Fans of Rhône-inspired wines on the western side of the state will be cheered to hear that owners Charlie and Lacey Lybecker have opened Cairdeas’ long-anticipated Seattle tasting room. The location is south of downtown and is part of the SODO Urbanworks complex on 1st Avenue at the intersection of Andover.
The Lybeckers, who released their first vintage in West Seattle back in 2009, relocated several years later to the Lake Chelan area where they have become a mainstay among the local wine scene with a following that extends across the state.
“Lacey and I are embarking on our 15th vintage of making Rhône-inspired Washington wines. Returning to Seattle, where the winery began, has always been a part of our growth vision for Cairdeas Winery,” comments Charlie Lybecker.
“We purchased our current winery property in Manson, Wash., in December of 2013 to establish long term roots for the brand,” adds Lacey. While busy producing their sought-after reds and whites, the couple have managed to expand their production facilities significantly.
Not ones to rest on their laurels, a few years back the Lybeckers planted Rhône grape varietals Picardan and Clairette Blanc at the winery’s estate vineyard in the Lake Chelan AVA, the first of these varieties to be planted in Washington. And in 2021 these energetic innovators finished construction in Manson on what they describe as their “dream tasting room, a Gambrel-style barn with a copper roof.”
The new South Seattle location brings elements of the Barn mixed with urban vibes. “It’s a great outpost for wine club members to bring guests and share Cairdeas wines closer to where they live,” adds Lacey. The tasting room address is 3861 1st Ave S, Suite E, Seattle WA, phone (206) 268-0222. They are open Wed-Sun. Visit them online at www.cairdeaswinery.com to learn more.
Below are two releases we recently reviewed:
Cairdeas 2021 Caisleán an Pápa Red Wine
95 pts.
Graceful, yet humming with depth and immaculate structure, this Rhône-style red is fronted with aromas of violet, loam, charcuterie, blackberry, plum, baking spice and white pepper. The palate is balanced and silky, flowing with black and blue-tinged fruits, tapenade, garrigue and energetic minerality that carry long onto the satisfying finish. $56
Cairdeas 2022 Nellie Mae White Wine
92 pts.
This smart blend of Viognier and Roussanne is complexly built, offering white flower aromas supplemented by savory fresh-cut straw, followed on the broad, finely structured mouthfeel by a nice cut of acidity evoking fresh lemon, lime zest, white melon, wheat grass and a touch of garden herbs. $26