By Anne Taylor Hartzell, on May 24, 2013

Sip and savor Seattle

Wine lovers be warned, Seattle now provides ample places to sip wine without ever stepping foot on a vineyard. As busy parents, one of our favorite things to do on date nights is to explore the myriad of wineries and tasting rooms in our own backyard. Washington’s wine industry is thriving and winemakers from around the region are setting up shop in tasting rooms around the city. Ready to make the trip? Here are three places to explore Washington wines without ever leaving town.

 

The Tasting Room, Pike Place Market

Tucked away in Post Alley, just below Pike Place Market, is The Tasting Room, Washington’s first cooperative tasting cellar. This space features boutique Washington wineries such as Camaraderie Cellars, Harlequin Wine Cellars, Latitude 46 N, Wilridge Winery, and Wineglass Cellars. It offers a fun ambiance with a European-style wine cave and a lively event calendar, including “Mac and Cheese Monday,” and “Post Alley Wine Hop.” 

Photo Courtesy of Willows Lodge and Spa

 

Seattle Urban Wineries

City-dwellers and wine lovers meet every Second Saturday at Seattle Urban Wineries, a group of 14 award-winning artisan wineries located around the heart of the city. Participating wineries include Queen Anne Winery, Siren Song, and Omnivore Cellars, to name a few. Check the map and tasting hours and go explore this urban wine trail.

 

South of Downtown (SoDo)

South of downtown Seattle, affectionately known by locals as SoDo, is home to Seattle’s Safeco Field, CenturyLink Field and Starbucks headquarters. It also is becoming known for a hip food and wine scene. For a fun experience, explore some of the Washington wineries setting up shop in SoDo with a South Seattle Artesian Wine tours from Washington Wine Tours. One of our favorite Washington wines, Cadence, is located town there, along with notable names such as Note Bene, Laurelhurst Cellars, and Bartholomew.

Viewfinder Tip: To really splurge in Woodinville, book a dinner reservation at The Herbfarm, arguably Seattle’s best restaurant.

Woodinville Wine Country

Looking to taste outside of the city, but don’t want to go far? Just 30 miles north of Seattle, my husband and I like to sneak away to Woodinville for wine, as well. While you won’t see many vineyards this side of the mountains, here you can discover more than 90 Washington wineries and hip tasting rooms within a few miles. Wine tasting in Woodinville is centered around three iconic wineries: Chateau Ste. Michelle, Columbia Crest, and Novelty Hill/Janik. Some of my favorite boutique Washington wines, including Mark Ryan, Dusted Valley, and Amavi, are located just a short walk or drive up the road to the roundabout. Grab dinner at Purple or Barking Frog and listen to live music year-round. During the summer months, you will find families and couples packing their picnic blankets and a bottle of wine and heading to a concert at Chateau Ste. Michelle’s summer concert series. For overnight accommodations in the area, check out Willows Lodge and Spa.

 

What are some of your favorite places in Seattle to sip Washington Wines?