The Best Wineries in Seattle, Washington

Calling all winos to the Pacific Northwest

With more than 900 wineries throughout the state, Washington is the place to visit for a splash of red and a sip of white. If Seattle is your destination, try the many urban Seattle wineries, and then venture over to the nearby region of Woodinville, which boasts more than 100 wineries, tasting rooms, and great choices for a Woodinville wine tasting tour. Don your raincoat (it’s Seattle, after all), prep your palate, and explore some of the must-visit wineries in and around Seattle.

Charles Smith Wines Jet City

This unique, behemoth urban winery in the Georgetown neighborhood (a 9-minute drive from downtown Seattle) sits directly across from Boeing Field, but watching planes take off isn’t the only perk. Smith, an experienced Washington winemaker, has six labels under his brand—all made from grapes grown in Washington. At the Jet City location, which is open daily, guests can choose between two stylish tasting rooms—one rustic and one with a 1960s flair—while sipping select wines from Smith’s various labels. There are bottles for all budgets, ranging from $15 to $100.

Wilridge Winery

Established in 1988, Wilridge is Seattle’s oldest urban winery; it’s also one of the most affordable, with bottle prices hovering around $20-$30. The cozy tasting room tucked next to Bottlehouse in the Madrona neighborhood (a 30-minute bus ride from downtown) is open on Friday and Saturday evenings.

In 2007, the winery transitioned from sourcing grapes from other Washington wineries to planting a biodynamic, certified organic vineyard of its own in Yakima, a 2-hour drive from Seattle. You can explore the vineyard’s walking trails, listen to live music while sipping on a glass of Estate Sangiovese, and then stay the night in one of the on-site rooms.

Chateau Ste. Michelle

Washington’s oldest winery sits only a 25-minute drive away from downtown Seattle. One of the most well-known of the Woodinville wineries, Chateau Ste. Michelle, has a rich history with wine to match. Riesling is their claim to fame, but no matter which varietal is your favorite, the setting at this Washington winery is impressive. You can stroll through the 105-acre grounds, complete with a fairytale-like, French-style chateau, or partake in a $15 tasting of five scrumptious wines. The Chateau hosts summer concerts at their on-site amphitheater so bring a picnic, indulge in a bottle of wine, and get lost in the music.

Matthews Winery

Imagine a farm, a bed and breakfast, and a winery all in one property. Intrigued? Well, you should be because Matthews Winery is a gem within Woodinville, boasting Bordeaux-inspired wines made with grapes sourced only from Washington vineyards.

Once you’re here, grab a glass of cuvée, wander out to the lawn, and enjoy the serene views of the farm. Here, you can avoid the wine munchies by bringing your own picnic, ordering a charcuterie board, or enjoying bites from a local food truck during the winery’s weekly Friday Night Live events. Want to stay the night on this peaceful property? Contact the winery to book one of their cozy bed and breakfast rooms.

Elsom Cellars

Female-owned and run, Elsom Cellars offers some of the best Seattle wine, and you can get it for under $50 a bottle. From Cabernet to Granache to Malbec, you might say that this winery has it all. Snuggled inside an industrial building on 4th Ave. 2 miles south of downtown Seattle, Elsom not only has wine by the glass but also pie by the slice. Yes, that’s right; order a glass of red and enjoy a slice of the homemade pie by The Pie Lady. They’re open 5 days a week, so you’ll have plenty of time to visit.

DeLille Cellars

Claiming a spot on the Wine & Spirits 2018 top 100 wineries list, DeLille has earned its rank as one of the best wineries near Seattle. Its premier wine, Estate Chaleur Blanc, has been drawing crowds since 1995 and earned the title as one of “the 30 most exciting wines in Washington” by Seattle Met Magazine.

If that’s not reason enough to visit, you can enjoy a seated 45-minute wine and charcuterie board tasting for $25 at the Hollywood Station location in Woodinville (be sure to make reservations). Better yet, the tasting fee is waived with a 2-bottle purchase! You can also journey to DeLille’s Kirkland wine lounge—20 minutes from Seattle—for daily happy hour and live music on weekends.

