Six Must-Visit Tasting Rooms in Woodinville, Washington

I have spent the past year exploring wineries throughout Oregon and Washington. Today, let’s visit the wine district that sits just a quick 30-minute drive from Seattle: Woodinville, Washington. 

In this suburban wine oasis, you’ll find more than 130 wineries and tasting rooms, but to get you started, I’m highlighting six wineries from two Woodinville’s multiple wine districts. First up is tasting at a few of the region’s OG wineries in the Hollywood District, beginning with a visit to the state’s oldest existing winery: Chateau Ste. Michelle. 

The Chateau

Washington’s Chateau Ste. Michelle is an icon in not only the state’s wine industry, but American wine as well. It has largely shaped the trajectory of the Washington wine industry since its inception in 1934 and the variety of wines and immersive experiences found here will both surprise and delight.

Initially known for its Riesling production, the winery later diversified its portfolio, highlighting the versatility of the state’s terroir. As a leader in both production and distribution, accounting for more than 50% of the state’s entire share, the Chateau has helped bring Washington wines to a global audience and launched the wine tourism industry. Chateau Ste. Michelle sits on 105-wooded and idyllic acres, surrounded by lush gardens, vineyards, and sprawling lawns.

The tasting room is open daily and while reservations are recommended, walk-in appointments are available on a first come basis. And like the wines available to sample, there is no shortage of experiences to try – from classic flights or food pairings, to blending trials and sparkling extravaganzas.

You can also opt for something more private as well. Igloos are available for rental in the winter, the grounds are open for picnics year-round, and twilight hours are an option for a shared glass or bottle on Friday and Saturday evenings. The summer concert series is also an experience not to be missed. As for the wines, while you think you might know the range from your local market or restaurant, you have only seen the tip of the iceberg. 

Now, I will say this is a tourist destination. You will not be the only visitors on any given day. That said, the welcoming team will make you feel part of the family and make your experience one to remember. I personally have done the blending and food pairing tasting options, and let’s just say the blending experience got me into winemaking!

Yes, I loved it so much, I pursued a career in the cellar. I do not expect everyone to want to drop their corporate careers and jump into winemaking from this tasting, but I do expect you will walk away with newfound knowledge and unforgettable memories.

DeLille Cellars & Long Shadows

Across the street from the Chateau, within walking distance, is a bustling development within Woodinville’s Hollywood District. Here you will find several tasting rooms worth your time. I’m going to start you off with two: DeLille Cellars and Long Shadows. 

DeLille Cellars is housed within the glass-fronted Old Redhook Brewery building. Here guests can enjoy seated wine tastings at the Tasting Room or enjoy a variety of food, wine, beer and craft cocktails at the winery’s restaurant, The Restaurant at DeLille Cellars. Reservations are recommended for this award-winning winery founded in 1992 and best known for its Bordeaux-style wines.

DeLille Cellars is the creation of Chris Upchurch, Jay A. Soloff, Greg Lill, and his father Charles Lill, with a focus on blending Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. The wines are derived from grapes grown in the Red Mountain AVA and other prestigious vineyard sites throughout the Columbia Valley. And today, you will find a range of Bordeaux-style blends including a white wine from Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, as well as Chardonnay, sparkling wines and rosés.

Unless you are there specifically for lunch or dinner (which I’ve had highly recommended to me), I personally suggest the seated tasting. I was greeted with a glass of sparkling wine before walking to my personal tasting area. Make sure you take note of the “Winemaker’s Brain” art wall featuring the actual notes from harvest. It’s beautifully chaotic and a good representation of the intricacies of winemaking at that special time of year. As for the tasting, it was led by a dedicated guide that walks through each wine, its story, pairings, and age-worthiness. I enjoyed being there at the end of the day in summer as the sun streamed through those large open windows, and as anticipated the wines were well-crafted and noteworthy.

Long Shadows, sits adjacent to DeLille and again is within walking distance from both there and the Chateau. Long Shadows was founded in 2002 by Allen Shoup who had spent 20 years working at the Chateau. Mr. Shoup sought a winemaker that would both showcase the potential of Washington wines, but also foster international wine collaborations. Gilles Nicault, a French-born and trained winemaker with almost 10 years in Washington was chosen and he remains the head talent behind the entire range of Long Shadows wines. Together Mr. Shoup and Mr. Nicault spearheaded a series of partnerships with winemakers from around the world and today, those styles are still represented in the portfolio of wines.

As for visiting, appointments are recommended, but walk-ins will be seated if there is availability. The Woodinville tasting room offers portfolio tastings and seating either inside the spacious and modern tasting room, or on the rooftop patio with fireside seating and wooded views. The tastings feature a mixed flight, a white flight, and a red flight. I opted for the mixed flight to experience the full range of what Long Shadows has to offer and paired it with one of their delicious flatbreads. You can’t go wrong! Bring your friends and plan to relax in style.

L’Ecole N°41

The next three tasting rooms are found within the newly established, chic and hip, Wine Walk Row within the School House District of Woodinville; and we’re going to kick-off with one of the benchmark producers of Washington wine, L’Ecole N°41. These wines are among my favorites for their classic profiles, elegance, and beauty.

