Woodinville Wine Country: Its appeal stretches beyond the 100-plus wineries that call this Seattle suburb home
Plenty of breweries, distilleries and restaurants make Woodinville a great extended-stay destination.
By Dan Radil
Part of the experience of visiting Avennia Winery is listening to Tasting Room Associate Gary Murfitt share the story behind each wine he pours. Photo by Travis Gillett.
The City of Woodinville, located just 20 minutes northeast of Seattle and an easy, 90-minutes-or-less drive from the North Puget Sound region, has become a mecca for Washington wineries.
Alyssa Lilequist, Director of Marketing for Woodinville Wine Country, estimates that more than 110 winery tasting rooms are located in and around the City, with 70 of those using the area for their production facilities as well.
But here’s the cool thing about Woodinville: it’s not just for wine enthusiasts. With plenty of breweries, distilleries, and restaurants also nearby, the City has broadened its appeal for those looking for a day-trip, weekend, or extended-stay destination…with wine tasting at its center, of course.
WINERIES: SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
The diversity of wineries in Woodinville – from boutique to family-owned to Eastern Washington-based large-scale producers – practically guarantees a “something for everyone” tasting experience.
One of the city’s original wineries, Chateau Ste. Michelle, is also the state’s largest. It offers a sleek, spacious tasting room along with a number of wine-related activities such as the “Art of Blending Experience.” Hosted by Wine Educator Laura Kasser in an informal classroom setting, participants can customize their own red blend from six Bordeaux varietals and take a finished bottle home with them.
Pam Adkins, Winemaker/Owner at Adrice Wines, worked at several wineries including Ste. Michelle, Oregon’s Rex Hill, and Napa Valley’s Orin Swift before opening her winery near Woodinville’s Warehouse District in 2016. Her cozy, slightly-off-the-beaten-path tasting room is a welcome respite from some of the area’s larger venues.
Ste. Michelle’s Wine Educator Laura Kassar prepares a custom-made blend based on a taster’s specifications during one of her wine blending classes.
Adkins has an affinity for Italian varietals and likes to work with them on a stand-alone basis whenever possible. Try her 2016 Nebbiolo, an earthy, smoky Old-World style red she refers to as her “pizza wine” or her 2016 Montepulciano, a rare-to-Washington varietal with delicious bright cherry flavors and a slightly chocolatey finish.
At nearby Avennia, winemaker Chris Peterson (who’s also consulting winemaker for Passing Time Winery) draws on some of the state’s finest vineyard sources such as Red Willow, Boushay, Dionysus, and Bacchus for his wines.
His red blends are outstanding, including a beautifully crafted, perfectly balanced Grenache-Mourvèdre-Syrah trio of grapes in his 2016 Justine and his Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot-Cabernet Franc 2016 Gravura. “We rarely use aggressive oak,” says Avennia Tasting Room Operations Manager Andrew Bradshaw, noting that “it should carry the wine but not overtake it.”
Peggy and John Bigelow are the perfect hosts at their must-visit winery: JM Cellars.
Red wine lovers will also enjoy a visit to JM Cellars, where husband-and-wife owners John and Peggy Bigelow will greet you with a smile and plenty of stellar, handcrafted wines.
John’s winemaking philosophy is remarkably simple: “a good recipe, fresh ingredients, cleanliness, and experimentation over time.” The Bigelow’s success can be measured by both a large and loyal wine club and the fact that virtually all of their sales are done from their Woodinville tasting room.
Lounge on the patio, play a game of bocce ball, or take a stroll through the winery’s private arboretum and enjoy a glass of JM Cellars’ crown jewel, the newly released 2016 Tre Fanciulli. This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah, sourced from Red Mountain’s Klipsun Vineyards, is packed with juicy black cherry fruit, nuances of minerality, and great finishing acidity.
And for those who might enjoy a little art with their wine, a stop at Woodinville’s Pondera Winery is a must. The winery shares a space with Howard/Mandville Art Gallery and features a collection of excellent wines from Shane Howard with unique, eye-catching wine labels.
