Seattle is a dynamic, urban city surrounded by unmatched natural beauty. With the Pacific Ocean as the view and with tall, hilly mountains and lush green forests around, Seattle is bound to be one of the most beautiful cities on the East Coast.
Furthermore, as Washington State’s largest city, it’s home to large tech industry, with Microsoft and Amazon headquartered in its metropolitan area. The futuristic Space Needle, a 1962 World’s Fair legacy, is its most iconic landmark. But Seattle is more than just a beautiful and advanced city.
Seattle is only a 30-minute drive away from nearby Woodinville Wine Country. East of the Cascade Mountains, hundreds of more wineries await in Washington Wine Country, where you can taste the state’s diverse varieties while overlooking the vineyards.
The Yakima Valley, Walla Walla, and Tri-Cities communities serve as Washington’s premier wine touring regions and up-and-coming growing areas around the state from the Columbia Gorge to the Cascade Valley.
10 Best Wineries in Seattle
Still, Seattle has dozens of urban wineries within city limits, and there are hundreds of tasting rooms. Most wineries in Seattle focus on dry wines that can be the top complimentary of a five-star dinner. Let’s have a look at the top 10 wineries in Seattle that you should visit.
Kerloo Cellars
Kerloo Cellars is a winery in SODO Urbanworks. It is named after a crane’s call as an ode to winemaker Ryan Crane’s surname. It has a stylish, lounge-like tasting room ambiance with a deconstructed barrel art installation splayed across the wall and serves outstanding wines.
The winery has an extensive range of wines. They range from grenache blanc to cabernet sauvignon. The staff here have a passion for growing and changing drinkers’ palates with their wines.
Winery’s Note: Kerloo offers superb quality plus a second label, SoDo Cellars, that delivers even more value. An online reservation system lets visitors book indoor or outdoor tables.
Structure Cellars
Structure Cellars’ winemaker Brian Grasso focuses on producing excellent wines that complement the food. He strives to make fruit-driven Washington wines with a great structure. Their best wines are the unique and food-friendly “Newel” Red Blend of 50 percent Cabernet Franc and 50 percent Syrah.
The facility is in SoDo Urbanworks and has a minimalist chic vibe. Its patio with seating, heaters, and fire pits for cooler days are perfect for sipping a delicious fruity glass of wine.
Winery’s Note: The one-and-a-half-hour reservation window gives you time to enjoy a full tasting of five of their award-winning wines.
Latta Wines
Latta Wines is one of the newest additions to SoDo’s wine scene. Its small-batch, Washington-grown wines are getting much attention, including a spot on Wine Enthusiast’s Top 100 Wines in the World list in 2015.
The owner Andrew Latta got started in the restaurant industry before becoming a sommelier in Thailand. He works to make wines with unusual reds from unique, sustainable vineyards in Eastern Washington.
Winery’s Note: If available, get the Latta GSM. It’s young and bright, with a rich, caramel-like aftertaste. There’s also a lot of berry flavor, but it’s smooth, thanks to the long finish.
Browne Family Vineyards Tasting Room
Brown Family Vineyards is a family-owned winery with the mission to produce world-class wine. Inspired by William Bitner Browne, the late grandfather of owner Andrew Browne, the winery is a dream that has been many years in the making. Browne Family Vineyards’ high-end Bordeaux reds and full-bodied whites are handcrafted under the leadership of acclaimed winemaker John Freeman.
The historic tasting room in Pioneer Square offers an ideal gathering space for its wine club members and wine connoisseurs. The space’s decor is a fusion of modern and old giving the guests a warm, welcoming ambiance.
Winery’s Note: the tasting room is open daily from 11 am to 8 pm.
House of Smith Jet City Winery
House of Smith occupies the former Dr. Pepper bottling plant space and offers a one-in-a-time experience. Guests can taste their distinctive wines while listening to music and enjoying a view of the main runways of Boeing Field, along with the iconic profile of Washington’s Mount Rainier.
