Guide to Wine Scores

Vagabond is the brainchild of Ryan Lowell, age 35, who already has a lifetime of experience in the food and beverage industry. He is the Wine & Spirits Director for Russell’s Restaurant in Bothell, WA, where he has worked for the past 21 years. “I literally grew up in the restaurant world,” he says, only half joking, pointing out that when he was only a toddler, his father, … [Read more...] about Bright Future Ahead for Vagabond Wine Co.

Fidélitas has become a name synonymous with Red Mountain virtuosity, evolving since its inception 24 vintages ago under the tenure of Charlie Hoppes, winemaker and founder. Hoppes—joined by his son, Will—has brought to fruition a hard-won vision of becoming 100% AVA-focused. The Hoppes’ cultivate Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux varieties from their Red Mountain estate … [Read more...] about Fidélitas Wines Finds New Modern Digs in Woodinville

  Wes and Michelle Parker are an impressive husband-and-wife team crafting luxe wines under their newest label, Parker Family Wine. Wes wears the title of head winemaker and Michelle is assistant winemaker. Their oldest son, Ty Parker, manages the tasting room located inside the new Mountain Timber Market shopping complex on the beautiful waterfront in Kalama. Their … [Read more...] about Parker Family Wine Brings Luxe Wines To The Kalama Waterfront

  Chemist Eric Hoppe and his wife Leslie had intended to open their Benton City winery doors to the public in March 2020, but when the pandemic hit they couldn’t find contractors to finish the tasting room construction. The resourceful couple pivoted to bulk wine production, an arrangement that kept the business solvent until the pandemic ended, and finally three … [Read more...] about Chemistry and Art Converge at Heron Bluff Vineyard and Winery

Winemakers Mark and Jo Bader are the newest faces among Seattle’s casual SODO wine scene, embracing the district’s industrial vibe. The tasting room and production area is a bit unique in that it’s under the same roof as T2 Cellar and Republic of Cider, offering wide tasting choices from any of the three independent businesses that share the building. The winery name and … [Read more...] about Spruce Hill Is The Newest Winery in Seattle’s SoDo District

  Long Shadows’ recently upgraded from its former Woodinville tasting room into a brand new location (close by DeLille Cellars) that dazzles with soaring 35-foot ceilings, double-sided fireplace, dramatic backlit bar with granite countertops and a gleaming grand piano. Upholstered chairs and leather sofas punctuate the first-floor seating area. Upstairs, three fire pits … [Read more...] about Long Shadows Vintners Relocates in Woodinville

Kevin Mueller began making wine a decade ago. “I’ve long had a passion for Washington wine, believing that some of the most amazing wines in the world come from our beautiful state,” he says. He and his wife Kathryn founded Virtue Cellars in 2016, starting quite small at first, and then carefully building volume as word of their wines slowly spread. When Washington Tasting … [Read more...] about Virtue Cellars Partnership Brings Craft Wines to Downtown Edmonds

As did many well-respected winemakers in the region, Scott Greenberg began making wine commercially in a Woodinville warehouse in the early 2000s. Soon he developed a reputation for crafting structured and flavorful reds and whites in small, high-quality batches, like his flagship Storm Front Bordeaux-style blend. “I started the winery to make wine that would pair well with … [Read more...] about Convergence Zone Cellars Migrates to Tri-Cities in Central Washington

Whitman Hill Winery offers easy access on Roza Drive, an area that beckons with postcard-like charm amid a bucolic mixed-use setting of vineyards, hops, orchard farms and horse ranches near the epicenter of Zillah’s winegrowing region about 20 minutes from Yakima. Owners Scott and Denise Whitman (whose maiden name is Hill) purchased the former winery, Agate Field, in … [Read more...] about Whitman Hill Is Yakima Valley’s Newest Destination Winery

Owner and vintner Stephanie Jones is an avid hiker and backpacker, and she brings that enthusiasm into Glacier View Cellar’s new Woodinville tasting room in ways that capture the spirit of naturalist John Muir’s holistic vision of the great outdoors. “When you tug at a single thing in nature, you’ll find it attached to the rest of the world,” Muir wrote. He was likely referring … [Read more...] about Glacier View Cellars Mixes Passion for The Great Outdoors With Handcrafted Wines

Fans of Rhône-inspired wines on the western side of the state will be cheered to hear that owners Charlie and Lacey Lybecker have opened Cairdeas’ long-anticipated Seattle tasting room. The location is south of downtown and is part of the SODO Urbanworks complex on 1st Avenue at the intersection of Andover. The Lybeckers, who released their first vintage in West Seattle back … [Read more...] about Cairdeas Brings Rhône-Inspired Wines to South Seattle

Launched by three WSU Viticulture and Enology graduates in 2021, Tirriddis’ name is an amalgamate of Tirage, Riddle and Disgorge—the three key steps to produce sparkling wines using the traditional method. Although it can be said there is little else that falls under the category of “traditional” from the entrepreneurial-minded team of Andrew Gerow, Gabriel Crowell and Matthew … [Read more...] about Sparkling Wine Producer Pops Up in Prosser

Kyle and Amy Johnson are the power-couple behind the success of Muret-Gaston Winery and sister wineries, Purple Star and Native Sun. The husband-and-wife winemaking team established their Benton City production facility in 2012. Most recently, in mid-2022 they opened a sleek modern tasting room and wine bar in historic downtown Kennewick that offers patio seating overlooking … [Read more...] about Muret-Gaston Winery Brings Premium Wines and Mediterranean Bites To Kennewick