L’Ecole N°41, a third-generation family-owned winery, was founded in 1983 in Walla Walla Valley, where the original location is housed within the historic Frenchtown School depicted on the winery’s labels. Not only are these wines regularly highly regarded and award-winning, but L’Ecole N°41 is also at the forefront of sustainable farming on their two estate vineyards in Walla Walla Valley.

At the sleek Woodinville tasting lounge, guests can indulge in an exclusive wine-tasting experience where meticulously aged wines are paired side-by-side with the current release wines. This immersive experience is offered to both members and non-members and is paired pleasantly with an assortment of cheeses from The Seattle Cheese Lady. This is a not to miss winery in your Washington explorations and make sure to seek out a Chenin Blanc and Merlot!

Barnard Griffin

Located next door to L’Ecole No. 41 is another long-time favorite and more established Washington winery, Barnard Griffin. The winery and original tasting room are found in eastern Washington where it was begun in 1983 by Rob Griffin and his wife Deborah Barnard. Today the family operation also includes second-generation winemaker, daughter, Megan Hughes. It is one of Washington’s most enduring and award-winning wineries with a range of well-crafted wines from select vineyards across the state. 

I’ve visited Barnard Griffin several times, as well as found my way to their tastings in other states, and it’s not only for the wines. I love the people! The small but mighty team is well-educated, charismatic, and a ton of fun. And there is something for every palate from Riesling and Chardonnay to a rosé of Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabs, and Syrah. I have also been known to bring home and age a Petit Verdot or two!

McQueen Champagne Bar

For our last stop, it is not about Washington wine, but it is the perfect way to end (or begin) a day of wine tasting – with bubbles (although don’t miss out on tasting wines from mutually-owned Structure Cellars also available on the menu)! Woodinville’s self-proclaimed Queen of Champagne, Brandee Slosar, is the proprietor of McQueen Champagne Bar across the street from both L’Ecole N°41 and Barnard Griffin on the Wine Walk.

This former architect, turned make-up artist who created looks for New York’s biggest fashion shows, has taken Woodinville’s wine scene by storm, launching a total bubbles rebellion. Here you can order bubbles from around the world by the glass or bottle and enjoy them within the Versailles-inspired salon where bottles are pulled from “Champagne coffins” built under the raised floor. And Brandee is not only pouring something different she is also hosting a unique series of experiences that are worth keeping an eye out for – from running with the bulls, to red-carpet, drag-inspired paparazzi nights, to beach party themed wine releases.

Now, before you visit this bustling wine metropolis, let’s take a brief look at how and why Washington wine came to be and why Woodinville should be your next wine travel destination.  

Washington Wine

Washington wine took root in 1825, when the Hudson Bay Company at Fort Vancouver planted the first grape vines. Pioneer William B. Bridgman later introduced vinifera vines to Yakima Valley in the early 1900s, and in the 1930s, Dr. Walter Clore, recognized as the father of the Washington wine industry, researched what varieties would grow well in the state. These early innovations, research, and pioneers later gave way to the significant growth of the industry in the 1960s and 1970s.

The Yakima Valley, Columbia Valley, and Walla Walla Valley emerged as prominent wine regions, cultivating varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Riesling. And today the industry is thriving with more than 1,000 wineries and 80 different varieties planted across 20 American Viticultural Areas (AVAs).

But, although there are 60,000 acres of wine grapes across Washington, the majority are located within the Columbia Valley AVA and its nested AVAs in the eastern part of the state. Here, the Cascade Mountains block the wet weather from the Pacific Ocean and create dry, warm conditions. In other words, it is a high desert with as much as 17-hours of sun during the growing season, and very hot days followed by very cool nights. That diurnal temperature swing (sometimes as much as 50-degrees between day and night) is key for maintaining acidity in the grapes.

As for the soil, throughout the Columbia Valley you will find a basalt foundation resulting from old lava flows, glacial slack water deposits from the Missoula floods, loess and free draining, nutrient-poor composites making up the majority. These porous and well-draining soils are ideal for growing grapes and they provide a source of minerals to help the vines thrive. The majority of Washington’s AVAs are similar in climate to the Columbia Valley (with the exception of the Puget Sound AVA west of the Cascades), but with varied soils, micro-climates, and elevations. It is an arid to semi-arid state, geologically and geographically advantageous for growing a variety of grapes with balanced levels of acid, sugars, and structure. 

The Rise of Woodinville

It might surprise you to know, than 300,000 people flock to Woodinville each year to visit Chateau Ste. Michelle. And as you might expect, the region quickly began to draw more wineries and satellite tasting rooms from across the state. Call it the Chateau effect. In fact, today more than 130 wineries from nearly every AVA across the state can be found in Woodinville and its several districts including Hollywood, Warehouse, Downtown, School House, and West Valley.

Within these districts there are also spots like Wine Alley and Wine Walk, and sitting just outside of Woodinville, there are a few chic “garage” winemaking hotspots: SoDo (south of downtown Seattle) and Maltby. A few out-of-state wineries have even made their way to this wine tourism destination. And while I do not have the space to dive into the many producers worth your time and tasting, the six wineries from two of Woodinville’s districts highlighted above will get you started.

Washington is a major player in wine nationwide, but with so many unique producers and 80 varieties growing state-wide, there’s far more waiting to be discovered than you might find in your local shops. And in my opinion, there is no better place to get started than Woodinville for its proximity to Seattle and its plethora of wineries and tasting rooms from across the state. It’s time to plan your visit!