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Woodinville, a small town just a half hour from Seattle, has become a destination for wine enthusiasts. It makes a great day trip from Seattle combined with Snoqualmie Falls.
Introduction to Woodinville
The area around Woodinville was first settled in 1871 by Ira and Susan Woodin. After a town developed around them, their log cabin served as a school and post office. Woodinville wasn’t officially incorporated until March 31, 1993.
Tasting Rooms in Woodinville
Over 130 wineries have tasting rooms located in Woodinville as well as some breweries and distilleries. Tasting rooms are spread out over four different districts in town. Some are open strictly on weekends but plenty are open daily.
The best part is that you don’t have to drive very far to do a tasting. While some wineries are located quite far apart, there are strip malls with several tasting rooms right next to each other.
We visited three wineries in the Hollywood district. I’ve written about them below. Check the official website for information on several more wineries, the other three districts, operating hours, and tasting packages.
Chateau Ste. Michelle
The first place we visited was Chateau Ste. Michelle, which is the biggest and oldest wine producer in the entire state of Washington. They set the bar for smaller winemakers in the state, and it’s safe to say most wouldn’t exist without their influence.
The chateau is set on over 100 acres of wooded property. If you have extra time during your visit, you can walk around the grounds to take in the beautiful scenery.
The tasting room at Chateau Ste. Michelle is open Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday from 11am to 5pm, and Friday and Saturday from 11am to 7pm (as of January 2025). The staff is happy to help you find the type of wine you’re looking for.
In addition to the tasting room, several experiences are offered, including tastings of premium wines, pairings, guided tours of the estate, and more. Reservations are required for some experiences while others are available for walk-in customers. Check the official website for more details on winery experiences.
Our Tour at Chateau Ste. Michelle
When we visited, there were free tours available lasting about 35 minutes. We signed up for a tour in the lobby and received a ticket. When it was time to start the tour, we were given a glass and taught how to properly taste wine.
During the tour, the guide explained the history of wine in Washington and why the state is a great place for winemaking. We also learned about several premium and award-winning wines produced by Chateau Ste. Michelle as well as partnerships with other winemakers throughout the world.
At the end of the tour, we headed to the tasting room to try a few different preselected wines. We then had the opportunity to pay for a premium tasting or purchase bottles to take home.
Tinte Cellars
Next, we visited Tinte Cellars (formerly William Church Winery). The small but friendly tasting room is open Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 5pm (as of January 2025). We were able to share the tasting between the two of us and it was refunded after we bought a bottle. We enjoyed the wines very much. Both of us agreed that four of the five were of better quality than what we tasted at Chateau Ste. Michelle, and we also had a great conversation with the bartender. (Note: Tinte Cellars has since moved to a new location in the Warehouse District. You can find it on the map below.)
Airfield Estates
The third and final tasting room we visited was Airfield Estates, which is open daily. Tastings are US$15 (as of January 2025) for 6 different wines, refundable with the purchase of a bottle. Reservations are recommended but not required.
In all honesty, we didn’t really like any of the wines until the sixth, but each glass was better than the last. Also, service was a bit strange. Our bartender was friendly but would disappear for a few minutes at a time. We ended up spending much more time waiting for her to return than sampling wine.
Where to Eat in Woodinville
While on the tour at Chateau Ste. Michelle, we had worked up an appetite. Thankfully, we found a great spot to eat.
Sora Sushi
We headed to a strip mall of tasting rooms and found Sora Sushi. We had a delicious lunch with great service, and it was the perfect complement to our afternoon of wine tasting.
