Labor Day Weekend is here, and I’m so looking forward to celebrating (carefully, with social distancing and masks in place, of course) with friends and family.
As I think through the weekend ahead, and work my way through the many questions we’ve gotten on Facebook and in our Instagram DMs about wineries and restaurants this weekend, I really want to encourage you to make reservations ahead of time as much as possible.
I can already envision our very popular Hollywood District here in Woodinville getting very crowded and being very busy this weekend.
Let’s face it, Purple Cafe, The Commons, Vivi Pizzeria, Heritage, Village Wines and Bistro at Hollywood Schoolhouse are all super fun to eat at. The Hollywood District is full of favorite and well known wineries like Mark Ryan, Gorman, Patterson, Goose Ridge, Ryan Patrick/Milbrandt, Long Shadows, Alexandria Nicole Cellars, Maryhill, and Bookwalter.
My friend Shona from Wine Diva Lifestyle has been encouraging me to branch out and try new places when we hang out on our Wine Industry Monday Adventures. Instead of eating at my beloved McMenamins Anderson School, she dragged me forcibly to Stack 571 nearby – and I loved it there so much! I never would have tried that place on my own. I took my boyfriend back there a week later and he thoroughly enjoyed it too.
A few weeks ago when we were hanging out on a Sunday, Shona dragged me up to Maltby to visit the tasting rooms there. I was so glad she did! It wasn’t crowded, the patios were plentiful, and a food truck provided delicious snacks. You can taste at Two Vintners/Covington, JM Cellars, Laterus, Gorman, Guardian Cellars, and JP Trodden Distillery.
Instead of making reservations at the super-busy Hollywood District, consider stopping by Silver Lake Winery next to Good Brewing Co. – it has plenty of parking and a great atmosphere to hang out and sip wine at.
Instead of the crowded restaurants at the Hollywood District, why not head over to the West Valley District to eat at Hollywood Tavern or Wheelhouse (which is next to DeLille)?
Or continue on down the road to drink wine at Woodhouse Wine Estates and The Winemakers Reserve on your way to eat dinner at The Cut Shop in downtown Woodinville?
You’ll have plenty of opportunities to meet winemakers, and taste wine in tents and on patios in the Warehouse District. There are so many places to taste here I can’t begin to name them all (some highlights though: Warr-King, Eye of the Needle, Smasne, Tinte Cellars, Ambassador, Patterson, Pondera, Wit Cellars, Prohibition Cellars, Elevation Cellars, Genoa Cellars, Synne Cellars and Story Cellars, and the new Category 5 Cellars!) You can eat at Adrice Wines which has a bistro as part of their winery.
Or head up to The Junction to taste Washington wine on the patios at Armstrong Family Winery, Gard Vintners, Beaumont Cellars, Sol Stone Winery, Five Star Cellars and Locust Cider. There’s sure to be a food truck there too.
If you try something new and head over to Artisan Hill, you can eat lunch or snacks at The Picnic Table Cafe, then taste wine at several boutique wineries that have outdoor patios available. (Highlights include Damsel Cellars, Callan Cellars, Three of Cups, Lobo Hills, Cedergreen Cellars, Lord Lion Winery, Pomum Cellars and so many more!)
All of our Woodinville wineries and restaurants really need financial support right now – they are limited in capacity, the wineries can’t currently serve tastings indoors, and the restaurant workers are struggling to make ends meet. I normally do recommend the very fun Hollywood District wineries and restaurants, but I assure you they will be packed this weekend. I bet you will have a lot more fun going to the Warehouse District, Artisan Hill, Junction, and West Valley/Hollywood Station wineries on this busy weekend!
-Carrie
