Puget Sound AVA

Woodinville, Washington

While visiting the greater Seattle area, please stop by Woodinville! A wine country right outside the city. Woodinville is known for its beautiful river valley, small town vibe, and growing wine community. With the unofficial slogan of “Country Living, City Style,” who wouldn’t love it? You have the best of all worlds: city life, proximity to outdoorsy activities, and an abundance of wineries!

• Number of wineries: 130
• Popular varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc
• Average cost of wine tastings: $25-$100 per person
• Average cost of hotels: $100- $300 a night
• Cool things to do outside of wine: Seattle, Bellevue, Snoqualmie Falls, Mount Rainer, Hot Air Balloon Rides, Hiking Trails, Summit at Snoqualmie
• Average temperature by season:
  • winter: °35F – °50F
  • spring:°45F –°65F
  • summer:°60F – °80F
  • fall:°45F – °70F
• Location: About 30 minutes from Seattle, about 1 hour from Tacoma, and about 3.5 hours from Portland

Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery

 Chateau Ste. Michelle is a well-known winery, located right in the heart of Woodinville! This grand estate offers a wide selection of tastings and an incredible ambiance!  They have a robust variety of wines, my favorites being the sweet and dry Riesling. The sweet Riesling is crisp and fruity, while the dry Riesling is full-bodied and aromatic. I highly recommend visiting the world class Chateau Ste. Michelle, if you are visiting Woodinville!

• Wine Tasting Options and Costs:
  • Feature Flight Tasting: $30 per person
  • Patio Feature Flight: $30 per person
  • Grand Estate Tour and Tasting: $55 per person
  • The Connoisseur’s Collection: $75 per person
  • The Red Collective: $75 per person
  • Chateau Picnics: $75 per person
  • Decadent Duets: Wine & Chocolate Pairing: $85 per person
  • The Somm’s Table: $110 per person
  • BLEND: Winemaker for a Day: $150 per person
• Year Established: 1967
• Owner(s): Sycamore Partners
• Website:  https://www.ste-michelle.com/
• Address: 14111 NE 145th St, Woodinville, WA 98072

Overall Rating: 9/10

1. Accessibility – how easy is it to get to this winery for out of towners: 9/10
2. Atmosphere – does this winery have a great vibe: 9/10
3. Wine – how does the wine actually taste: 10/10
4. Bonus points – is there something unique about this winery (attractions, one of a kind tasting experience, picturesque location, excellent wine food pairing, personalized experiences, etc.): 10/10
5. Customer Service – how well does the staff treat guests: 8/10

DeLille Cellars

Snoqualmie Falls

JM Cellars

Other Notable Wineries

• JM Cellars

Great place to grab a glass or flight of wine and sit by the fire on a rainy Pacific Northwest afternoon or evening!

• DeLille Cellars

New modern tasting room built in the heart of Woodinville

• Patterson Cellars

Centrally located tasting room in Hollywood Hill area of Woodinville

• Matthews Winery

Rare experience of farm meets a winery

Best Restaurants

• Hollywood Tavern

Historic tavern in the Hollywood Hill area of Woodinville

• Tipsy Cow – Woodinville

Highly rated hamburger restaurant chain

• Barking Frog

Best fine dining in Woodinville, save some room for dessert  

Recommended Accommodations  

• McMenamins Anderson School

Well known hotel chain in the Pacific Northwest with unique back stories

• The Woodmark Hotel and Still Spa

Luxury Well-Crafted Hotel

• Hilton Bellevue

#Washington #Woodinville #PugetSound #Seattle #Wine #AVA #Bellevue #McMenamins #PacificNorthwest #ChateauSteMichelle

~ Visited: August 2021

What is your favorite winery? What is your favorite restaurant? What is your favorite accommodation? Please share your thoughts below!