Woodinville Tasting Rooms

As if I needed another reason to escape to Woodinville, I go for the tasting rooms.  I've found that there are many tasteful tasting rooms around Woodinville, some spare, some elaborate; some fun, some sophisticated.  I like the ones with big chairs I can sink into and it's nice to have a few small bites available.  And I really love it when there is a bar I can sit at because it's easier to shoot the breeze with the folks pouring the wine when it isn't too busy.

@jjsattorney Lounge Lizard Native Habitat © Jill Smith 2010

One of the most beautiful and functional tasting rooms in Woodinville in my opinion is the lovely Novelty Hill-Januik tasting room.  Weirdly, it's one of my favorites even though it doesn't have the big chairs to sink into, and it's usually always busy, so not much breeze-shooting going on.  But it helps that Novelty Hill wines are among my favorites in Washington.  The tasting room is an airy, expansive open space with the tasting bar central to the room.  There is no bad view there just like there is no bad wine there.  Tasteful tasting surroundings!  The earth tones, wood, and metal give it a soothing Northwest feel and give it a style all its own that is different from most rooms in Woodinville.  It also has a large outdoor patio that is just what the doctor ordered during our fabulous Northwest summer.  And if I have the luxury to be AWOL from the office in the middle of the week, they have an event every Wednesday in the summer called "Wednesday Wine'd Down" with live music, small bites, and by-the-glass and bottle specials.

But I especially like the fact that Novelty Hill's Stillwater Creek estate vineyard became the first Columbia Valley AVA vineyard to become certified "Salmon Safe" in 2007.  Stillwater Creek, according to Novelty Hill's website, is located on the Royal Slope of the Frenchman Hills area of the Columbia Valley AVA.  Salmon Safe certification for winegrowers focuses on reducing runoff from hillside vineyards and enhancement of native biodiversity on vineyard sites.

Near Steamboat Rock State Park © Jill Smith 2009

Columbia Valley AVA (American Viticultural Area) is the largest AVA in Washington, and the Frenchman Hills are located to the south of a desert habitat management area and form the southern boundary of the Ancient Lakes sub-area within the AVA.  We're lucky to have such an amazing environment and natural resources in Washington, but protecting habitat so the ecosystems can be sustainable is a must so that we don't lose what we have.  More vineyards in Washington should try to become certified Salmon Safe.  It makes the wine taste just a little better to me.

So as a lounge lizard, my habitat consists of comfortable tasting rooms that help me decompress, give me a great view, and give me one great excuse to get out of the office in the summertime during our long days and short nights, and the Novelty Hill-Januik room does not disappoint.

In 2007, Stillwater Creek became the first Columbia Valley vineyard certified “Salmon Safe” for environmental practices that help protect water quality and habitat for wildlife and fish, particularly native Northwest salmon. - See more at: http://www.noveltyhilljanuik.com/wines/vineyards/#sthash.WuJ9tDoS.dpuf

In 2007, Stillwater Creek became the first Columbia Valley vineyard certified “Salmon Safe” for environmental practices that help protect water quality and habitat for wildlife and fish, particularly native Northwest salmon. - See more at: http://www.noveltyhilljanuik.com/wines/vineyards/#sthash.WuJ9tDoS.dpuf

In 2007, Stillwater Creek became the first Columbia Valley vineyard certified “Salmon Safe” for environmental practices that help protect water quality and habitat for wildlife and fish, particularly native Northwest salmon. - See more at: http://www.noveltyhilljanuik.com/wines/vineyards/#sthash.WuJ9tDoS.dpuf