When Brian Carter Cellars learned the lease on the winery’s longtime tasting room in Woodinville would no longer be renewed, they found an even better location close by. In addition, they hit upon a creative solution to involve wine club members, as well as the public, when it came to raising investment capital to construct the new tasting room.
The space they leased is a two miles away in an exciting, newer development called Woodin Creek Village, where Rocky Pond Estate Winery opened in 2020 and Ancestry Cellars opened this spring. By the end of the year, the Village will be home to a half dozen tasting rooms and restaurants.
Brian Carter, winemaker and managing partner, says they expect to open in Woodin Creek in October of 2021. “We’re emerging stronger than ever and are looking forward to many years ahead,” he says.
To help raise funding for construction and build-out of the new site, the winery is offering a unique opportunity for up to 400 investors to each contribute a minimum of $1000 to become a member of its “Tasting Room Foundation Group.” In return, the member will receive $1200 worth of gift cards, which they can redeem for food, wine or merchandise at any of their tasting rooms. Additional perks for members include honorary recognition at the new location—a wine glass displayed with their name engraved on it.
“The new tasting room will have a full kitchen and offer seasonal dishes paired with wine,” says Carter, who is recognized by his peers as one of the pioneers of the Washington wine industry, having made wine here for 41 vintages. At press time, wine club members of Brian Carter Cellars had already invested over 30% of the $400,000 goal.
The new space will be 2,538 square feet, enough to host 54 guests indoors and 28 guests for outdoor service. Parties interested in joining the winery’s Foundation Group should contact Brian Carter at brian@briancartercellars.com or marketing director Andi Bacigalupo at andreina@briancartercellars.com.
Brian Carter explains details about the Foundation Tasting Room Membership in a short video here.