Tasting Room Magazine

The magazine for people who love wine tasting

Guide to Wine Scores

Our wine reviews are based on evaluative tastings by Tasting Room Magazine’s editors. Overall score ratings are based on aroma; flavor; typicity of character; structure and balance. Quality-to-price ratio (QPR) can play a factor, meaning that an $80 wine with a score of 90 pts. falls in a much higher league than that of a $15 wine given the same score.

95-100 pts. – Extraordinary: a truly great wine of its variety
91-94 pts. – Outstanding: exceptional quality, character and complexity
88-90 pts. – Excellent: very well made and highly recommended
85-87 pts. – Recommended: a solid wine, may offer superior value if the price is right

Montinore Estate Brings Legacy of Oregon Pinot Noir to Greater Seattle

  Two Willamette Valley-based wineries, Montinore Estate and Landlines Estates (both under the same ownership), recently opened a shared tasting room in Woodinville’s “Wine Walk Row” in the Schoolhouse District neighborhood. As consumers place more and more emphasis on sustainably farmed goods and products, it can be confusing when a buzzword like “natural” wine is … [Read more...] about Montinore Estate Brings Legacy of Oregon Pinot Noir to Greater Seattle

Tri-Cities Based Barnard Griffin Introduces Westside Location

The iconic Barnard Griffin winery was started by Rob Griffin, head winemaker, and his wife Deborah Barnard, in 1983. Their first vintage was a small truckload of borrowed fruit that Rob fermented in rented cellar space while working as winemaker for Preston Cellars. Their daughter, Megan Hughes, is following in Rob’s footsteps as second-generation winemaker and … [Read more...] about Tri-Cities Based Barnard Griffin Introduces Westside Location

Bacovino Winery Adds to Seattle’s Burgeoning Wine Scene

Bacovino's owner Randy Brooks grew up in the Puget Sound region surrounded by family with agricultural ties, which he says fueled his studies in biology and business. His early exposure to wine and food began at a family gathering, which grew over the years into a time-honored tradition. “Every year, my uncle would host a special dinner—he would bring fresh Alaskan salmon and … [Read more...] about Bacovino Winery Adds to Seattle’s Burgeoning Wine Scene

Glacier View Cellars 2019 Gothic Basin

When vintner and outdoor enthusiast Stephanie Jones at Glacier View Cellars calls someone a dirtbag, it's a term of endearment for fellow nature fans who hold an appreciation for bold, hand-crafted wines. An avid hiker, many of Stephanie's vegetarian-friendly wines are named after her favorite trails in the Pacific Northwest. In fact, members of the winery's “Dirtbagger Wine … [Read more...] about Glacier View Cellars 2019 Gothic Basin

3 Releases from Love That Red Winery

A passion for the sport of horse racing and love of world-class red wines is Terry and Kriss Wells’ inspiration for the winery. It has been a decade since they worked on their inaugural vintage, locating their winery in the Woodinville Warehouse Winery District. Not unlike breeding thoroughbred race horses, their “slow and steady wins the race” approach to winemaking continues … [Read more...] about 3 Releases from Love That Red Winery

4 New Releases from Mercer Bros. & Mercer Estates

The Mercer Bros. tier is an extension of Mercer Estates, a family operation that planted the first wine grapes in the Columbia Valley’s Horse Heaven Hills nearly 50 years ago. The Mercer Bros. Cabernet Sauvignon was recently ranked as a "Top 100" wine. These latest releases are exceptional values. You can find many of them on store shelves at major retail outlets, however some … [Read more...] about 4 New Releases from Mercer Bros. & Mercer Estates

Brian Carter Cellars Takes It Up A Notch in Woodinville’s Woodin Creek

Veteran winemaker Brian Carter has been crafting his proprietary blends for a remarkable 43 years in Washington. In 2022, he moved his former Woodinville tasting room where he had operated for many years and relocated in exciting new surroundings in Woodin Creek Village closer to downtown Woodinville. The Village location boasts a full kitchen and bistro pairing menu. It’s … [Read more...] about Brian Carter Cellars Takes It Up A Notch in Woodinville’s Woodin Creek

3 Reds from Prohibition Cellars

Sandor and Sabrina Faludi have been part of the fabric of Woodinville's warehouse winery district since opening officially in 2019.  The husband and wife team turn out small-lot, carefully crafted wines served at the tasting room with hospitable flair. Sandor’s winemaking talent and inspiration come from his grandfather, who was a winemaker with a small vineyard in Hungary … [Read more...] about 3 Reds from Prohibition Cellars

Avennia Creates Bold Presence On Red Mountain

Entrepreneur Marty Taucher and esteemed winemaker Chris Peterson partnered in 2010, forming a tour de force that consistently turns out impressive vintages. They recently purchased the prominent Tapteil Vineyard in the Red Mountain AVA, in addition to Tapteil’s former tasting room on the property, which has been transformed into Avennia's Red Mountain tasting room adjacent to … [Read more...] about Avennia Creates Bold Presence On Red Mountain

