My friend Claudette runs Eastside Social Club, a social group with nearly 7,000 members here on the East side of Seattle. She’s always up for adventure, so one cloudy afternoon last month I kidnapped her for some wine tasting (she didn’t struggle very hard to escape, I might point out).
I thought she’d enjoy checking out the Woodhouse Wine Estates for her second ever Woodinville wine tasting experience. They’re always super friendly, the space is fun to hang out in, and the wine is very good!
We met the tasting room manager, Dee, who I hadn’t been able to meet at my last visit here. She’s a real dynamo, a bundle of energy, whirling about so fast I couldn’t get a photo of her!
Dee showed us the new Kennedy Shah wine bottle label (pictured on the left). I didn’t have a problem with the old logo (shown on the right) but now that two bottles were sitting side by side, I find the newer logo far more sophisticated and elegant.
Our tasting began with the 2014 Reserve Riesling, which I really liked. I prefer to serve Riesling as my white wine at parties I host (rather than Chardonnay) so I picked up a bottle of this to open at my next upcoming party.
Their spacious tasting room offers lots of small tables you can share with friends. This place gets busy on weekends and during their Happy Hour Wednesdays!
Here’s a display of their Kennedy Shah wines, tempting us to buy for our home wine cellars!
I couldn’t resist peeking adoringly into the Barrel Room – I hope to drink these wines in future years to come!
This large kitchen area is where the small plates and flatbreads are prepared for events and festivities.
I apologize for not getting a better picture of the incredible artwork currently being showcased here at The Woodhouse Wine Estates!
You’ll just have to come in person to check it out for yourself!
Their art rotates, so you can see something new by a different artist every couple months or so.
Every time I visit I have to admire the elegant and slightly Bohemian chandeliers here!
They really impart a festive air to the tasting room.
Our wine tastings continued with the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2015 Syrah, or the 2015 Tempranillo. I bought the Tempranillo to take home for my Tempranillo collection – I’m hoping to host a vertical tasting of Woodinville Tempranillos soon!
As we tasted the Reserve Syrah, Dee told us about The Woodhouse Wine Estates’ upcoming events, including an April Club Members Appreciation event, their quarterly cooking series, their Pink party and Rose release.
In August, they plan to have a benefit for Homeward Pet. Dogs can join the festivities on the patio, and there will be a food truck that caters to humans and dogs alike. There are a lot of charity benefits that take place here at Woodhouse – I love that!
Claudette’s favorite from our tasting turned out to be the 2014 La Vie En Rouge. She bought a bottle to take home, and a few days later I got an enthusiastic text from her about how she’d served it with dinner and how much she’d enjoyed it again.
Dee said their Picnic wine usually comes out in time for Mother’s Day. I bought a bottle of last year’s Picnic wine and became instantly obsessed with it. I must complain, though, it’s too easy to drink! I might have indulged in a bottle a bit too greedily all by myself on a recent sunny day…
We had so much fun with Dee and the tasting room staff at The Woodhouse Wine Estates. We highly recommend hanging out at this place! You can participate in a wine tasting, or just buy a glass of wine and enjoy it at the bar, on the patio or at a cozy small table with friends.
-Carrie
RESOURCES:
The Woodhouse Wine Estates Website
The Woodhouse Wine Estates on Facebook
The Woodhouse Wine Estates on Instagram
The Woodhouse Wine Estates on Twitter
