Jacques I.
Yelp
Maryhill Tasting Room & Bistro is a wonderful addition to Woodinville. I'm so glad they opened a tasting room in the Seattle area, in addition to their tasting rooms in Vancouver, Washington, Spokane and their home base/winery in Goldendale.
I attended the pre-NYE party at Maryhill (thank you, Lauren!), which was a great way to learn more about Maryhill Winery. Located in the Hollywood Schoolhouse, the setting cannot be beat. The schoolhouse has a parking lot in the back of the building, with plenty of spaces. Parking can be an issue in this area of Woodinville with the surrounding wineries, so am especially pleased that there's a lot here, making it easy peasy.
The tasting room was much larger than I thought, as they have two levels of the schoolhouse building. The main area/tasting room is open to the public and is where their kitchen is. For a winery to have a kitchen that stays open much later in the area is a blessing. I get sick of eating at the same places in the Hollywood Schoolhouse District, so this is a win. We were also able to try their heavy appetizers as part of the event, and the selection was solid. They had a lot of different items, from lighter fare, such as crudite and bruschetta, to more savory options, like chicken skewers and glazed meatballs.
We tried the brut, the cabernet sauvignon and the reserve zinfandel. Of all of drinks, I enjoyed the reserve zinfandel the most, which I was also pleasantly surprised by. I'm not normally a zinfandel fan, but there is really something special about their reserve zinfandel here. It's fruity, but it still has a slight smoky taste, which is how I like my reds. It was a more unique wine that I've tried, and would recommend doing so in your visit. Yet, there will be something for everyone, as Maryhill has 70 varieties of wine!
The upper level is designated for club members, and definitely has a more intimate feel to it. The setting serves more so as a sitting room with a fireplace, comfy chairs, with of course, bar service. There were also plenty of tables and chairs for groups, in addition to the Library Room, which can be used for private events.
Staff could not have been friendlier. Everyone was happy to help, especially an employee who we spoke to the most about the different wines. We also had the opportunity to speak to the manager and he mentioned that in the spring time, they plan to have lawn games set-up with outdoor seating. More good things to come at Maryhill!
I'm glad to have checked out a new winery in town and learn about the company and what it brings to the area. Again, it's a wonderful addition to Woodinville and it will definitely be a stop for wine tasting adventures.