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Charles Smith Wines Jet City.
Charles Smith Wines Jet City.
Suzi Pratt/Eater

These Urban Wineries Bring Washington's Vineyards to Seattle

Move over, Woodinville

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Charles Smith Wines Jet City.
| Suzi Pratt/Eater

Seattle oenophiles rejoice: You no longer have to travel to the distant vineyards of Walla Walla or even the tasting room-rich town of Woodinville to taste the killer offerings of Eastern Washington's bountiful grape harvest. From Georgetown and the SoDo Urban Works tasting center to family-owned and -operated wine warehouses north of the shipping canal, Seattle is staking its claim as one of the top places to taste wine in the state.

Leave your car at home and walk, ride your bike, take the light rail and bus, or ride-share your way around the city to sample flights or full pours of delicious local wines that don't require a rural vacation. While you're at it, pick up a bottle for later. The latest update to this map adds Sleight of Hand Cellars, Elsom Cellars, and Aluel Cellars.

Note: Map points are listed geographically and are not ranked by preference. Where do you sip wine in Seattle? Show your favorite local producer some love in the comments, send an email, or start a forum thread in its honor.

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Charles Smith Wines Jet City

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Charles Smith may have just sold of five of his labels for an epic $125 million, but there are still dozens of wines to sip and sniff at his Georgetown tasting room. The only thing more impressive than the quality and amount of wines Smith’s group produces is the beautiful behemoth of a tasting room. A former Dr. Pepper bottling plant, Jet City sits across from Boeing Field and boasts two tasting areas. Downstairs — the main event — is rustic Northwest-inspired, while upstairs — a larger space — feels like a portal to the '60s.

Laurelhurst Cellars

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According to this Georgetown winery, the goal is to showcase wines’ personalities stemming from unique soil, the climate, and vineyard management. High-quality and renowned Washington state vineyards give life to this winemaking duo’s juice.

Full Pull Wines

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Founded strictly as an email retail business, Full Pull now produces terroir-driven, single-varietal wine at its in-house winery — Block Wines — with some big name winemakers around Washington. The tasting room in SoDo Urban Works is open to all Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and might just be the only one in the neighborhood pouring bubbles. (Full disclosure: Eater contributor Dylan Joffe is very familiar with Full Pull’s line up, as she is the operation’s staff writer.)

Latta Wines

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Latta is the one of the newest additions to SoDo’s wine scene, and its small-batch, Washington-grown wines are getting a lot of buzz, including a nod from Wine Enthusiast for 2015's Top 100 Wines in the World. Even if you haven't tried this label, you've probably had a glass or two of wine that owner Andrew Latta has made, since he's fresh off a decade-long stint with Charles Smith. If you must choose one, try the Upland Grenache.

Kerloo Cellars

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Kerloo, named after the call that a crane makes, is an obvious ode to winemaker Ryan Crane’s surname; its less blatant reference is to the allure of winemaking. The staff here have a passion for growing and changing drinkers’ palates with their wines, and the warm, dimly lit tasting room filled with oversized chairs and a fully functional production facility is a good place to do it.

Rotie Cellars

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Seattle got a big surprise when this Walla Walla favorite opened its tasting room in SoDo this past April. Winemaker Sean Boyd’s ode to the Rhône valley produces complex and sexy wines like GSM blends and grenache. Not to be outdone by the sultry nature of Rotie’s wines, its tasting room is finely curated with dangling lights and rock-and-roll art on the walls.

Waters Winery

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Another Walla Walla gem that has put down roots in Seattle’s SoDo Urban Works, Waters was founded more than a decade ago. The company believes that wines showcasing Walla Walla Valley terroir can rival all others, whether old or new world. Rockstar-turned-winemaker Jamie Brown sets himself apart with unique single-vineyard Syrahs that will knock your socks off.

Sleight of Hand Cellars

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You no longer have to cross the pass to get Trey Busch’s cult juice, as Neil Patrick Harris’ favorite winery has opened up shop in Seattle. When you head down to SoDo to indulge at the many options along "Thirst Avenue" (1st Ave S), make sure to stop by Sleight of Hand’s ultra-hip tasting room to enjoy some quality Eastern Washington wine and good vinyl.

Elsom Cellars

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Proudly making Northwest 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, including winemaker and owner Jody Elsom’s favorite, Malbec. Another great bonus at this hyper-local shop: The winemaking team comprises all women. Keep making great wine, ladies.

