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In a semi-rural setting, not more than a half-hour drive from Seattle,
30 wineries congregate around the small town of
Woodinville in Washington's Sammamish River Valley.
Woodinville wineries share more than locality; they share a
commitment to
From the largest to the smallest, the newest to the oldest,
Woodinville wineries either purchase grapes from the warmer,
drier Washington wine regions to the east, or they own their own
vineyards in those regions. Two of the state's largest wineries,
Columbia Winery and
Chateau Ste Michelle, own
vineyards in the Yakima and Columbia Valley wine regions, but their
wineries are located in Woodinville. Each represents a larger
wine company as well... Canandaigua and Ste Michelle Estate Wines
(formerly Stimson Lane) respectively.
The draw of these two wineries alone makes Woodinville one of the Seattle area’s top visitor attractions. Since 1998, when Wines Northwest first launched this online tour guide, Woodinville has become a haven for fine winemakers. Their commitment to quality is quickly becoming legendary among serious wine enthusiasts, and their wineries have more than doubled in number.
Several of Washington's elite winemakers -- including Masters of Wine
David Lake (Columbia Winery) and Bob Betz (Betz Family Winery) -- put
their skills and talents to work in Woodinville, a miniature winery
region with great big wines. Three
Woodinville wineries --
Woodinville is also home to several fine dining
establishments, including the Northwest's top restaurant, The Herb
Farm. A five-acre estate next to Columbia Winery
provides a beautifully landscaped space along the Sammamish River for
The Herb Farm, the Barking Frog restaurant and the
gorgeous, five-star Willows Lodge. Purple Cafe's
$250,000-rebuild project in Woodinville was completed in early 2004,
offering a more casual dining and wine bar experience, and a handful
of bed and breakfasts make Woodinville a great place for a relaxing
getaway. Woodinville Wineries and Maps Click on thumbnail map a larger version.
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creating fine, world-class wines from the best of
Washington vineyards -- vineyards located somewhere else.
