Take a wine crawl through Woodinville wineries

The pub crawl is so 2008

If you have always wanted to try some of Washington’s finest wines but can’t make it over to the Eastern part of the state, have no fear oenophiles- Woodinville is near.

Woodinville is located about 30 minutes Northeast of Seattle and is home to several outstanding wineries and cellars, some established and award winning and some up and coming. Many are located a short drive from each other, making a wine crawl fairly easy and inexpensive compared to a trip to Sonoma…or France. You can also bike along the Burke-Gilman trail to some of the wineries listed below (although I’m not sure if you can get a DUI on a bicycle).

Entering DiStefano Winery is like coming a friend’s house. It’s warm and welcoming, without any pretension of a winery. $5 gets you 2-3 tastings of reds and whites, although we were generously poured 5 tastings. Try the aptly named Sogno, which is Italian for ‘dream’. Depending on your party size (10-35), you can also reserve their cellar room for dinner parties and opportunities to meet the winemakers.

Januik Winery is the most modern of the wineries on this list. Walking up to it feels like you’re about to enter a museum of modern art, and really who’s to argue? The concrete floor, exposed ducts and floor to ceiling windows overlooking the barrel room may seem industrial and cold, until you melt into a glass of one of their earthy Merlots or lively Viogniers. For $5, sample four wines from the Columbia Valley’s Wahluke Slope. You can order brick oven pizzas and dine al fresco in their beautifully landscaped courtyard.

Further down the wine road is a little yellow house that Brian Carter Cellars calls home. Their offerings were more in the French wine style, featuring Solesce and L’Etalon, both robust Bordeaux-style blends. Their $8 tasting fee is waived if you purchase a featured wine over $24.

Perhaps the most visited in Woodinville, Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery is also one of the oldest in Washington. Its sprawling estate grounds are well kept and a perfect place for a picnic lunch centered around their wines. Their Summer Concert Series draws some big music names to their intimate outdoor setting.

And if you’re still itching for that pub crawl, Redhook Ale Brewery has you covered. Just a short walk from Ste. Michelle’s, this brewery features quality beers and some seasonal offerings. Just $1 gets you 5 beer samples in their tasting room.

So grab some friends, pack a picnic lunch and head up to Woodinville for the day. Who knows, you may just find that perfect varietal or blend to add to your own cellar.