Leigh McMillan works in the high tech industry and Kristen Dorrity is a lawyer, both valuable skillets (if not indispensible) as winery owners. “Making wine is a combination of a lot of things from science to farming and art and business, so it has a lot of components to it that are fun and interesting,” McMillan told Tasting Room Magazine. She took studied winemaking at Washington State University, and made her first wine in 2009.
The winery partners own a cabin on Welcome Road (from which the winery borrows the name) close to Mt. Baker where they enjoy the art of grilling various dishes year round and finding new inspiration for their unique and creative blends. “We like fruitful wines that have big flavors but pair well with all different types of food,” says McMillan. One example is their ‘Road Trip Red,’ made with a barrel treatment of Hungarian, French and American oak, resulting in a wine that’s a little bit spicy and a little bit smoky, perfect for all sorts of BBQ dishes.
The 2012 Atelier is a delicious red blend comprised of 50% Syrah, 19% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc.
Nose: Aromas of bright cherry, currents, blueberry, dark chocolate and graphite.
Taste: Polished and vibrant layers of pie cherry, red currant, dark plum and espresso.
Editor’s Choice: Excellent
Alcohol: 13.7%
website: www.welcomeroadwinery.com