Growing up in the Pacific Northwest art community, the self-taught Howard equates this experience with making his wines: “I think of it as more of an art, and blending is how I put my signature on the wine.” His 2014 Entourage is a perfect example; a tasty blend of five Bordeaux red varietals that displays depth, character, and balance.
White wine drinkers will also enjoy the Pondera 2017 Chardonnay and the 2017 Viognier, a stainless steel-fermented mouthful of peach and stone fruit flavors that’s absolutely delicious.
DINING OPTIONS
Chef Breanna Beike of Heritage Restaurant & Bar begins preparations for another stellar salad.
Chef Beike’s “Pie in Jar” is a completely over-the-top twist on Key Lime pie.
Who wants to waste valuable time eating when there are so many wines to taste, right? Well, you might want to rethink that strategy after a stop at a couple of Woodinville’s fine dining establishments.
In addition to outlets in downtown Seattle and Bellevue, the Purple Café is a great venue for either lunch or dinner in the heart of Woodinville Wine Country.
The menu includes a well-rounded selection of salads, sandwiches, flatbreads, and pastas and the Pan-Roasted Filet Mignon is a larger-than-expected, cooked-to-perfection choice served with truffled polenta, mushrooms, and porcini butter.
Where Purple really shines is its list of wine flights — three 2.5 ounce pours of reds, whites, or mixed trios, many of which include current releases from local wineries.
Heritage Restaurant and Bar is a favorite with the Woodinville locals…and with good reason. Chef/Owner Breanna Beike has created a venue that’s welcoming and immensely satiating, with moderate prices and lovingly prepared attention-to-detail culinary choices that will make this your go-to place for dining while visiting the area.
Beike is a self-proclaimed “seafood and vegetables girl,” and it shows. These two menu staples, served always at their freshest, are included in selections such as Oysters with Shallot Thyme Mignonette, Lemon Chili Sauce and Horseradish, or Caramelized Sea Scallops with Parsnip Purée and Turnips.
The simplest touches such as the creamy/dreamy, Saffron Aioli make a delicious, half-pound Heritage Burger with hand-cut fries even better; an extraordinary house salad with locally-grown greens includes crumbled French feta cheese, honey almonds and a flavorful, pomegranate-hazelnut vinaigrette.
And be sure to save room for Beike’s completely-over-the-top desserts. Recent choices, including House-made Chocolate and Salted Caramel Ice Cream and the amazing Pie in a Jar – key lime curd, graham crackers and toasted marshmallow – were sublime.
FIRST-CLASS ACCOMMODATIONS
The two-story lobby is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to enjoying your stay at Willows Lodge. Located just down the street from Chateau Ste. Michelle,. the 84-room property features spacious rooms and amenities such as gas fireplaces, soaking tubs, patio or balcony, fully stocked mini bar and 24-hour room service. Photo courtesy of Willows Lodge.
There aren’t many hotels that carry a Woodinville address, so you may have to look to nearby Bothell, Kirkland, or Redmond for overnight accommodations. There is, however, one hotel that, simply put, is the place to stay when visiting the wine country.
Willows Lodge is an 84-room property located just down the street from Chateau Ste. Michelle. The rooms are spacious and warmly appointed and each includes an amazing list of amenities such as a gas fireplace, soaking tub, patio or balcony, fully-stocked mini-bar, and 24-hour room service.
The Lodge also features four outdoor patio gardens, drinking and dining options at the Barking Frog restaurant or Fireside Lounge, and an in-house spa and sauna.
The friendly staff and impeccable service may tempt you to linger at the hotel. Just remember, there’s a whole world of other things to do in Woodinville Wine Country that are certain to make your visit a memorable one.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Dan Radil is a freelance wine writer and educator based in Bellingham, WA., and has been an avid follower and supporter of the Washington wine industry since the mid-1980s. He currently contributes to Wine Press Northwest and Bellingham Alive Magazine, is President of the Whatcom Beer & Wine Foundation, and produces a wine blog called: danthewineguy.com
