Beer, Wine & Spirits in Kirkland

The story of family-owned and operated winery, Northwest Cellars, began nearly 12 years ago, when Bob Delf received a custom-labeled bottle of wine that was so repugnant he poured it straight down the drain. This was troubling, especially given Bob's experiences growing up in a family of wine importers and distributors. Determined to raise the bar, Bob founded Northwest Cellars, where today he creates award-winning wines with grapes grown at vineyards across Washington state.

But his commitment to local libations doesn't stop at his own—Bob partners with fellow Washington wineries Skylite Cellars and Waving Tree Winery to create all-star tastings. At Waving Tree Winery, the 34-acres of vineyards in Maryhill, WA., yield an array of velvety vinos, including renowned Italian and Rhone dry red varietals, two stunning sweet wines, and two dessert wines. At Skylite Cellars boutique winery in the Walla Walla Valley, a mother-daughter team of wine enthusiasts produce less than 1,500 cases of elixir per year before revealing their charms at their three tasting rooms in Spokane, Kirkland, and Walla Walla.

Though microbrewers celebrate limited flavor runs and regional ingredients, they still need much of the same equipment as the big brewers to concoct their craft beers. That's where The Cellar Homebrew comes in, outfitting winemakers, brewers, and cidersmiths with the equipment and ingredients needed to make their drinks. The store's owners––who boast more than 30 years of experience and a past line of fine wines––collect organic ingredients such as hops and yeast and sell them alongside fermentation equipment, keg systems, and cleaning supplies. They even offer one-hour on-location classes to instruct people in the basics of beer brewing. In addition to supplying items for alcoholic beverages, they also hawk basic supplies for cheese-, soda-, and vinegar-making, all of which go well over lettuce.

Opening Covington Cellars was a natural step for David and Cindy Lawson—he loved home winemaking, she loved pushing the boundaries of her home kitchen. Eventually, they decided to turn their hobbies into something larger. David enrolled at UC Davis to study enology (the study of seminal winemaker Brian Eno) while Cindy expanded her knowledge of cooking and wine at culinary schools around the country. Today, the two oversee a diverse line of wines and a locally sourced, seasonal menu to match. They also share their enthusiasm with visitors during winemaking events, tours, dinners, and bottle-smashing parties.

There's a revolution happening in Woodinville, Washington. There's no violence though, unless you count the stomping of grapes. Home to hundreds of boutique wineries, the region is beginning to rival Napa Valley as the United States' biggest wine producer. Woodinville sits at the same longitude as France's wine country, allowing for optimal adult-grape-juice production and the ability to wear a beret with dignity. Barrel Wine Tours, a co-op of Woodinville winemakers, takes guests throughout the community on tours of the distilleries and wineries of these passionate part-time vintners. On a luxury coach, participants ride to four distilleries or wineries, and three-course lunches and wine pairings occur during each tour.