You don't need a degree in Oenology to start your own winery -just ask Denise and Brent Isenhower, who started making wines as a hobby and have grown their business from meager beginnings to two tasting room locations in Washington State. The Place: Isenower's Woodinville location is easy to...
One can only do so much wine tasting without nourishment, and you would probably agree that wineries that offer more than cheese and crackers really set themselves apart in the world of sipping and swishing. Covington Cellars has capitalized on this concept with a mouthwatering array of both...
Woodinville's Warehouse District may have more curb than the appeal of the Tourist District a few miles south, but it does boast a cadre of respected winemakers among the industrial rows of tasting rooms. Robert Smasne is one of those winemakers. A WSU graduate who maintains a strong connection...
Walk into a Starbucks or a Costco; whether you're in Waikiki or Woodinville, London or Leavenworth, and the format is similar: layout, construction materials, color palette and ambiance are remarkably similar. Wine tasting rooms, however, should reflect the ambiance of the city where they're...
A successful Seattle sommelier with his roots in the south, Chris Sparky Sparkman produced his first vintage in 2004 with the help of Mark McNelly of Mark Ryan Wines. Not surprisingly, the two recently were joined together again in the Tourist district, where Mark Ryan was settling in the retail...
If negotiating the Woodinville warehouse winery cluster has you over a barrel, Efeste Winery may be the perfect detour from the tourist-laden traffic jam at the north end of the wine tasting region. The Place: Located in a small business cul-de-sac on a hillside overlooking the industrial...
Recession? What recession? Clearly, there's no evidence of an economic downturn within the upscale walls of Urban Enoteca, Seattle's combination wine tasting/special event facility. The Vision: After 12 successful years in the real estate business, owner Terry Thompson was inspired by San...
The Lake Chelan area is full of surprises -and perhaps the last place you would expect to find a bit of France just a stone's throw from Washington State's deepest lake. Karma Vineyards is fairly unique among Washington wineries and contains the region's only sparkling wine-filled caves. And...
After a long drive from Seattle, Tunnel Hill is a welcome sight for visitors entering the Chelan city limits. The cheery staff and wide variety of wines are just the ticket to satisfy visitors making the trek to the beloved watery playground of the Okanogan Valley. The Place: Tunnel Hill Winery...
Amongst the kitschy Bavarian-themed retailers and wine sellers in this vacationer's mecca, one winery stands out as the Napa/Sonoma equivalent of a high-end, destination winery Silvara Vineyards. Sitting majestically on a knoll overlooking the Peshastin hills and above the tourist haven...
Walk into a Starbucks or a Costco; whether you're in Waikiki or Woodinville, London or Leavenworth, and the format is consistent: layout, construction materials, color palette and ambiance are remarkably similar. Wine tasting rooms, however, should reflect the ambiance of the city where they're...
Pop quiz time: name a winery situated atop a coal mine. Stumped? Ok. Name a winery located on a golf course. Intrigued? You should be! The right answer to both queries is Swiftwater Cellars, a unique and highly successful winery located within the upscale grounds of the Suncadia Resort in Cle...