A story problem for wine lovers: If you have one day in Woodinville, Washington, for wine tasting and 130+ wineries from which to choose; and those wineries open their doors between 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. and close between 5-8 p.m., and X wineries are open five days a week, Y wineries are open three days a week, and Z wineries only two, how many wineries have a Cab that will have you exclaiming, “OMG, this is amazing!”?
Psych! It’s a trick question. Washington is known for its big Cabs so you will likely go bonkers for more than one. Jokes aside, unless you have a time turner like Hermione did in Harry Potter, you can only visit four to five wineries in a day — and that’s if you are super efficient.
There are so many happy-making itineraries that you could plan in Woodinville. For this one-day adventure, we’ll concentrate on the newest wine areas of this popular wine destination — the adjacent Woodin Creek and the Schoolhouse districts.
But before you head to Woodinville, please double check that the wineries you are extra excited to visit are actually open at the time you plan to go (see the convoluted story problem above for why).
9 – 11 a.m.
Whether you’re visiting on a weekday or a weekend, no tasting rooms open before 11 a.m. If you want to get to Woodinville early, consider a stroll through Molbak’s,a perennial favorite among gardeners and gardener wannabes, and get your wine tasting “base” (AKA hearty breakfast) with savory breakfast sandwiches and frittatas in Molbak’s Garden Cafe. You could also find yourself a table at the French bistro-esque Rusty Pelican Café in Woodin Creek for omelets, pancakes and other diner favorites. For lighter fare, Sidekick Coffee has you covered with freshly roasted beans from local favorite Herkimer and a selection of pastries.
11 a.m.
In the Schoolhouse District, L’Ecole No. 41 has opened its first tasting room outside of Walla Walla. Whether you choose to sink into a comfortable, deep chair or take a seat at the bar, the attentive staff will offer you a selection of five wines with grapes sourced from across the Walla Walla Valley. Be sure to try the popular Sémillon. (L’Ecole is the largest producer of the grape in the state.) Across the walkway is Valdemar Estates, also with its first venture outside of Walla Walla. This fifth-generation winemaking family (the Bujandas started making wine in northern Spain in the late 1880s) offers Rioja and Garnacha from their vineyards in Spain as well as the Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah from their Washington vineyards. Also along the Schoolhouse Wine Walk is Barnard Griffin Winery’s modern new tasting room and the locally owned but globally sourced McQueen Champagne Bar.
1 p.m.
If you’re traipsing the Wine Walk on a weekend, make your way to the end and grab a late lunch at the Ballard Pizza Company and watch the fierce battles on the adjacent soccer fields, or stroll over to Woodin Creek to peruse the many burger/sandwich/salad choices at Woodin Creek Kitchen and Tap or the creatively composed tacos (Peruvian Mahi? BBQ Bacon Meatloaf? Yes, please!) at Lifted Taco.
2 p.m.
Alexandria Nicole has debuted a luxe new tasting room in Woodin Creek (their nearby Hollywood District location remains open). Well known for its small-lot big reds from Horse Heaven Hills, be sure to check out Alexandria Nicole’s cheeky new sparkling white and rosé line called Adulting. A few doors down, Chelan’s Tsillan Cellars has created a light-filled Italianate new space filled with cozy nooks in which to taste your way through a list that includes the lightly sweet Muscat and Riesling blend Dolce Donna, a crowd-pleaser. In European-inspired Wine Alley, you literally can’t pop a cork without hitting a tasting room. If you need help deciding where to go next, ask the experts at the Woodinville Wine Country Visitor Center.
As you stroll, don’t be surprised if you find yourself lured inside Swanky Scoop, drawn by the scent of freshly baked waffle cones (also available gluten free). Rhubarb Crisp or Honey Lemon Ricotta would be a perfect palate cleanser before your next wine tasting.
5 p.m.
Treat yourself to a paired tasting at Bayernmoor Cellars for happy hour or an early dinner. The small bites that accompany each of the four wines ( choose from the Signature tasting or Nothing But Pinot) are inventively designed and beautifully plated. Take a sip of the Estate Pinot and follow with a bite of artichoke croquette topped with romesco and fennel. Yum.
6:30 p.m.
Still hungry? Head down the road a bit to the new Von’s Woodinville or The Restaurant at DeLille Cellars. Both have full dinner menus and wine and cocktail lists.
8 p.m.
Time to go home. You can look at your haul tomorrow to remember what you bought — definitely some amazing Cabs!