Famed Olson Kundig Architects designed the Jet City Tasting Room. The main floor is designed with a rustic Northwest feel, while the top floors have an early 60’s vibe with a nod to the aviation industry.
Winery’s Note: Make your reservations via OpenTable to guarantee your tasting experience.
Locus Wine
Locus Wines is one of the newest Seattle tasting rooms, located in the historic Occidental Square building that Woodhouse Estates used to be in. It is a 1,500 case per year winery owned by partners Rich Burton and Ton Yazici.
What makes this spot unique is that they approach winemaking with food pairing. Rich is the winemaker, crafting delicious and rich in flavor wines. As the chef-general manager, Ton makes savory pastries or other brunch menus to pair along with them. This makes it the perfect Seattle winery for when you’re feeling peckish.
Winery’s Note: Here, you can taste some of the best Turkish pastries in Seattle!
Rotie Cellars
Get a taste of France’s Rhône Valley with every one of Rotie’s exceptional Washington wines. Rhône-style wines are known for being drier and medium-bodied, not jammy and full-bodied. In fact, due to the way they blend and how they continue to evolve in the bottle, you’ll never see Rotie Cellars wine on a grocery store shelf. Owner and winemaker Sean Boyd use old-world techniques to create clean, well-rounded red and whites that are drinkable and pair well with food.
Rotie Cellars is located at Urban Works, a large warehouse space in Seattle’s SODO neighborhood filled with small, local wineries and a pizza joint. Its tasting room is finely curated with hanging lights and rock-and-roll art on the walls.
Winery’s Note: Rotie is open to visitors from Thursday to Sunday.
Nine Hats Wines
Nine Hats is a large winery, producing about 18,000 cases per year. What’s interesting is that they don’t make any of their wine. Instead, they’ve gathered nine different winemakers from all over the world to highlight Washington grapes and make delicious wines. That “9” is where the name Nine Hats came from.
Nine Hats has a laid-back atmosphere. Vintage toys line the cases, and there’s a piano in the corner, where you can hear someone playing weekly.
Winery’s Note: They’re to open Nine Pizzeria next door, which means there will be more food options within walking distances as you enjoy their sweet-flavored wines.
Elsom Cellars
Elsom Cellars offers some of the best Seattle wines. Elsom has been using 100 percent Washington grapes since it started in 2006. Sourcing fruit from some of the state’s top vineyards, Elsom explores many varietals, From Cabernet to Ganache to Malbec. You might say that this winery has it all.
It is located inside an industrial building on 4th Ave. 2 miles south of downtown Seattle. It offers vintage and retro vibes. Furthermore, Elsom not only has wine by the glass but also pie by the slice. Here you can order a glass of red and enjoy a slice of the homemade pie by The Pie Lady.
Winery’s Note: They’re open five days a week, so you’ll have plenty of time to visit.
Château Ste. Michelle
Washington’s oldest winery sits only a 25-minute drive away from downtown Seattle. One of the most well-known Woodinville wineries, Chateau Ste. Michelle, has a rich history with wine to match.
You can stroll through the 105-acre grounds, complete with a fairytale-like, French-style chateau, or partake in a tasting of five exquisite wines. Riesling is their claim to fame, but no matter which varietal is your favorite, the setting at this Washington winery is impressive.
Winery’s Note: The Chateau hosts summer concerts at their on-site amphitheater, so bring a picnic, indulge in a bottle of wine, and get lost in the music.
Best Wineries in Seattle for Tasting Wine
Visiting a winery naturally means tasting different types of wines, but let’s see the best wineries for tasting rooms or tours.
Kerloo Cellars: Taste their bottling palate-challenging wines at their Seattle vintage and innovative tasting room in downtown Seattle’s SODO neighborhood. They are open from Thursday to Sunday from noon till 6 pm. If you prefer to have a private appointment, then make sure to contact them before your arrival.
Structure Cellars: They offer a one-and-a-half-hour reservation window that gives you time to enjoy their full tasting of five of their award-winning wines. You bring your snacks and enjoy your time in their beautiful tasting rooms or outdoor patio. They can only hold your table for 15 minutes. Then the reservation will be released to waiting customers.
