Mansion Creek Cellars’ new Seattle tasting room is nestled in the heart of the Fremont district just steps from the active Burke-Gilman Trail. Curated flights or glass pours at this location are savored over panoramic views that take in the Aurora Bridge, Seattle skyline and Mt. Rainier.
One can’t say enough good things about the exciting quality of wine coming out of this second-generation winery today. Denny and Tina Russell took over Mansion Creek Cellars in 2017, breathing new energy into a brand founded in 2007 by Denny’s parents, Roger and Julia.
“Our first step was partnering with winemaker Ali Mayfield, a longtime family friend whose style and meticulous approach perfectly matched ours,” says Denny. The two collaborate intensely about every decision that goes into the winemaking, without any preconceptions about what each new vintage will bring them.
Producing Iberian varietal wines, primarily from Spain or Portugal, is a personal passion project for Denny. “I always say I have a fused heritage: born in Spain, raised in the Pacific Northwest. That blend of cultures inspires everything we do. For us, winemaking is about connection—to heritage, to land, to possibility. It’s about crafting wines that are beautiful, balanced, and above all, meaningful.”
The winery’s boutique flagship wines—Inlets Albariño and the Reserve Tempranillo—capture these sentiments exquisitely. They are also passionate about working with lesser-known grapes like Touriga Nacional, Tinta Cão, and Souzão.
Personal family touches are woven into every corner of the cozy, bright tasting room and outdoor patio. From the cigar box guitar handcrafted by Denny’s father Roger to the etched magnum of “Julia’s Blend” honoring his mother, to the rugby-inspired artwork above the couches—each piece tells a chapter of the family’s wine legacy. In addition to wine, there are local beers and non-alcoholic options.
Visit: 900 N 34th St, Suite A, Seattle; (509) 676-9311, open Wed-Sun. Check hours at www.mansioncreekcellars.com.
Below are three releases we recently reviewed:
Mansion Creek Cellars 2021 Reserve Tempranillo
95 pts.
Aged 28 months in French and American oak, this reserve red delivers towering structure and complex expressions of spiced cherry, ripe plum, fig and black fruit layered with tobacco, vanilla, cocoa and graphite. The finish is extensive, with a continuum of red and black fruit, spice, cedar notes and a roll of firm tannins that goes on and on. $70
Mansion Creek Cellars Try Line (non-vintage)
94 pts.
A brilliant red blend of mostly Syrah (79%) rounded out with Touriga Nacional (16%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (5%). Unctuous and smooth, delivering svelte black plum, blackberry, boysenberry and raspberry, with tinges of mocha, graphite and warm barrel spice. The fruit builds with appealing complexity and depth, supported by a pillowy texture and fresh acidity that stays focused through the long finish. $56
Mansion Creek Cellars 2024 Inlets
93 pts.
Made from 100% Albariño, streaks of citrusy acidity drive this sleek, dry white, showcasing precise structure and vivid expressions of tropical melon, pineapple, lime zest and honeysuckle with distant notes of lemongrass. Shows wonderful purity of fruit. $25