Welcome Road Winery

Small-production West Seattle winery pairing Yakima Valley fruit with French winemaking traditions and neighborhood gatherings

Best known for: Small-production Yakima Valley wines with French winemaking influences

Welcome Road Winery in Seattle, Washington, makes about 1,000 cases a year, pairing French winemaking traditions with fruit from Washington’s Yakima Valley. Leigh McMillan and Kristen Dorrity take inspiration from wine country in France and eastern Washington, but the winery’s name points closer to home: a road near their cabin by Mount Baker. That mountain-cabin spirit carries into a tasting room built around wine, food, and time with friends rather than ceremony.

Grape sources include certified-sustainable Dineen Vineyards and Marcela Vineyard. The wines span Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Sauvignon Blanc, and Sémillon, alongside blends such as Atelier and Roadtrip Red. Among the competition standouts, the 2021 Atelier earns Best in Class at the Savor Northwest Wine Competition.

The West Seattle tasting room sits at 3804 California Avenue SW, at Charlestown Street, with indoor seating and a patio. Tasting flights and glasses come with the option of graze plates featuring locally made cheese and sweets. Dogs and children are welcome, and occasional karaoke and cornhole tournaments keep the mood decidedly informal. Wednesday and Thursday evenings bring $5 glasses from 5–8 p.m.; table reservations are available. The Bellingham location is closed.