New Voice in Woodinville Wine

Despite the recent dusting of snow across Woodinville, spring is right around the corner. It’s the celebrated season of rebirth, complete with bulbs emerging and brunches-as-an-excuse-to-drink-wine-before-noon, and we at Patch are not immune to the spirit of change that spring ushers in. I’m your new wine writer and I’m excited for what’s in store.

In case you didn’t know, Woodinville has surpassed 80 wineries and tasting rooms. Did that figure astound you? It shouldn’t come as a complete surprise that Washington can produce some incredible grapes, given its bounty of incredible apples, berries, cherries, peaches, the list goes on. All it takes is a brief introduction to the local industry to realize this is serious business. Made-the-cover-of-Wine-Spectator serious. Washington wineries consistently produce award-winning wines and Woodinville has not one but two growing wine districts (the Warehouse and Tourist districts) with plenty of tasting rooms for you to discover the magic for yourself.

With that many options, you may find yourself glassy-eyed before a cork’s even been popped. We’ve got help for that. In the coming weeks you’ll find spotlights on the wineries and tasting rooms in Woodinville. You’ll find there are numerous varieties of wine available, a result of Washington’s terroir -- that indefinable French word that captures the essence of land, climate and environment that goes into the wine -- being favorable for several types of wine grapes (admittedly, as a Washington resident since 1997, learning this fact makes me feel a bit smug).

In addition to our virtual tour of Woodinville’s wine districts, we’ll learn more about the culture and the business of wine. Ever wonder why to go organic? Does it always mean a more expensive bottle of wine? There are a few local vintners incorporating organic or sustainable practices into their businesses that can weigh in on that topic. What about women vintners? Is winemaking a male-dominated business? How do our local female winemakers regard their contribution to the world of wine? Or perhaps you are starting from square one and would like to know how to approach a tasting room for the first time. You can look forward to an upcoming Wine Tasting 101 article to demystify the experience for you.

But wait, there’s more.

At the end of every article you’ll find a current listing of upcoming wine-related events. With such a hopping community, there’s almost always something going on, and typically that something is quite delicious.

Wherever you fall on the spectrum between neophyte and aficionado, we’re building this little corner of Patch to be your go-to guide for news and information on Woodinville wine (and beer and spirits -- we’ve got five distilleries). You know, so you can say you heard it through the grapevine. 

Events for the March 4 - 10

Friday, March 4

• , 14111 NE 145th Street, has First Friday happy hour from 5 – 7 p.m. 

• , 16116 140th Pl NE, has live music and complimentary appetizers during Friday Night Live, 7 – 9 p.m. Wine starts at $6 per glass.

Saturday, March 5

• , 19501 144th Avenue NW #D300, serves a different truffle with each wine during Red Wine and Chocolates, 1 – 5 p.m. The cost is $5 per person.

• , 14344 Woodinville Redmond Road NE, is participating in a Mardi Gras progressive appetizer party along with Tefft Cellars, Celaeno Winery/ and Zerba Cellars from 5 – 9 p.m., beginning at Challenger Ridge. Don your best mask and you may take home the prize. Tickets to the event are $25 per person and can be purchased at participating wineries.

• , 19495 144th AVE NE, Suite A-110, is celebrating the release of their 2008 Dungeon and 2008 Guillotine from 1 – 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Winemaker Derek Desvoigne will be on hand and special guest artist Tony Vujovich will be displaying his work.

• , 19501 144th Ave NE, Suite D700, has a pasta bar in the tasting room from 1 – 5 p.m. on Saturday.

• , 17721 132nd Ave NE, reopens their tasting room, resuming regular hours of noon – 5 p.m. $5 tasting fee, waived with purchase of wine.

Sunday, March 6

• Tefft Cellars, 16110 Woodinville Redmond Road NE, Suite 5, is raising funds for Ronald McDonald House with a book signing by children’s author, Cherie Helfin, from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Raffle tickets are $5 for a chance to win a signed book by the author or a private tasting at the Woodinville tasting room for 12 ($500 value). 

Tuesday, March 8

• , 16116 140th Pl NE, invites you to spend Mardi Gras wine tasting in Woodinville. They’ll supply the beads and a King’s Cake, the person who gets the piece with a surprise inside takes home a prize. This event is from 1 – 6 p.m.

Wednesday, March 9

• , 14030 NE 145th Street, is holding Washington vs. the World wine class in their tasting room where you will taste and compare Washington wines with their European counterparts. The class is 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. and registration is required. $25 per person / $15 Cellar Club members

Thursday, March 10

• Isenhower Cellars, 15007 Woodinville-Redmond Road, hosts a reception for artist Christina Harvey with free wine tasting and snacks from 5:50 – 8:30 p.m.