425 Cellars opened in November of 2020 in the quaint Apple Farm Village in the Hollywood District of Woodinville. The winery name is a nod to the area code surrounding the suburbs north and east of Seattle, particularly the Eastside, including Woodinville. Owner and winemaker Cory Barnidge has lived within this area for over 20 years. “The friends and neighbors that we have encountered have made us who we are today. In addition to this, we honor the various cities and landmarks in the 425 area code,” says Cory, referring to labels such as his Grass Lawn Albarino, named after Grass Lawn Park in nearby Redmond.
Cory’s first commercial vintage was 2017 but his affair with making wine goes back 19 years—first as a hobby, and continuing through winemaking classes and various apprenticeships. “I shadowed every winemaker that would allow me to do so, in any part of the winemaking process,” he says. He pitched in wherever possible, working at various tasting rooms until the opportunity arose to make his wines under a second label for Refuge and Prospect winery in Woodinville until that winery closed a couple years ago.
Retired from the military, Cory spent 17 years in the Army. While serving, he traveled the world, tasting wines from a variety of regions. “When I returned to the States and got involved in the wine industry here in Washington, I quickly realized the style of wine I enjoyed most was a European style; lower alcohol, higher acidity to better pair with food and not overly oaked, concentrating on bringing the characteristics of the fruit and terroir across to the palate,” says Cory.
Distinctive and showing refreshing originality, the wines we sampled were solidly crafted and very well balanced. Of particular note was the Syrah, which showed lovely restraint, balance and structure.
Visit: $15 tasting fee, refundable with purchase (and includes charcuterie small bites); 14525 148th Ave NE, Suite 112, Woodinville; (425) 588-5218, open Fri-Sat 12-5pm, Sun 12-4pm or by reservations online at www.425cellars.com.
Below are three releases we recently reviewed:
425 Cellars 2018 Heavenly Syrah
92 Pts.
Sourced from Ciel du Cheval on Red Mountain, this is ultra-refined, like an Old World red wine emitting New World charm. There’s beguiling black fruit ranging from cassis, blackberry and plum exquisitely layered with espresso, cigar wrapper, and crushed rock that permeates the polished, fine-tuned finish. $42.95
425 Cellars 2019 Grass Lawn Albarino
90 Pts.
Crisply textured, with ample weight and depth. Aromas and flavors of ripe pineapple, apricot and fresh mown hay emanate from the glass, backed with racy acidity etched into spice and limestone accents on the lively finish. $24.95
425 Cellars 2018 Terrace Tempranillo
90 Pts.
Smooth and round, this version is floral and fruit-forward with a core of jammy raspberry and violet. Hints of blackberry, plum and vanilla grace the finish with light tannins and spice notes. $28.95