WOODINVILLE WINE TRAIL EXPERIENCE
HALF DAY TOUR

Tour Length: 5 Hours
Tour Code: EV39
Pick-Up: City Hotels / Bell Street Pier Cruise Terminal at Pier 66
Departing: 1:00p
Returns: around 6:00p
Activities: Wine tasting, private winery tours and scenic sightseeing
Interests: Local & natural history, sustainability, botany, viticulture, biodynamic wine
Carbon Footprint: Please ask for a quote
Season: Year Round
Min No of Passengers:


Inclusions:
Hotel pick up and drop off, highly qualified and knowledgeable wine country tour guide, travel in luxury European style Mercedes vans, tasty afternoon tea, selected Washington wines and refreshments, all park entry fees and comprehensive commentary.

Escape Plan:
It is here we leave the ‘average’ Seattle tourist behind and experience one of the things that makes the city so special to the locals. You will unlock a piece of Washington you would never have known existed. Go from a bustling city to an acclaimed wine country just around the corner and 20 minutes later we arrive into the small town of Woodinville in Washington's Sammamish River Valley. It is in this renowned wine region that we spend the afternoon uniquely experiencing select wine like never before.

The wineries in Woodinville share more than locality; they share a commitment to creating fine, world-class wines from the best of Washington vineyards, The draw of these wineries alone makes Woodinville one of the Seattle area’s top visitor attractions. Since 1998, when Wines Northwest first launched their online tour guide, Woodinville has become a haven for fine winemakers. Their commitment to quality is quickly becoming legendary among serious wine enthusiasts, and their wineries have more than doubled in number.

Today we will visit some of Woodinville’s most acclaimed wineries, that will include at least four of the following wineries; Chateau St. Michelle, Januik-Novelty Hill, JM Cellars, DeLille Cellars and Hollywood Hill Vineyard with a twist. Our focus is not only on the quality of the wine and the exclusive experience but on the local natural history, the winemakers’ commitment to sustainability and the practice of biodynamics in viticulture.

Our second stop on our wine trail will be Januik Winery. In an intimate and relaxed setting we will sample a selection of Januik wines, along with wines from their partner winery, Novelty Hill. We then embark on a private “Behind the Scenes” tour and observe how Januik Winery combines the rhythm and geometries of the agricultural landscape, along with the craft, technology and patterns of wine production, together shaping the architecture and landscape of the Novelty Hill • Januik Winery.

Next on our wine trail we visit either acclaimed JM Cellars or the pioneering Chateau Ste. Michelle, the oldest winery in Washington State with some of the most mature vineyards in the Columbia Valley. The winery’s roots date back to after the Repeal of Prohibition, when the Pommerelle Wine Company and the National Wine Company were formed in 1934. Today, Chateau Ste. Michelle is not only recognized for pioneering vinifera grape growing in the Columbia Valley, but is also a leader in modern day viticultural research. We will hear first hand how the winery combines an ongoing dedication to research with a commitment to classic winemaking traditions. We enjoy this breath taking property with a private tasting and tour.

JM Cellars wines are handcrafted for balance, power, dimension and finesse. Their goal is to make interesting wines with varietal intensity, balanced tannins and acids, and complexity. The winemaker, John Bigelow says, “We make what we like to drink; and we admit to a bias for red blends.” We enjoy a private fireside tasting with John before heading into the cellar for a tasting right from the barrel! The winery sits perched above the valley surrounded by lush flora and fauna. Your guide will take you on brief nature walk down to the native wetlands, along the way viewing the largest cherry tree in North America.

Next we experience a rare and exclusive visit to Delille Cellars. Founded in 1992, DeLille Cellars is a small winery that is simply states, “our goal is to make the very best handcrafted, old-world style red and white wine made in the State of Washington.” They are a family and independently owned winery with an uncompromising philosophy about the quality of what will be in your bottle of wine. They have built a traditional "chai" styled winery on the family farm owned by the Lill family. This beautiful ten-acre site sits above the Woodinville valley floor, overlooking the wineries of Chateau Ste. Michelle and Columbia Winery. The traditional DeLille Cellars structure allows for winemaking methods as seen in the finest chateaux of Bordeaux, including open top fermenters and an underground barrel cellar. If we are lucky, renowned winemaker Chris Upchurch is known to drop in on our groups from time to time!

To end the day we climb up the Hollywood Hills to a quaint family owned property that features the only vineyard in all of Woodinville, Hollywood Hill Vineyards. We will take in the scenery of this charming winery nestled on several acres of former horse pasture. We set out on a short tour of the vineyard with the winemakers, followed by some barrel tasting of their Estate Grown wines. From there we move up to the tasting room where we will open our 2005 "Rattlesnake Hills" Cabernet Franc and 2005 Yakima Valley Syrah. We'll even indulge in an appetizer selection of local organic cheeses and some chocolate to pair with the fine wines.

With an indulgent afternoon on the wine trail, we now set our destination back to the Emerald City and drop you off at our accommodation so you can freshen up for before heading out for an authentic northwest dinner… Ask your guide for some excellent recommendations!

***Depending on time, we may sneak in another exclusive wine experience at a surprise stop along the trail. Acclaimed winery may include: Brian Carter, Sparkman Cellars, Woodhouse Family Cellars or Alexandria Nicole Cellars!

Please inquire about making this a private and tailor-made Wine Trail Encounter for you and a loved one, friends or a corporate retreat! Please email or call for a quote.

Make this a memorable 1, 2 or 3 night escape and experience the beautiful Willows Lodge nestled in the center of the wine country! Please click here for our 3 Night Package with Willows Lodge.

We highly recommend ending the night at Seattle’s legendary Steakhouse El Gaucho, enjoying expertly paired El Gaucho fare with fine wines from around Washington State!

Please note: Due to scheduling conflicts we may not always be able to visit all of the wineries on the itinerary, but we will surely strive to do provide a wine trail experience
that is unique, informative and memorable.