I'm going to be in Seattle May 14-18 and am looking for recommendations in the Pugent Sound area that can't be beat. I already plan on hitting Taste of Washington and Hurrican Ridge, will probably swing out to Vashon Winery (not the best but great wine in my book, the winemaker is an awesome guy one of the original partners at Pike and Western Wine Shop) and have already been to the big ones, Chateau Ste. Michelle and Columbia. Won't have time to swing out to Yakima or beyond, just looking for stuff close to the city. Thanks!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: mjraica,

Say "hi" to Ron for me.

Your timing is perhaps not the greatest. The South Park group of wineries hold an open house the 10th. I don't know of any special events coming up at the Woodinville based wineries. You might contact Januik, Mark Ryan, Woodinville Wineries, etc. to see if they are open by appointment. The major wineries are touristy and crowded.

Many of us will be going down to the Willamette Valley for barrel tastings that weekend, beating the Memorial day crowds. If you want to meet up Wednesday or Thursday to pour a glass or two, leave some contact information.

Pape- I will be in Willamette on the Memorial Day Wkend. Will it really be that bad? Also, any not to miss? Thanks

Januik and JM Cellars are my favorites. They are both near CSM.

CSW,

Sorry I missed this earlier.

Memorial Day weekend is not as crowded as the Thanksgiving events, but the wine country is only an hour or so from Portland, and attendance would be heavy on a holiday weekend even without special tasting events. If you are coming back next year, start making plans for getting in on the weekend-before tastings.

You do this by getting on the mailing lists and into the case buyers category. Most of the tastings on the preview weekend are by invitation. Sharing wines with friends is an option to get more case buyers' invitations.

Considering that you already have plans, try to get to Patricia Green and Penner-Ash. They are across the road from each other and will be having barrel tastings, I believe. Check first. Some wineries have tasting events only the preview weekend and not on Memorial Day weekend.

If you've never been to the area before, Domaine Serene and Domaine Drouhin are another pair of neighbors with spectacular properties and good wine.
Argyle and the Ponzi wine bar are easy stops across the street from each other on the main road through Dundee.

I could go on through dozens of others, like Archery Summit, Beaux Freres, and Bergstrom, but here is the definitive resource.
willamette wines

Tastings will generally cost $10-$15 for the weekend affairs, refundable with sufficient purchase.

I Missed your reply until today, so no worries. Thanks for the recs, I will check them out and try to see as much as possible.
Cheers! Happy

Well, I got back on Sunday and figured I would post on where I visited.

Began at DeLille Cellars with an appointment, the only one needed that day. $15 tasting fee to taste four wines. The winery grounds are beautiful, they were decorated for a wedding later in the day. I was unfortunately a little disappointed. I had been led to believe a tour went along with the tasting; at $15 they were the most expensive in the area. The wines were good, but not outstanding as I had been led to believe. Their 2004(?) D2 was a WS top 100, the 2005 they say is even better but I found it to be very hot and pretty simple. But then again they were all new bottles, pop and pour. The 2006 Chaleur Estate Blanc and 2005 Doyenne Syrah were the only ones I found worth the purchase.

Moved on to Facelli Winery next. I found these wines to be much better. They have a late harvest Syrah dessert wine that was very interesting. The owner/winemaker was pouring with his daughter and signs every bottle he sells. The 2005 Cab Sauv and 2007 Rosato were also interesting and resulted in purchase.

Moved over to Matthews Cellars next. Matt Loso basically consults for the majority of the wines in the area, so it was interesting to see his different approaches. The 2007 Sauv Blanc has an interesting taste due to the aging in oak, a first for me (SB aged in oak). The 2004 Claret I thought was a better wine than the flagship Red Wine at this point, much more approachable but still with aging potential. The top end Red definitely needed some time. They were also pouring a library 2001 Red Wine, provided a good picture of what the 2004 could become.

Moved up the road to Northern Woodinville next. First stop was Edmonds Winery. HUGE WASTE OF TIME! Every wine was overoaked and had ridiculously high alcohol on the palate. Couldn't tell if any tannins were backing these due to the alcohol, but absolutely no nose and no other flavors on the palate.

Went to Alexandria Nicole next. Tasting room was share with Darby. On the Darby side I tasted their Sauvignon Blanc/Roussain blend, good wine but not to my liking. The A.N. wines are decently made, nothing exceptional. Walked away with a bottle of their Cab Franc Rose.

Last stop of the day was Senoj, a newly opened winery this spring. Felt a little shuffled at first, was walking towards Page Cellars next door and they kind of shuffled me in their door instead; however Page was closed to not a horrible thing. It was pretty obvious these guys were new at the winemaking thing, but were turning out a pretty good product. I walked away with a bottle of their 2005 Passport, a pseudo bordeaux blend. The girlfriend bought a bottle of their riesling, I found it to be a little too sweet.

That's all we had time for on this trip. Filled out the rest of the case with a trip to Pike and Western Wine Shop. Not a bad little vacation! Thanks for the advice I received, and sorry PdN for not getting back to you, I was trying to find a time to meet up with you but the trip was packed. I'll be back later this summer, will have to meet up then!

Nice update on your trip. Page does do a good job and, if you're back, I'd recommend stopping in right there at both Stevens Winery and Ross Andrew. Good wines, good people.

Oh, I'll be back. I'm trying to figure out how I can move up to the Seattle area. Need to get out of CO!