Woodinville Wine Country open house this weekend

Almost forgot: it's time for the annual Saint Nicholas Day Weekend in Woodinville, half an hour or so north of Seattle. A great time to buy hard-to-find bottles that make terrific gifts for the holidays.

Winemaker Brian CarterHard to believe there are now close to 40 wineries in this suburb, many of them not regularly open to the public. The gorilla, of course, is Chateau Ste. Michelle, which moved into the former Stimson estate a quarter century ago; it was the vanguard of the of the now-familiar transformation of farmland into housing. But look what came after! DeHaviland built a Victorian castle across the street (now Columbia), and then the rest. Silver Lake, Andrea Nichole, Di Stefano, Woodhouse, Matthews, Bookwalter, Facelli.

Brian Carter, perhaps the most technically accomplished of the state's wine makers, has his own place here, called Brian Carter Cellars, open this weekend. We named Carter Winemaker of the Year twice, in the days that Washington Magazine was around to confer that honor. The Seattle Wine Society has given him its grand prize three times, more than any other winner.

Carter's blends were poured last night at a wine dinner prepared by students from the International Culinary School at the Art Institute of Seattle and served at the school's waterfront Portfolio Restaurant.  Best dish was a braised lamb shoulder, best wine Carter's "magical blend" called Abracadabra (syrah, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, sangiovese, petit verdot, grenache and malbec). Get yourself to the source and try these superb bottles.