December 1, 2025
By Catherine Kunkel
Even with an autumn chill in the air and rainy skies, it’s a great time to head to the Woodinville wine country, where “pouring” takes on a whole new meaning. And this Western Washington gem is just waiting to be explored.
Wine lovers from the Pacific Northwest and around the world gather to savor the state’s legendary wines or discover new favorites. Woodinville offers a chance to taste virtually all of the 70-plus varieties the state produces from 20 of the 21 AVAs (American Viticulture Areas) in Washington state. In other words, you can taste the whole state when you visit this must-see tourist destination.
A perfect pairing
Just a 30-minute drive from Seattle, it’s easy to access Woodinville wine country. It’s a top destination for cruise visitors who flock to Seattle before or after their voyage. The Seattle region is spoiled by the diversity of experiences available within a short drive and among them is a day trip to some of the premier winemaking regions of the world.
About 75% of Washington wines are consumed in the state and 90% of its more than 1,100 wineries produce less than 5,000 cases annually. That means most wineries fall in the “boutique” category.
Why Woodinville?
For many winemakers, being small is a good thing. “Our story is about small businesses, similar to farmers, where it’s a passion project for winemakers. Often one family and their friends make the wine and are hands on with everything,” said Adam Acampora, Executive Director of Woodinville Wine Country, adding “It’s intimate, personalized, and the wine brands are connected to personalities and the people.”
Winemaker Nicole Camp at LaShellé Wines said her team believes wine is more than just a beverage. "It’s a journey of the senses, a story in every glass. That’s why we chose Woodinville, a place where wine culture thrives in harmony with nature, community, and creativity.”
Being small is just one way Washington wineries differ from many of those in California’s Napa Valley, which has grown to predominately large, corporate-owned operations.
It’s also about price. In Woodinville, tastings run about $20, whereas in Napa, tastings average around $40 but often are $60 to more than $100.
Low-key and close to nature
Another reason Woodinville’s wine country is unique? The location is close to natural beauty and the low-key, Northwest casual vibe. For example, you can take a hike in the nearby Cascades or a bike ride on the Sammamish Trail in the morning and head to Woodinville for a tasting and lunch in the afternoon.
As Acampora puts it, “You don’t have to worry about dressing up. You can come straight from your hike and not worry that you’re underdressed.”
Exploring Woodinville not only offers the chance to sip amazing wine with more 90+ rated vintages than any wine region in the world, it offers top notch restaurants, breweries, distilleries, shops, and hotels throughout the beautiful Sammamish River Valley. More than 130 wineries are spread across four winemaking districts, each with their own personality and style. The wine districts include:
- Downtown District: In the heart of Woodinville
- Hollywood District: Named after the landmark Hollywood Schoolhouse
- Warehouse District: Located on the hill above Woodinville and Highway 522
- West Valley District: Located along the west side of the Sammamish River
It’s easy to explore Woodinville wine country through a dynamic map to help you plan your trip. Explore Woodinville wineries in Woodinville wine country. You can also check out wine and food events, plan your own event at any number of beautifully manicured properties and private rooms, and obtain tasting passes to name a few of the resources available.
A teaching moment
A fact that surprises many visitors is that no vineyards are located in Woodinville. Nearly all of Washington viticulture grapes are grown in warmer, drier regions in the semi-arid climates east of the Cascade Mountains in Eastern Washington. Acampora views this as an opportunity to educate visitors about the state’s diverse climate, geology and growing conditions. He also shares that other wine regions in the world also have this distinction, like Portugal.
There are a few exceptions of wineries in the Puget Sound AVA that make wine from their estate-grown grapes. Learn about wines grown in Puget Sound AVA
The Somm Hotel and Spa: a new and refined addition
Woodinville wine country may be small, intimate, and low-key, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t growing. Joining the numerous boutique hotels located in the area, The Somm Hotel and Spa, a new 164-room property that is part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, opened in late September.
A refined escape for wine lovers, The Somm offers a culinary program led by nationally acclaimed Executive Chef Maximillian Petty, a Woodinville native, who is a three-time James Beard semifinalist and one of the Pacific Northwest’s most celebrated chefs. It also features an upscale bistro, a rooftop bar, a spa, a “blending room” where guests are guided by experts to craft their own vintage on the house during their stay. Learn more about The Somm Hotel.
More places to stay
Other hotels with easy access to Woodinville wineries include:
- Willows Lodge offers walkable access to some 40 tasting rooms and the Barking Frog restaurant, known for its innovative seasonal menus, award-winning wines, and signature ambiance
- Aloft Seattle Redmond, a Marriott property, offers weekend escapes at a discount and a food and beverage credit
- The Woodmark Hotel and Still Spa is located on the shores of Lake Washington in Kirkland
Other wine tasting destinations
There are other places to taste our state’s wines, including Walla Walla, which has for years been considered a top destination. Walla Walla is an easy and scenic four-hour drive from the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area. Check out how to wine down in Walla Walla.
Two other not-to-miss wine destinations in our state are Yakima Valley and the Tri-Cities.
Port supports statewide tourism
Woodinville is one of numerous Washington cities which receive economic development grants from the Port of Seattle. Tourism organizations, such as Woodinville Wine Country, must tie to the Port’s business interests, such as aviation, maritime, construction trade, green jobs, and encouraging utilization of Port facilities, such as Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). Since the program’s inception, the Port has awarded $5.7 million in King County. With matching contributions by the cities, the program has generated more than $9.5 million in economic development investments the past eight years.
One of the Port of Seattle’s Century Agenda strategic objectives is to "advance this region as a leading tourism destination and business gateway." To fulfill this objective, the Port’s Tourism Development team focuses on increasing the economic development of the region. The Port team collaborates with the State of Washington Tourism office to promote Seattle as the gateway for cruising to Alaska and to encourage people to visit Seattle and Washington state before and after their cruise.
The Port’s supports the tourism industry by:
- Providing matching grants to help organizations develop and grow responsible tourism, sustainable, adventure, and nature tourism projects and diversity and inclusion in marketing
- Allowing tourism destinations and visitor attractions to advertise at SEA Airport in a legacy program that is evolving to a new mission in 2026
- Educating travel agents and media in other countries about the beautiful destinations in the state
Tourism Marketing Support Program
Now in its 10th year, the Tourism Marketing Support Program offers applicants a partnering opportunity to promote their Washington state destination to out-of-state visitors while promoting the use of Port facilities, including SEA Airport, cruise terminals, and recreational marinas. The program supports organizations like chambers of commerce, convention and visitor bureaus, counties, cities, port districts, Native American nations, nonprofit attractions (museums and cultural interpretive centers), and nonprofit organizations that focus on events and activities to attract out-of-state visitors.
All photos courtesy of Woodinville Wine Country.
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