Enjoy wine tasting but don’t like the weekend crowds? Monday is your day. In the summer months, most rooms are open and they are not crowded. Kevin and I took today, a Monday off to enjoy this great weather we are having. After having a great lunch at Chandlers Crab House on Lake Union, we ventured back to our Woodinville neighborhood for some tasting.
Our first stop was Brian Carter Cellars, we tasted through their wines and chose two bottles to take home, the first, a bottle of their Oriana, a white blend, from two grapes originally from the Rhone Valley of France, mostly Viognier and some Riesling adding a sweet touch of pears and apple blossoms. An excellent, light summer wine. Also, the Rose’ was a must to take home, the Abracadabra Rose’ is a blend that uses the same Brian Carters red varietals, it is not overly sweet, its just right with nice notes of raspberry and strawberry and I even tasted licorice on the finish.
Next Stop, DeLille Cellars Carriage House Tasting Room: Picked up a bottle of Rose’ 2013, The Rose’ is great, crisp and Rhone Style with hints of strawberry and watermelon with a low acidity finish. For summer wines, I also recommend the Doyenne 2012 100% Roussanne,100% Red Mountain AVA and 100% Ciel du Cheval. On this beautiful day, you can see the mountain off of their patio seating, the staff was great, not too busy, like the weekends.
We wandered over to Sparkman Cellars to get a This Old Porch Rose’. Every year, Sparkman is my favorite for Sav Blanc and Rose’. This years: 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Malbec, 13% Syrah, 5% Merlot, 7% Grenache, it is a Dry Rose’, I like the floral smell on the nose, and the tastes of strawberries, nectarines and melon. I also enjoyed the Reisling, it was crisp and not too sweet, maybe I’ll be back for that bottle for our Fall Reisling party. Today, I couldn’t leave without a bottle of the 2012 Apparition White Rhône. Sparkman has two tasting rooms in Woodinville, the Hollywood Dist and also at the Wine Warehouse. Hollywood dist: Open Thursday through Monday, from 1-6. Warehouse: Open Saturdays and Sundays from 1-5.
Ending the evening on our deck with Kevin, a margarita and an amazing grilled Salmon dinner!
Brian Carter Cellars: The tasting room is in Woodinville, open from 12:00-5:00 pm 7 days a week. Summer hours: June – August on Fridays and Saturdays the tasting room will stay open until 7pm.
DeLille Cellars Carriage House Tasting Room: Woodinville, WA
Tasting Room Hours:
Sunday-Thursday 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Friday 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sparkman Cellars: Hollywood dist: Open Thursday through Monday, from 1-6. Warehouse: Open Saturdays and Sundays from 1-5.
@tastingfoodwine 
Awesome idea. I should have done this instead of going to work today.