Kevin Mueller began making wine a decade ago. “I’ve long had a passion for Washington wine, believing that some of the most amazing wines in the world come from our beautiful state,” he says.
He and his wife Kathryn founded Virtue Cellars in 2016, starting quite small at first, and then carefully building volume as word of their wines slowly spread. When Washington Tasting Room Magazine first covered this budding family winery in mid-2021 they were operating from a residential neighborhood setting in Shoreline, WA with a goal of opening an Edmonds tasting room.
In early 2022, the Mueller family entered into a partnership with family friends Jake and Kristine Edens to expand the business. Earlier this fall the Muellers and Edens opened a beautiful storefront tasting room in the charming, downtown shopping district of Edmonds several blocks from the waterfront ferry terminal. Kevin and Jake were 1999 graduates of Shorecrest High School and have been lifelong friends since.
“It’s an intimate experience where the winemakers and owners are also the people behind the bar pouring the wine, and sharing the unique story behind each bottle,” says Kevin of the new tasting room.
“It was designed by the famous Seattle architects, Graham Baba, with a rustic chic theme, incorporating metal and natural oak elements to deliver a sophisticated yet approachable vibe.”
An added touch is the stemware, which consists of the finest quality Riedel wine glasses in the industry.
The high caliber of the wines is evident from the first sip, and runs consistently through the releases we reviewed. “We produce less than 2,000 cases per year, and our wines are handmade by Jake and myself,” says Kevin.
Working with excellent growers and using meticulous care in the cellar is a hallmark of this principled family winery that makes it worth a drive to Edmonds.
The tasting room is located in the downtown district at 558 Main St., Suite 104, Edmonds, WA. Learn more at www.virtuecellars.com.
Below are three releases we recently reviewed:
Virtue Cellars 2020 Loyalty Reserve Syrah
94 pts.
Sourced from the Royal Slope AVA, a sense of pure refinement from this block of clone 300 Syrah informs the ultra-lush palate, delivering a rich profile of boysenberry coulis and vanilla that meld with distinctive savory notes of crushed stone, dried herbs and barrel spice. Supple, focused and finessed, an ever-widening arc of textural spice leaves an indelible impression on the expansive finish. $45
Virtue Cellars 2020 Charisma Cabernet Sauvignon
93 pts.
Crafted from old vine Cabernet (from Conner Lee and Red Mountain Vineyard), this silky red weaves together high-toned character, depth and concentration. Generous jammy blackberry and ripe raspberry fills the palate, punctuated by vibrant acidity and nuances of dusty sage, woodsy spice and graphite. Hints of perfumed violet canvas the lengthy finish. $40
Virtue Cellars 2020 Fortitude Bordeaux Style Blend
92 pts.
This sleek, well-structured wine offers dark fruit and pencil shavings on the nose. This is all about the harmony of the blend, humming with nimble plum, currants and black raspberry, sporting refrained anise and cocoa elements. A textural note rises on the midpalate, pushing through the balanced finish. $32 Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec