While Woodinville, Washington may not be a grape-growing region, it has become the state’s top wine country destination.
Incorporated in 1992, Woodinville has a population of just under 15,000 yet welcomes more than two million visitors a year. Walla Walla, Washington’s premier wine-growing region, sees about 700,000.
Much of its success can be attributed to its accessibility to Seattle and nearby Bellevue, where more than half of the population of Washington State resides.
These city-dwelling wine lovers – and visiting tourists – might make the four-hour, 440km drive to Walla Walla once a year, but Woodinville is just a 30-minute drive from Seattle (just 15 minutes from the tech hub of Bellevue) so they can easily visit anytime they like, as many times as they’d like, throughout the year, without having to make it an overnight or full weekend trip.
Woodinville offers anyone interested in Washington wines an opportunity to taste from all over the state in one place. But how did so many wineries end up in an area that isn’t a wine-growing region?
Woodinville pioneers
Until recently, there had always been an ordinance in Woodinville that required wineries which wanted to open tasting rooms to also produce wine there. The ordinance has been under debate for years, and a decision on whether it will be changed or lifted is expected this summer.
Chateau Ste Michelle, Washington’s oldest winery, was the first to lead the way in 1976 when it built its French-style estate in Woodinville. It only makes white wines here; the red wine production facility remains in Eastern Washington. Columbia Winery (founded in 1962 and bought by Constellation Brands before being sold to current owner E&J Gallo) followed suit in 1988, moving its winery and production facility to Woodinville.
Other wineries that moved all or part of their production to Woodinville between then and the early 2000s include DiStefano, DeLille, Matthews, Betz, JM Cellars, Januik and Novelty Hill.
Today Woodinville boasts more than 130 wineries spread throughout four winemaking districts: Downtown, Hollywood, Warehouse and West Valley.
Woodinville wineries: five of the best tasting room visits
Located in an industrial business park within Woodinville’s Hollywood district, DeLille Cellars’ modern, three-storey winery, hospitality centre and restaurant opened in 2019. The original winery, founded in 1992, was until recently housed in a French château-style estate that now belongs to Chateau Lill (a separate winery and business, though there are still connections between the two, see below). DeLille Cellars’ focus is on Bordeaux-style blends, sourcing fruit from prestigious vineyards including Red Mountain. DeLille guests can enjoy a seated tasting of four or five wines in the tasting room or make a reservation for a wine-focused dining experience at the on-site restaurant.
- Address 14300 145th St NE, Woodinville, WA 98072
- Open tasting room 11am-5pm; restaurant Wednesday to Friday 3pm-9pm, Saturday 2pm-9pm, Sunday 2pm-8pm
While Chateau Lill’s main business is hosting private events (particularly weddings but also live music events), it still welcomes guests who simply want to visit the estate and taste wines. The building has the look and feel of French country winery, complete with a grand barrel room, stately reception room (with a roaring fire on chilly days) and balconies with panoramic views. The focus here is on easy-to-drink, affordable, European-style wines, and visitors can make a reservation for a 90-minute seated tasting (indoors or outside) of five wines and a shareable charcuterie and cheese plate.
- Address 14208 Redmond-Woodinville Rd NE, Redmond, WA 98052
- Open Friday-Sunday by appointment
Founded in 2010 by winemaker Chris Peterson (former head winemaker at DeLille Cellars) and his business partner, Avennia has quickly garnered a reputation for its wines, including second label Liminal. Its mission is to source fruit from not just Washington’s best vineyards but to select the best parcels within them – primarily those with older vines and moderate climates. Peterson has a minimalist, Old World-style winemaking approach, focusing on judicious blending to highlight the innate characters of each variety and plot, and ensuring the finished wines are elegant and fresh with balanced acid, fruit and tannin.
- Address 19255 Woodinville-Snohomish Rd NE State 1, Woodinville, WA 98072
- Open daily 11am-5pm
Owner-winemaker Mari Womack’s business is one of a handful of boutique or micro-wineries tucked away at the rear of a small complex in Woodinville’s Warehouse district. Her wines range from vineyard-specific whites – including a Boushey Vineyard Marsanne – to soft, balanced reds from Grenache, Syrah, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Mourvèdre. The tasting room, opened in 2020, is an intimate, bright and modern space complete with tasting counter, high bar-style tables and a larger table for groups. Tastings are available by appointment on Friday afternoons, Saturdays and Sundays and are generally hosted by Mari herself.
- Address 18746 142nd Ave NE, Woodinville, WA 98072
- Open Friday 4pm-7pm, Saturdays/Sundays 1pm-5pm
In the Artisan Hill neighbourhood of Woodinville’s Warehouse district this winery’s tasting room boasts lots of space for groups and is also dog friendly. Lobo Hills wines are mainly red but they also make several unique whites including a Chenin Blanc, Auxerrois, Riesling and a pét-nat. There’s a focus on minimal intervention (wines are unfined and unfiltered), and natural materials, like rocks from the vineyard, are used in fermentation. The aim is for wines to exude sense of place and have a natural freshness with balanced tannins and alcohols. Groups of more than five need to make a reservation for tastings, otherwise walk-ins are welcome and you can choose your own five wines to try. Private tastings outside of normal opening hours are available by appointment.
- Address 18506 142nd Ave NE, Woodinville, WA 98072
- Open Friday 3pm-7pm, Saturday-Sunday 12pm-6pm
Woodinville: where to eat, drink and stay
Tucked into a small shopping centre alongside tasting rooms and a mix of casual and upscale restaurants, this spot is a regular haunt of local winery employees for good reason. The bar offers both table seating and an expansive bar, with a diverse offering of light bites to big helpings of comfort food. The wine list is also one of the best in Woodinville, especially the by-the-glass selections, and guests even order half glasses if they want to try a few different things. The ambiance is warm, casual and bustling (it fills up fast from 5pm and stays busy most of the evening), portions are generous (great for sharing) and the staff is friendly, attentive and efficient.
- Address 14459 Redwood-Woodinville Rd NE, Woodinville WA 98072
- Open Monday-Thursday 4pm-9pm, Friday 11am-9pm, Saturday-Sunday 10am-9pm
Located at Willows Lodge, a popular getaway for Seattle-ites seeking a relaxing weekend away in wine country, The Barking Frog is a favourite of winemakers, wine industry professionals and visitors alike. With a constantly changing seasonal menu that features locally sourced produce and innovative dishes, the restaurant offers a vibrant, upscale dining experience. A partially open kitchen allows guests to watch the chefs prepping plates, and the wine list allows for an extensive tour of Washington’s top producers (and some international selections). Expect fine-dining service, portions and prices.
- Address 14580 145th St NE, Woodinville, WA 98072
- Open daily 7am-9pm; weekend brunch 7am-3pm
Just a 15-minute drive from Woodinville and 20 minutes from Seattle, The Bellevue Collection, in the tech city of Bellevue, is a district of premium hotel, dining, shopping and nightlife options all within a few minutes walk of each other, all connected via a network of sky bridges. Try cocktails at Ascend Prime Steak & Sushi on the 31st floor, with panoramic views towards Seattle and the Cascade mountain range. Then head for dinner at The Lakehouse, which sources ingredients from local growers and farmers under the helm of a James Beard award-winning chef. To stay, luxury hotel options include the Hyatt Regency Bellevue, The Westin Bellevue or W Bellevue.
- Address 575 Bellevue Square, Bellevue, WA 98004
- Open daily 10am-9pm
Woodinville, Washington: eight wines to try
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