FOR PROPRIETORS Tim Gamble and Teresa Spellman Gamble, their self-prescribed “social mission” continues to revolve around the winery’s maxim, Great wine for the greater good. Founded in 2018, every aspect of Tinte Cellars’ business model has a built-in mechanism to trigger the spread of charitable giving. Moreover, they donate 5% of all gross wine sales and 10% of gross wine club sales to charities and non-profit organizations. Producing around four thousand cases annually, the idea of supplying premium wines at competitive prices while donating those kind of revenues off the top is a tightrope act that few others (if any) have dared to walk—yet the Gambles are making a huge impact with their success.
“We make great Washington wine and will continue to do so, but the quality of the wine will not be at the expense of our charitable mission, nor the other way around—we’re going to continue to do both,” assures Tim. Growing up in the Greater Seattle area, the Gambles felt a need to expand their base of operations from Woodinville into the metro city limits. Late in 2020, they opened a tasting room and event venue on Airport Way South in Seattle’s historic Georgetown neighborhood in a building the Gambles refurbished.
“Our dream for Georgetown is a tasting room, but also a space for events that non-profit organizations can use at a reduced cost. It’s a natural extension of our plan to weave our philanthropic social mission of ‘Great wine for the greater good’ into the fabric of the community,” says Teresa. The interior is a chic, smartly designed blend of traditional and industrial modern architecture and features rotating art from local artists. The space has capacity for 90-100 guests and is already attracting inquiries contingent on when indoor events are able to safely reopen.
The landmark building was erected over a century ago; it had formerly been a scooter sales and repair shop for decades, becoming a well-known fixture of the neighborhood. Instead of bulldozing it, the Gambles invested in saving much of the original building’s character. “It maintains the bones and soul of the building that was here, and that was our objective,” says Tim. “Standing here since 1912, it’s witnessed a lot and we wanted to save that spirit.” As a further nod of respect to the local landmark, the Gambles took down the old rusty 1964 Vespa that had sat atop the roof and had it restored, repainted and remounted in pristine condition.
The same meticulous care and attention that went into the Georgetown tasting room follows into the winemaking side of the operation. Under the talented winemaking team of Noah Fox Reed and Rebecca Germano, Tinte Cellars is fast becoming one of the area’s hottest wineries to watch.
Visit: $20 tasting fee, refundable with $30 wine purchase; 5951 Airport Way South, Seattle; (206) 829-9941, open 7 days, check website for current hours at both the Seattle and Woodinville locations at www.tintecellars.com.
Below are two releases we recently reviewed:
Tinte Cellars 2017 William Church Red Blend
92 Pts.
Highly aromatic, this Merlot-leaning red wine is a thoroughbred, displaying muscle-bound structure polished with well-buffed tannins. The plush mouthfeel delivers vibrant red fruit mingled with cinnamon-accented blackberry, wet stone and cedar. Finishes with elegance and aplomb. $40
Tinte Cellars 2017 Cuillin Hills Blend
92 Pts.
Bold and textural, this GSM Rhone-style red wine possesses an ethereal quality, with waves of tapenade, bacon fat, violet and red and blueberries mixed with mulberry, sage and baking spices in the background. Licorice notes add to the lingering, grippy feel. $40