Structure Cellars

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What began in the basement of a well-built house has now become a Seattle standby. Brian and Brandee (and their two pups, who you will definitely meet in the tasting room) make fruit-driven Washington wines with great (you guessed it!) structure. The couple's willingness to take chances leads to some great results, like the unique and food-friendly “Newel” Red Blend of 50 percent Cabernet Franc (Brandee’s favorite varietal) and 50 percent Syrah (Brian’s favorite).

Bartholomew

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In the nostalgia department, Bartholomew’s location can't be beat: The tasting room is housed in the historic Old Rainier Brewery Building, a monument to cheap beer. Perhaps in keeping with this notion, Bartholomew’s tasting fee is one of the cheapest in the city: $5 per person, waived with the purchase of a bottle.

The Estates Wine Room

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This Pioneer Square shop offers limited-production, estate-grown wines from Double Canyon in Horse Heaven Hills, Seven Hills Winery in Walla Walla, and Washington and Archery Summit in Willamette Valley, Oregon.

The Tasting Room

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The Tasting Room at Pike Place Market is a cooperative of some of Washington’s well-loved wineries, including Nota Bene, Treveri, and Wilridge. Whether you're looking for a glass, a flight of samples, or a bottle to take home, The Tasting Room gives these producers a place to showcase some killer vino in Seattle.

Aluel Cellars

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Aluel (a mash-up of owners Alex and Samuel's names) strives to bring amazing Washington varietals to the Capitol Hill neighborhood. The tasting room boasts a line-up of the company's own wines as well as Bartholomew's entire inventory, as two wineries share a winemaker in Bart Fawbush. Aluel's wines are elegant and handcrafted in the old-world style while the location is uber-modern, which makes this little spot the perfect urban winery.

Almquist Family Vintners

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If you like your wine with a killer view, Almquist Family Vintners is the place for you, as it overlooks the ship canal. The family’s scientific approach focuses on technique, fermentation, and analysis. The lineup includes classic Washington wines as well as unique varietals and blends.

Domanico Cellars

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In a sea of breweries, a wine haven called Domanico Cellars stands out. This small, family-owned and -operated winery was born and currently lives in its urban warehouse, but the company has a new(ish) vineyard and tasting room location in Prosser, too. Before owning its own vineyard, Domanico sourced from some of the top vineyards around the state, specifically in Horse Heaven Hill and Yakima Valley.

Eight Bells Winery

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This small-but-mighty urban winery represents Washington-grown varietals in Roosevelt, filling just 2,000 cases per year. Since its first crush in 2009, Eight Bells has been providing Seattleites north of Lake Union with somewhere to taste lovely wines on Saturdays.

Charles Smith Wines Jet City

Charles Smith may have just sold of five of his labels for an epic $125 million, but there are still dozens of wines to sip and sniff at his Georgetown tasting room. The only thing more impressive than the quality and amount of wines Smith’s group produces is the beautiful behemoth of a tasting room. A former Dr. Pepper bottling plant, Jet City sits across from Boeing Field and boasts two tasting areas. Downstairs — the main event — is rustic Northwest-inspired, while upstairs — a larger space — feels like a portal to the '60s.

Laurelhurst Cellars

According to this Georgetown winery, the goal is to showcase wines’ personalities stemming from unique soil, the climate, and vineyard management. High-quality and renowned Washington state vineyards give life to this winemaking duo’s juice.

Full Pull Wines

Founded strictly as an email retail business, Full Pull now produces terroir-driven, single-varietal wine at its in-house winery — Block Wines — with some big name winemakers around Washington. The tasting room in SoDo Urban Works is open to all Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and might just be the only one in the neighborhood pouring bubbles. (Full disclosure: Eater contributor Dylan Joffe is very familiar with Full Pull’s line up, as she is the operation’s staff writer.)

Latta Wines

Latta is the one of the newest additions to SoDo’s wine scene, and its small-batch, Washington-grown wines are getting a lot of buzz, including a nod from Wine Enthusiast for 2015's Top 100 Wines in the World. Even if you haven't tried this label, you've probably had a glass or two of wine that owner Andrew Latta has made, since he's fresh off a decade-long stint with Charles Smith. If you must choose one, try the Upland Grenache.

