Quiddity Wines, a small production winery located in Woodinville, Washington, represents the fulfillment of a lifelong passion for its winemaker and proprietor Greg Peiker.
Greg Peiker.
After years of adhering to the traditional route of success—earning good grades, obtaining the right degree, working diligently, and climbing the corporate ladder—he found himself questioning the destination of this path and ultimately decided to pursue his true passion: winemaking.
Establishing Quiddity Wines was his way of taking control of his destiny, focusing on what brings joy and satisfaction. His mission is simple: to create excellent wines that bring smiles to people’s faces, all while having fun and not taking life too seriously. He eschews the pretentiousness often associated with wine culture, opting instead for a straightforward approach to winemaking.
Meeting Greg in Woodinville’s warehouse district, he immediately comes across as quietly contemplative.
Tasting through Greg’s outstanding lineup.
Greg takes in a lot of information through listening and observing, creating a sense of connection that quickly transcends small talk and delves into the deeper ‘why’ of his journey into wine. With a background in civil engineering and two decades at Microsoft, Greg is not only cerebral and analytical but also deeply focused on forging meaningful connections. His profound self-awareness and perceptiveness are evident, free of any judgment or affectation.
He chooses his words deliberately, whether in conversation or when discussing anything related to the winery.
Wines with intent.
“The way my brain works is I see or hear words of interest, I write them down, and they swim around in my head until they fit into some form of context for me.”
When it came to naming the winery, Greg discovered “Quiddity” as the Word of the Day on the app of the same name. “I had a list of potential winery names, inspired by past pet names, Colorado mountain passes, and similar things. However, when I saw the meaning of Quiddity, it resonated with me as my intent is to capture the essential nature of Washington wine.”
This intent extends to his wines which are named after things that have been essential elements of his life such as adventure, love, and hard work.
Venturing beyond the expected.
After working hard in the corporate world for three decades, he found his way back to wine during a stop in Woodinville with his son who was in a sports tournament nearby. It was during that visit consisting of a relaxing evening of wine, pizza and a Seahawks game at Mark Ryan winery where the joy of wine was re-ignited.
With his kids heading off to college, he finally had the time to pursue his passion and started taking winemaking classes in the evenings. “At the time, I didn’t intend to open a winery; it was just personal enrichment for me. But when I went to my high school reunion last year, a woman I knew post-college mentioned that I had told her back then that I would open a winery someday, which I don’t recollect. Apparently, it’s been inside me for a while.”
Bill and Greg.
Having committed to the wine courses, he decided to earn the degree which required an internship at a winery. He reached out to his friend from Microsoft Bill Grassie who also happens to be the proprietor/winemaker of William Grassie Wine Estates. “He mentioned he wasn’t using his winery that harvest [2018] and suggested I buy some grapes and make some wine, offering to mentor me.”
Technically the wine he produced would be Bill’s and he was willing to buy it from Greg and release it on his own label should Greg choose to not pursue his own project. “When we got close to bottling time I had to make a decision. At that point my kids were in college, I had left Microsoft, and I was getting divorced. So, I bought bottles, got labels made, and that was it. I think the key success criteria for me was I didn’t think too hard about it.”
A terrific wine lineup with exceptional QPR.
Specializing in red wines made from Rhône varietals, he chooses this focus purely out of personal preference. His aim is to produce wines that stand out from the ubiquitous Bordeaux and Washington blends, targeting a “new-old-world” style. This approach leverages the remarkable new world fruit available in Washington, while presenting it in an old-world style with a lighter touch from the winemaker.
What keeps him engaged in winemaking is his passion for venturing beyond the expected.
Passion is at the heart of Quiddity Wines.
He sources grapes from vineyards with excellent reputations that aren’t the usual suspects, and he works with both the region’s renowned varieties and lesser-known ones that thrive locally. His winemaking includes the expected staples but also reveals unexpected gems, showcasing his innate ability to follow his passion wherever it may lead. “My philosophy now is to have a group of standard offerings and then do something different and fun every year.”
That fun includes a Carménère and even a Port made entirely from Tinta Cão sourced in the Columbia Valley. This year, he purchased some Riesling which he will be making for the first time.
A Woodinville winery gem.
