This weekend is supposed to be beautiful – sunny and spring like, drawing people to the parks, kids to the playgrounds…you get the idea. The weekend is also supposed to draw the traffic to Seattle. It’s supposed to be bad. Go figure. Want to avoid all that and relax in the sunshine? Me too! Especially because, surprise, it’s my birthday! Instead of spending my celebratory birthday weekend shuffling around Seattle by car, I’m headed to Woodinville Wine Country. Never been? It’s the perfect place to enjoy wine, food and hours in the sun.
Woodinville is about 30 miles North of Seattle, and makes for a quick getaway from the city. A popular spot for tourists and locals alike, Woodinville offers a unique wine tasting experience because so many of it’s wineries are centrally located. You can park the car and walk to multiple boutique wineries, fuel your afternoon with gourmet dishes and enjoy the larger historical estate wineries. I would recommend finding a non-wine drinking driver, or plan to the stay the night in Woodinville. There is plenty to do, and you’ll appreciate the safe trip to your hotel, rather than finding your way home to Seattle.
If you’ve never been to Woodinville, I wouldn’t miss Chateau Ste Michelle, a household name in the Seattle area. You could likely spend all day just tasting at the estate – they have several different tasting options, starting at $10 per person. The grounds are beautiful, especially in the spring time, and the huge variety of wine offered is sure to please everyone on your list.
After taking in the estate, head over to ‘The Junction,’ for food and walkable wineries. All the wineries have different vibes, different means of offering tastings and different price ranges – enjoy the variety. Don’t be bashful either – the staff are incredibly well versed in the wine they are pouring, the unique way in which the grapes are grown and the area itself. Because each winery is always rolling out something different, don’t hesitate to ask your servers what to try, where to go and how to find the best spots. Woodinville is a great place to learn about wine if you’re not necessarily well-versed, if you have questions, don’t hesitate to ask!
So, did I mention it’s my birthday weekend? Lucky me, Woodinville Reserve – A White and Rose Affair is happening on Sunday, April 19. If you have the chance to visit wine-heaven (ahem, Woodinville) during a special event, I recommend taking the opportunity to indulge. Woodinville strikes the perfect balance between amazing food and drink while maintaining that laid back Seattle vibe. This particular event kicks off the warm weather wine season and will showcase the wines that Washingtonians (and everyone else) should be drinking as we slip into spring and summer. I’m looking forward to learning a ton, exploring some new varietals and, of course, drinking wine! For tickets and information about the event, visit the Woodinville Wine Country home page.
Photo Credits
Wine Barrels. Zac Den Adel. CC BY ND-2.0
Untitled. Mark Ordonez. CC BY SA-2.0