Kerloo Cellars

Kerloo, named after the call that a crane makes, is an obvious ode to winemaker Ryan Crane’s surname; its less blatant reference is to the allure of winemaking. The staff here have a passion for growing and changing drinkers’ palates with their wines, and the warm, dimly lit tasting room filled with oversized chairs and a fully functional production facility is a good place to do it.

Rotie Cellars

Seattle got a big surprise when this Walla Walla favorite opened its tasting room in SoDo this past April. Winemaker Sean Boyd’s ode to the Rhône valley produces complex and sexy wines like GSM blends and grenache. Not to be outdone by the sultry nature of Rotie’s wines, its tasting room is finely curated with dangling lights and rock-and-roll art on the walls.

Waters Winery

Another Walla Walla gem that has put down roots in Seattle’s SoDo Urban Works, Waters was founded more than a decade ago. The company believes that wines showcasing Walla Walla Valley terroir can rival all others, whether old or new world. Rockstar-turned-winemaker Jamie Brown sets himself apart with unique single-vineyard Syrahs that will knock your socks off.

Sleight of Hand Cellars

You no longer have to cross the pass to get Trey Busch’s cult juice, as Neil Patrick Harris’ favorite winery has opened up shop in Seattle. When you head down to SoDo to indulge at the many options along "Thirst Avenue" (1st Ave S), make sure to stop by Sleight of Hand’s ultra-hip tasting room to enjoy some quality Eastern Washington wine and good vinyl.

Elsom Cellars

Proudly making Northwest 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, including winemaker and owner Jody Elsom’s favorite, Malbec. Another great bonus at this hyper-local shop: The winemaking team comprises all women. Keep making great wine, ladies.

Structure Cellars

What began in the basement of a well-built house has now become a Seattle standby. Brian and Brandee (and their two pups, who you will definitely meet in the tasting room) make fruit-driven Washington wines with great (you guessed it!) structure. The couple's willingness to take chances leads to some great results, like the unique and food-friendly “Newel” Red Blend of 50 percent Cabernet Franc (Brandee’s favorite varietal) and 50 percent Syrah (Brian’s favorite).

Bartholomew

In the nostalgia department, Bartholomew’s location can't be beat: The tasting room is housed in the historic Old Rainier Brewery Building, a monument to cheap beer. Perhaps in keeping with this notion, Bartholomew’s tasting fee is one of the cheapest in the city: $5 per person, waived with the purchase of a bottle.

The Estates Wine Room

This Pioneer Square shop offers limited-production, estate-grown wines from Double Canyon in Horse Heaven Hills, Seven Hills Winery in Walla Walla, and Washington and Archery Summit in Willamette Valley, Oregon.

The Tasting Room

The Tasting Room at Pike Place Market is a cooperative of some of Washington’s well-loved wineries, including Nota Bene, Treveri, and Wilridge. Whether you're looking for a glass, a flight of samples, or a bottle to take home, The Tasting Room gives these producers a place to showcase some killer vino in Seattle.

Aluel Cellars

Aluel (a mash-up of owners Alex and Samuel's names) strives to bring amazing Washington varietals to the Capitol Hill neighborhood. The tasting room boasts a line-up of the company's own wines as well as Bartholomew's entire inventory, as two wineries share a winemaker in Bart Fawbush. Aluel's wines are elegant and handcrafted in the old-world style while the location is uber-modern, which makes this little spot the perfect urban winery.

Almquist Family Vintners

If you like your wine with a killer view, Almquist Family Vintners is the place for you, as it overlooks the ship canal. The family’s scientific approach focuses on technique, fermentation, and analysis. The lineup includes classic Washington wines as well as unique varietals and blends.

Related Maps

Domanico Cellars

In a sea of breweries, a wine haven called Domanico Cellars stands out. This small, family-owned and -operated winery was born and currently lives in its urban warehouse, but the company has a new(ish) vineyard and tasting room location in Prosser, too. Before owning its own vineyard, Domanico sourced from some of the top vineyards around the state, specifically in Horse Heaven Hill and Yakima Valley.

Eight Bells Winery

This small-but-mighty urban winery represents Washington-grown varietals in Roosevelt, filling just 2,000 cases per year. Since its first crush in 2009, Eight Bells has been providing Seattleites north of Lake Union with somewhere to taste lovely wines on Saturdays.

Related Maps