We have been fans of Lauren Ashton Cellars since we first discovered the winery in Woodinville close to five years ago. They recently launched their second label, Ashton Troy Wines, as an exclusive offering for the restaurant market. The result is well priced wine that still manages to maintain the same high quality that fans of Lauren Ashton have come to expect.

The tasting room at Januik Novelty Hill in Woodinville.
We first met Andrew Januik last year when we were interviewing Mike Januik of Novelty Hill Januik Wines in Woodinville, Washington. Mike is Andrew’s father and is one of the pioneers of the Washington wine industry. From 1988 to 1999, Mike was the winemaker at Chateau Ste. Michelle where he excelled and made some terrific wines during a formative period that helped to put Washington State on the vinous map. Talking briefly with Andrew at that time, we knew we had to come back to Woodinville and interview him directly.
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2012 Woodward Canyon Chardonnay
We first opened this wine a year and a half ago and our initial thought was “ABC” (Anything But Chardonnay) drinkers be damned! It is a big new world Chardonnay out of Washington that shows how an “oaky” chardonnay can be powerful but simultaneously balanced so as not to be overpowering. Gold in colour with a medium plus body, the first whiff revealed vanilla, butterscotch and caramel. The first sip had similar notes backed with lemon, honey and citrus. Terrific body and complexity to this wine with a lovely long finish. Fast forward to last night and it has evolved in more. A little more subtle yet still very complex, it is drinking beautifully right now but still has a few years of optimum drinking left.
Excellent+
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Douglas at the Estates Wine Room
A good friend of ours in the wine industry suggested we meet for a drink at one of the Pacific Northwest’s newest, and hippest, tasting rooms during a recent visit to Seattle. We had been hearing the favourable buzz and were keen to try it ourselves and see what the Estates Wine Room was all about.
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A glass of Goose Ridge Rose by the fire.
Located just a 20 minute drive north of Seattle, Woodinville is a small suburb that is home to more than 140 wineries and tasting rooms featuring wines predominantly made in the Walla Walla, Columbia and Yakima Valleys in the southeastern part of the state. With that many tasting rooms to choose from it can be daunting to know which ones to make a priority especially when faced with a short amount of time. We recently visited the Goose Ridge Estate Vineyard & Winery tasting room and found it to be well worth a stop for anyone looking for a delicious glass of wine in a comfortable atmosphere.
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