Despite being only six years old, Quiddity has already garnered significant critical acclaim. The winery has been featured on multiple top wineries in Washington lists, and its wines have received numerous awards and 90+ ratings. As our tasting notes below reveal, we are certainly among the converted.
Through Quiddity Wines, Greg fuses his passion and dedication to create distinctive wines that embody his love for winemaking and his desire to bring joy to others. His journey is a testament to the power of following one’s passion and trusting one’s instincts—reminding us that when we do so, remarkable things can happen.
Tasting Notes
2021 Quiddity Wines Rhathymia Roussanne
2021 Quiddity Wines Rhathymia Roussanne
100% Roussanne, this is terrific wine! A true expression of this grape of the Rhône Valley, it has found a home in Washington State. Roussanne always has a certain richness and this is no exception. Flavours of pear, bruised apple and melon with a touch of honey drizzled on it. There is a tad of residual sugar which is barely perceptible, more as a texture than a flavour. There is a nice acid line that provides just the right counterpoint to the richness and creates a lovely balance. The finish is long and shows subtle hints of honeycomb and slate. Excellent (USD$25 *particularly good value for this quality level)
2019 Quiddity Wines Meliora Red Blend
2019 Quiddity Wines Meliora Red Blend
This is a blend of Mourvèdre, Grenache and Syrah. Light red in colour, this is an elegant wine that has tamed the potential of Mourvèdre to come across as feral. Meaty and spicey, this is finesse driven and shows red fruits with hints of dried herbs. With potential to age further, this is in a good place right now. Very Good/Excellent (USD$39)
2020 Quiddity Wines Cur Non Mourvèdre
Medium red in colour, this shows red fruits with a slightly meaty character and might be a little less tame than the Meliora. This wine is textured with a hint of licorice on the finish. After some swirling, secondary notes of pipe tobacco and cedar join the fruit to make for nice complexity. Very Good/Excellent (USD$39)
2020 Quiddity Wines Ubuntu Grenache
2020 Quiddity Wines Ubuntu Grenache
This is an excellent Grenache. Medium red in colour, this has the classic notes of kirsch, dried herbs and plenty of cracked black pepper. The texture is full and viscous with just the right level of acidity that creates harmony and balance. We get notes of cherry and strawberry that are coupled with savoury aspects of leather and wet stones. Seldom do we see Grenache at this quality level coming out of anywhere but the Southern Rhône Valley. Terrific achievement! Excellent+ (USD$39 *particularly good value for this quality level)
2018 Quiddity Wines Amore
This vintage is a blend of 62% Syrah, 23% Mourvèdre and 15% Grenache. Dark red in colour and quite approachable, this wine shows a bundle of red and blue fruits. Loads of complexity as we pick up cherry, plum and hints of blackberry. All sorts of secondary notes from leather to dried herbs make for a very complex wine. Absolutely delicious! Excellent+ (USD $39)
2020 Quiddity Wines Sapit Carménère
2020 Quiddity Wines Sapit Carménère
Plenty of tannin and acid show this to be a structured wine built for the cellar. Blueberry and bramble gain complexity from the brown spice notes. Medium body, this is the wine that really wants to be served with a grilled steak. Very Good/Excellent (USD$39)
2020 Quiddity Wines Rizzle Port
This port is made in the vintage style (not the oxidative tawny style) and shows rich notes of plum, black cherry and hints of caramel. Very detailed, this is a well mannered port that shows power but does not overwhelm. The finish is long and spice-infused. Excellent (USD$40)
A must-stop in Woodinville’s Warehouse district.
19510 144th Ave NE, Ste C1,
Woodinville, WA, 98072
T: (425)-894-8003
H: Saturdays & Sundays 1pm-6pm
August 8, 2024
Greg is such an interesting man. It’s heartwarming to read the story of his success. The wines sound wonderful (I haven’t see a lot of Roussanne rated as excellent) and high QPR too!
August 8, 2024
Very high QPR and we love a good Roussane–his did not disappoint! We definitely think you’d love his style and hope you are able to find his wines and meet him someday.
August 7, 2024
What an interesting find – I love his innovative and confident approach to blending grapes.
August 8, 2024
He was fascinating to talk to and someone that is so inspiring in how he approaches life.