so many people seem to enjoy it."

Betz says his goal is to continue to define the Betz wine style so that it has distinction and character. He spends months in blending trials, more than twice the amount of time as most other winemakers. The other goal is to continue educating the world about the top qualities of Washington state wines.

"Ten years ago, I don't think you would see a Washington winemaker selected as winemaker of the year," says Betz. "We are taking our place, and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the best producers in the world."

Betz released his 2005 Rhone-inspired wines in September and immediately sold out at the winery. He is expected to release his Bordeaux blends in early 2008, and even the modest Betz proclaims them the best he ever made. The wines reflect the perfect balance of flavor with enough backbone to showcase the finesse and elegance of gently handled fruit. Expect to see big scores on those blends when they're released, and more industry hugs for Betz.