Yakima River Winery 2017 Last Cast Red Wine, $45

This pioneer winery was founded in Prosser, WA by the husband and wife team of John and Louise Rauner in 1977. John Rauner was the first wine commissioner with the Department of Agriculture and a nd chairman for the Washington State's first appellation, the Yakima Valley AVA. Louise and John went on to launch the Yakima Valley Winegrowers association in 1982, leaving an … [Read more...] about Yakima River Winery 2017 Last Cast Red Wine, $45

3 Releases from Page Cellars

Innovators like this boutique warehouse winery have helped to shape Woodinville’s reputation as a destination for world-class wine. Page Cellars was started two decades ago by James and Rothelle Page. Upon retiring last year they relayed the baton of ownership to Todd and Dee Krivoshein, former club members as well as cellar volunteers who were keenly familiar with the … [Read more...] about 3 Releases from Page Cellars

Princess & Bear Wines in Seattle Offers Chance to Taste Uncommon French Imports

If you love French wines and live in Seattle, consider yourself fortunate. Princess and Bear Wines is a new tasting room in the South Park neighborhood of Seattle that is importing small batch, affordable wines from over 40 independent French winemakers exclusively from the Languedoc-Roussillon region. This wild and unspoiled appellation in the South of France is currently … [Read more...] about Princess & Bear Wines in Seattle Offers Chance to Taste Uncommon French Imports

Three of Cups Expands Woodinville Footprint with Winning Combination

Mike Metheny, a former aerospace engineer, along with business partner Lisa Swei, a technology expert, fall into that delightful echelon of people with magnetic personalities. Their balanced upbeat-nature is contagious not only to winery guests, but seems to flow through their carefully French-oaked reds and stainless steel-aged whites. With a bevy of awards and genial hosts, … [Read more...] about Three of Cups Expands Woodinville Footprint with Winning Combination

Welcome Road Winery Opens Satellite Tasting Room in Bellingham

Rallying around a slogan of “wine, food and the great outdoors,” Leigh McMillan and Kristen Dorrity chose Bellingham for their second tasting room location when they decided to branch out from West Seattle. Welcome Road is named for a road near Mount Baker where Leigh and Kristen own a cabin. The pair have been making their Yakima Valley-sourced wines for well over a decade, … [Read more...] about Welcome Road Winery Opens Satellite Tasting Room in Bellingham

Drum Roll Wine Marches to a Different Beat

As a vintner and lifelong drummer drawn to the arts and culture, Matt Frazier says he had a revelation about wine during a visit to Chicago’s Art Institute. He stood gazing at a stunning Impressionist painting by Renoir and realized that great wine was akin to fine art in the sense both could be appreciated by the masses, not just those with deep intellect on the subject … [Read more...] about Drum Roll Wine Marches to a Different Beat

Story Cellars Shines Light on Northwest Zinfandel

Tim Oas produces assorted red and white wines but his eye has been trained on Zinfandel from the very start of Story Cellars' first commercial vintage back in 2014. Oas continues to shine a spotlight on the masterful potential of this variety grown with grapes culled from the hot slopes of Red Mountain, as well as the cooler climate of the Columbia Gorge region. These bold and … [Read more...] about Story Cellars Shines Light on Northwest Zinfandel

Succession Wines 2021 Rosé

Brock and Erica Lindsay built this Manson, Wash. winery from humble beginnings into one of the premier wineries overlooking Lake Chelan. As a viticulturist and vintner, Brock's has what it takes to craft solid New World reds, whites and rosé wines that are as enchanting as the lakeside views from their back patio. Visit and taste at the winery's sleek and modern tasting room … [Read more...] about Succession Wines 2021 Rosé

2 White Varietals from Côtes de Ciel on Red Mountain

When Ciel du Cheval Vineyard was planted on Red Mountain in 1975, Richard Holmes was there assisting his father, Jim Holmes, alongside members of four other families (including John and Scott Williams of Kiona Vineyard fame). In 2012, after 37 years of growing grapes for some of the most hailed wineries in Washington, Richard and his family decided to allot a portion of their … [Read more...] about 2 White Varietals from Côtes de Ciel on Red Mountain

Silver Bell Winery Lands on the Shores of Lake Chelan

Epic views of the glacial waters of Lake Chelan are abundant from Silver Bell’s sleek tasting room that opened in the summer of 2021. The modern winery facility on six beautiful acres is the result of four years of sweat equity, constructed by hand literally from the ground up by entrepreneurial owners Alan and Diane Holtzheimer. “We built the current winery ourselves with the … [Read more...] about Silver Bell Winery Lands on the Shores of Lake Chelan