Bellevue, Wash., a vibrant city on the eastern shore of Lake Washington, is not traditionally known for its sprawling vineyards. However, its proximity to the renowned Woodinville Wine Country, along with a scattering of urban wineries within and around the city, makes excellent wine tasting experiences remarkably accessible. If you live in Bellevue, you will find that a delightful journey through the world of Washington wines is just a short drive away.
What follows are the most notable wineries and tasting rooms in and around Bellevue.
Enjoy Wine in Bellevue
Browne Family Vineyards Tasting Room
Browne Family Vineyards maintains a sophisticated tasting room right in downtown Bellevue. It’s a convenient urban outpost that showcases its world-class, cellar-worthy Bordeaux reds and full-bodied whites. You can enjoy seated wine tastings, learn about the winemaking philosophy, and purchase bottles. They sometimes host special events, such as library vertical tastings, that provide a deeper dive into their vintages.
Cépaé Wine Bar
Cépaé Wine Bar in downtown Bellevue offers an exquisite French wine bar experience. This charming venue beautifully captures the essence of a Parisian bistro, blending a relaxed, chic atmosphere with a sophisticated palate. What makes Cépaé particularly unique is its direct import model; they hand-select and directly import wines from small producers, primarily in France, whom they visit regularly. Beyond an extensive selection of wines by the glass, bottle, and flights, Cépaé also hosts weekly events like wine tastings and live music nights.
Wineries of Woodinville
JM Cellars
JM Cellars, nestled on a picturesque seven-acre arboretum in Woodinville, has produced handcrafted, limited-release wines since 1998. The Woodinville location offers seated wine tastings, often by reservation, allowing you to sample their diverse selection. Their property features beautiful gardens, indoor and outdoor fireplaces, and a barrel room that creates an intimate ambiance.
Cave B Estate Winery — Woodinville
Cave B Estate Winery has a tasting room conveniently located in Woodinville, making it easily accessible from Bellevue. While their estate vineyards are dramatically situated on a cliffside location 900 feet above the Columbia River in the Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley AVA, their Woodinville presence brings their award-winning boutique wines closer to the Puget Sound area. At their Woodinville tasting room, you can typically enjoy a flight of wines, often with knowledgeable staff guiding you through the selection.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery
Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery, located in Woodinville, is Washington State's founding winery and an iconic destination for wine lovers. Its historic chateau and extensive grounds, once part of a lumber baron's hunting retreat, offer an unparalleled tasting experience. The winery features a new, expansive visitor center where you can enjoy guided tours and tastings. In the summer months, Chateau Ste. Michelle is famous for its outdoor concert series in its amphitheater, drawing renowned musical acts.
Cougar Crest Estate Winery
Cougar Crest Estate Winery maintains a presence in Woodinville, bringing its Walla Walla Valley-grown wines to the Western Washington audience. They are known for producing wines that showcase intense flavors and the characteristics of the grapes grown in their terroir. When you visit their Woodinville location, you can typically taste through a selection of their reds and whites. They might feature specific varietals like Petit Verdot, known for its chewy, dried currant notes, or their estate-grown Riesling and Chardonnay.
Darby Winery
Darby Winery, located in Woodinville, is known for its focus on crafting small-lot, handcrafted wines that reflect the richness of Washington State's premier vineyards. Their style often leans towards bold, structured red wines. You can sample their selection of highly-rated wines at their Woodinville tasting room, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Bordeaux-style blends. The atmosphere is generally welcoming and allows for a focused tasting experience where you can delve into the nuances of each wine.
Efeste
Efeste, a highly regarded winery in Woodinville, focuses on crafting exceptional Washington State wines. They work with a network of top growers across the state's renowned AVAs to ensure access to the best fruit. You can visit their tasting room in Woodinville to sample their diverse portfolio, which often includes impressive Cabernet Sauvignons, Syrahs, and Rhone-style blends, as well as crisp whites. The tasting room provides a friendly and informative setting where staff can guide you through their selections and share insights into their winemaking process.
Wine Experiences in Seattle
Bacovino
Bacovino, an urban winery in Seattle's Georgetown neighborhood, is a noteworthy option for those who venture slightly outside Bellevue. This winery focuses on producing small-batch, handcrafted wines from Washington State grapes. At Bacovino, you can typically enjoy tastings in their cozy tasting room, which often features a more industrial-chic aesthetic common in urban wineries. They frequently pour a range of reds and whites, and you might find that the winemakers themselves are often present.
Cloudlift Cellars
Cloudlift Cellars is another urban winery in Seattle, specifically in the lively SODO (South of Downtown) district. This winery is known for its elegant, handcrafted wines that reflect the character of Washington's vineyards. Their SODO tasting room offers an intimate setting where you can sample their current releases. They often produce single-vineyard wines that highlight the unique qualities of specific sites in Eastern Washington.
Eight Bells Winery
Eight Bells Winery, located in Seattle's bustling industrial district, is an urban winery founded by three friends with a shared passion for crafting exceptional Washington wines. Their philosophy emphasizes quality over quantity, focusing on small lots of Bordeaux and Rhone varietals that showcase the richness of Washington State grapes. Eight Bells Winery offers a genuine opportunity to taste expertly crafted wines directly from the producers in a down-to-earth urban setting.
Elsom Cellars
Elsom Cellars, an urban winery in Seattle's SoDo neighborhood, produces food-friendly and approachable wines that reflect the quality of Washington State fruit. Their tasting room in SODO provides a welcoming space where you can explore their portfolio of wines, which often includes a range of red and white varietals. With frequent events, it’s a great place to discover well-crafted wines and experience the vibrant community spirit of an urban winery.
Latta Wines
Latta Wines is the project of Andrew Latta, a highly respected winemaker who focuses on crafting wines with depth, elegance, and a true sense of place. Latta sources grapes from some of Washington's most acclaimed vineyards, known for their unique terroir and fruit quality. His winemaking style often emphasizes balance and texture, producing powerful and refined wines. While Latta Wines may operate with a more limited public tasting schedule than some larger wineries, they offer an opportunity to taste highly sought-after, boutique Washington wines.
Locus Wines
Locus Wines, also situated in Seattle's urban wine scene, is driven by the philosophy that wine should be approachable, enjoyable, and reflective of its origin. Their urban tasting room provides a casual and friendly environment where you can explore their current releases. Locus Wines aims to create a welcoming space where seasoned wine enthusiasts and curious newcomers can feel comfortable discovering new favorites.
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