Latta Wines: The winery is known for its unique red wines with a touch of sweet fruity flavors. Here at their urban tasting room, you can taste their rich in flavor wine while enjoying a quaint and sultry interior. Their service is always top-notch, and the room is dog-friendly! They keep the lights low, and as the space has minimal furniture, it is easy to socialize with other customers.,
Brown Family Vineyards Tasting Room: Given the space constraint of the tasting room, it is highly encouraged to make reservations via their website. Reservations may also be made over the phone. Their menu includes ordering wine by the bottle, glass, or a selection of non-refundable wine flights, including four wines, 3 oz. pours served tableside.
House of Smith Jet City Winery: They offer a variety of wine flights and a selection of wines by the glass. To reserve a spot for tasting, it’s better to check OpenTable or call first. If you happen to be in the area and capacity allows, you are more than welcome to join them as a walk-in without reservation. The last available tasting begins at 5 pm.
Rotie Cellars: Located less than three miles south of downtown Seattle, the Rotie Cellars tasting room is open and taking online reservations from Thursday to Sunday. The tasting room has a festive ambiance with friendly and knowledgeable staff. It is best to make a reservation beforehand for guaranteed seating. Walk-ins are welcome based on seating availability.
Best Wineries in Seattle for Pairing
The best way to try a delicious wine is with excellent and tasty food. Many wineries have wine pairing options at their premises where you can enjoy fantastic finger food with the winery’s best wines.
Locus Wines: Located in thriving Pioneer Square just a few blocks from CenturyLink Field and T-Mobile Park, their tasting room is a modern, approachable space with an emphasis on showcasing how food and wine can elevate one another. Here you can discover many of their wines by tasting a flight, enjoying a quick glass and a snack, or settling in for a full evening of curated pairings. Some of their best nibbles and nosh are wild mushroom risotto, meze board, six pieces of pastries, and chilled and sliced peppercorn-crusted steak.
Nine Hats Wines: With an incredible interior, convenient location, and exceptional staff, their tasting room is the ideal place to experience Nine Hats wines. Tasting flights, glass pours, and bottle sales, along with a full menu from Nine Pies Pizzeria next door, give you plenty of ways to enjoy your favorite wines and discover new ones.
Elsom Cellars: The tasting room is a quick 5-minute drive from Downtown Seattle or a 10-minute walk from the SODO Link Light Rail station. To create the best wine-tasting experience, they offer a good food pairing. Also, they strive to use local purveyors and skilled artisans. They offer high-quality small food plates to pair with our wines. Their current menu includes a meat board, cheese board, roasted garlic hummus board, and toasty bread.
Chateau Ste. Michelle: Washington State’s oldest winery is surrounded by 105 wooded acres and unique craftsman-style architecture, acting as an oasis for everyone who visits. With all there is to experience, an hour can quickly become three. Their tasting room is open daily, and you can either reserve a spot beforehand or make walk-in appointments. However, bear in mind that they operate on a first-come, first-serve basis on select tasting experiences. While tasting their fantastic wines, you can also explore their delicacies such as Shrimp Scampi, Creamy, Wild Rice & Mushroom Soup, and Tenderloin Steak Sliders.
Related Read: The 10 Best Lake Chelan Wineries: Wine, Views & Fishing
Final Thoughts
No one would think that you could find wineries in a metropolis such as Seattle. However, Seattle has fantastic urban wineries and should be amongst the top destinations for wine lovers. Seattle is only a 30-minute drive away from Woodinville Wine Country. Thus it is a productive and fast-growing high-quality wine city.
Furthermore, Seattle’s wineries offer alternative tasting experiences, entertainment, a vintage ambiance, an emerging and evolving culinary scene, and a beautiful community of creative winemakers. So, especially if you love wine but still want to experience the fast pace and luxurious lifestyle, then Seattle should be your next destination!