Columbia Winery

Venture northeast to experience some world-class wine tasting in Woodinville. Nearby Woodinville is home to this veteran winery, open for almost 60 years. You may have seen Columbia’s bottles gracing the shelves of your local grocery store—that’s because this award-winning National Collection (Red Blend, Chardonnay, and Merlot) is just divine.

Sample the collection and other seasonal wines for yourself at the tasting room, which is open daily. (Hot tip: A $15 tasting fee will be waived with your purchase of a bottle.) Looking to stay next to this popular destination? You can book a room at a hotel close to Columbia Winery.

Avennia Winery

If you have a penchant for red wine, this is the Seattle wine spot is for you. Sourcing grapes from several lush regions of Washington wine country, Avennia produces Bordeaux and Rhône-style blends that are complex yet balanced. Avennia pairs an Old-World approach to winemaking with a modern tasting room in Woodinville, 25 minutes outside of Seattle.

Cozy up to the bar and participate in a $15 tasting, which is refunded with a $50 purchase. This a nice amenity considering most bottles have a higher price point in the $40-$50 range.

Bartholomew Winery

This small but mighty winery should be at the top of your list when going wine tasting, Seattle-style. Located in the Old Rainier Brewery Building, a quick 20-minute bus ride (or 5-minute car ride) from downtown Seattle, the Bartholomew tasting room is open Friday-Sunday evenings for all wine lovers.

Sip on their rotating list of reds, whites, and rosés; don’t miss the Tannat, the rarest of Bartholomew’s offerings (this varietal is planted in only one vineyard in Washington!). This winery is also perfect if you’re on a budget: Enjoy an inexpensive $10 wine tasting that is refundable with any bottle purchase. We’ll cheers to that!

Rotie Cellars

Get a taste of France’s Rhône Valley with every one of Rotie’s exceptional Washington wines. The way in which Rhône blends are made and how they continue to evolve in the bottle is why you’ll never see Rotie Cellars wine on a grocery store shelf. Guess you’ll just have to visit the tasting room!

Check out their location at Urban Works, a large warehouse space in Seattle’s SODO neighborhood filled with small, local wineries and a pizza joint. Rotie is open to visitors Thursday-Sunday for $10 tastings; consider ordering a glass of your favorite Northern Blend and taking a slice of pepperoni out on their patio. Grab the bottle that fits your price point; they run between $22-$65.

JM Cellars

Nestled on Bramble Bump hill in Woodinville, a 25-minute drive from Seattle, is the picturesque JM Cellars, a small, family-owned winery. There’s no better way to spend an afternoon than by sitting in one of the Adirondack chairs dotting the lush, landscaped grounds, a glass of Chardonnay in hand. Meander through the walking trails and find yourself back at the homey tasting room, where you can order a flight for $15 and a cheese board for $18. JM is best known for their blended reds, so buy a bottle before you go (the tasting fee will be applied to your purchase).

Novelty Hill-Januik Winery

One seasoned winemaker, two award-winning wineries, all under one roof in one of the best wineries in Woodinville. Visitors get to taste wines from both the Novelty Hill and Januik labels, both of which are under the leadership of vintner Mike Januik (his son also has a label called Andrew Januik).

The vast, modern space stands out from the other wineries near Seattle. Enjoy a $15 wine tasting (refunded with your $35 wine purchase) at the bar. You can savor a glass of red and order some small bites outside near the fire pits and round out your visit with a game of bocce ball. Even though this spot is open daily, make the trip here on the weekend for some irresistible oven-fired pizza. And don’t leave without a bottle: Many have accessible price points, ranging from $18-$65.

Now that you’re ready to kick off your wine-tasting trip to Seattle and the nearby areas, it’s time to get you set up with a place to call home during your stay. Check out Expedia’s curated list of Seattle winery hotel deals to find the perfect accommodation.

When you’re not winery hopping in the afternoons and evenings, be sure to do a little sightseeing too. We put together the ultimate Seattle travel guide that includes everything from visiting the Space Needle to taking a chef-guided tour of Pike Place Market. And if you’ve heard that it rains an average of 152 days a year in Seattle, don’t be put off. There are so many things to do in Seattle when it rains. Not to mention the perfect rainy-day plan: taking cover inside one of the top-shelf wineries from this list. Wine not?

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