There’s a lot to love about going to a wine tasting room: great wines straight from the winery, a cool atmosphere, knowledgeable staffers and maybe even a sommelier. Yet one thing they’re almost always lacking is food that’s a bit more substantial than a collection of cheeses. While a smattering of terrific cheese is nothing to complain about, sometimes you just want a meal designed from start to finish to pair with the wine of your choice. These nine wineries all share that desire to pair fantastic food with fantastic wine and have either attached restaurants to their wineries or built sister restaurants to do just that.
Vin du Lac || Chelan, WA
Owner Larry Lehmbecker founded Vin du Lac to create great wines that paired well with the food from the bistro located right on the winery’s vineyard at Lake Chelan. The bistro, which began as a deli, serves local meats and seafood, house-made pasta and local artisan cheeses. Vin du Lac’s executive chef, Joseph Nagy, also runs the popular Maki Sushi in downtown Chelan.
Crossings Winery || Glenns Ferry, ID
Located at Crossings Winery, the sister restaurant Tannins offers a menu that Chef Christian Phernetton promises will “remind you of your childhood favorites and surprise your adult palates.” With fun takes on old favorite that have been inspired by the winery they call home, it’s easy to believe Phernetton’s bold claims.
Swiftwater Cellars || Cle Elum, WA
Taylor Widrig, head chef at Swiftwater Cellar’s Hoist House restaurant, is a Washington native committed to crafting a menu that showcases the flavors of the Pacific Northwest. With a menu that ranges from a variety of flatbread pizzas to a coffee-crusted rack of lamb and goat cheese stuffed ravioli, it’s safe to say that Widrig has achieved that goal.
King Estate || Eugene, OR
King Estate opened their restaurant in 2006 to serve food that was designed to pair with their variety of wines. All of their food is made with local ingredients, like their duck breast with Mount Rainier cherry compote, or their filet mignon with Willamette Valley-raised beef. Located at the estate vineyard, King Estate’s wine and food alike are sure to please.
Gray Monk Estate Winery || Lake Country, BC
Gray Monk Estate Winery’s Grapevine Restaurant & Patio is located, as the name would suggest, at the winery’s vineyard. With a menu that includes dishes like their wild boar & pork hock chorizo paprikash and a New York steak with a wild mushroom pear cake, this is one winery/restaurant combo you do not want to miss.
Bunnell Family Cellar || Prosser, WA
Bunnell Family Cellar’s bistro Wine O’Clock offers an intriguing menu that won’t break the bank. Halibut with miso marinade and ginger coconut rice and a variety of flatbreads are sure to pique the curiosity of more than a few and makes for an evening that’s both affordable and delicious.
Quails’ Gate || West Kelowna, BC
Another West Kelowna-based winery, Quails’ Gate also overlooks the winery’s vineyard and Okanagan Lake, in addition to offering a view of Mount Boucherie. With dishes like cod with smoked mussels, pork belly with braised octopus, and dry aged ribeye, Chef Roger Sleiman has crafted a creative menu bound to please both picky and open-minded eaters alike, which is certainly no easy feat.
DANCIN Vineyards || Medford, OR
If you’re looking to enjoy great wines but want a simple, approachable menu, then DANCIN Vineyards has you covered. Small share plates, a range of artisan wood-fired pizzas and house-made desserts, the winery-restaurant makes wine-friendly food accessible and enjoyable while dining on the forested patio and next to vineyard views.
Tagaris Winery || Richland, WA
Chef Joshua Duquist’s menu, including a sizable selection of tapas, has long been lauded by food critics and casual diners alike. With a huge variety of dishes, ranging from several flatbreads to a bison steak with goat cheese cream sauce, Tagaris Winery’s restaurant will not disappoint. Throw in a collection of terrific wines, and you have a winning recipe if we’ve ever seen one.
