- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Columbia Winery
Rating Details »
14030 NE 145th Str
PO Box 1248
Woodinville, WA 98072
(425) 488-2776
PO Box 1248
Woodinville, WA 98072
(425) 488-2776
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
31 reviews for Columbia Winery
This was my first trip to a winery, and had an absolutely wonderful time on the tour! The guide was informative, eager to answer questions, and clearly demonstrated a passion for wine making. Full of little trivia about the wine-making process, it's clear they love this stuff, and their passion is contagious.
This is in stark contrast to the Chateau Ste Michelle across the street, where the atmosphere is entirely different. The Columbia Winery atmosphere is very down to earth, and doesn't have an elitist or snooty feel to it whatsoever.
Don't know anything about wine? Drop by the Columbia Winery and they'll remedy that situation happily.
Columbia Winery is right across the street from Chateau Ste Michelle, s be sure to check it out! The tasting room is beautiful and very spacious, while smaller than its rival across the street, it is perfectly sized for its operation and feels very inviting.
The tastings are lovely and you can sample about four or five wines for a couple of bucks. The glassware is quite stunning I must say!
While not quite Chateau Ste Michelle, it definitely gives it a run for its money and be sure to check it out!
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (1)
This gorgeous tasting room and grounds is conveniently located right across the street for the equally lovely Château Ste Michelle, so you basically get "two for one" wineries on your visit to Woodinville.
The tasting room was deluxe, interesting browsing for those who like to shop while tasting, a few different bar tasting areas, and a very pleasant seating area formed around a comforting glass plated fire place (complete with welcoming lit fire of course). Nice patio area too if the weather permits.
The wine tasting is only $5 for the deluxe tasting, which I consider quite a bargain.
As far as the big wineries go, Columbia is by far my favorite. I haven't been back since they completed the renovations of the winery but it is pretty amazing. There is tons of space for tastings, the staff is very helpful (as usual), and I never feel stupid asking questions (a rarity).
I joined the wine club in an effort to expand my knowledge of wines, bring sophistication to my life, and get a good wine buzz every other month. It is actually a really great deal ($40) every other month for two bottles of wine and other perks- like free tastings.
All in all. . . this place keeps getting better.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Funny (2)
- Cool (3)
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
3/28/2009
My winery cherry (or grape) was popped at the Columbia Winery recently, so it holds a special place… Read more »
I like Columbia Winery. I enjoy almost all their wines, the tasting room is beautiful and everyone who works there is really nice (especially Bill who always seems to be working when I come in). The wines are good, and a fair value. They've recently done a big remodel and it looks nice.
We have joined their wine club which means every other month we get 2 bottles of wine. Some perks of their club - you and your friends get to taste at the winery for free. You get a discount on wines you buy - anywhere from 15-30%. There is a members only tasting room.
Unfortunately the members only room is kinda small and the day we were there it got very busy. It was only run by 1 pourer and we pretty much had to flag her down to get a taste. Soo... not much conversation about the wine. Also, other places where I'm a member you typically get to taste some bonus wines... not so much here. Before it got busy I was asking the pourer about some of the other wines on the list for purchase and it was very clear that we were not going to do any extra tastings irrelevant to how many bottles we might buy - we walked out with our 4 from the club and 2 extra.
It's a good place to do a tasting. The price is reasonable, it's popular, they have a nice set of lounge furniture and patio which I plan to enjoy on my next visit. The wine selection is really diverse from viognier and chardonnay to cabernet and grenache (a personal favorite)
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (1)
Such a long commute from Château Ste. Michelle!
Both myself and my lovely lady friend drove over here after leaving the above mentioned place of fermented grapes. It was the first day I've ever gone wine-tasting and it just felt right stopping by yet another location.
The winery was currently undergoing some renovation, so the tasting area did have the terrific smell of fresh paint - but at the important parts were open. We decided against a tour - not sure if it would be open or not - but that was fine, as we would probably be back again for the full treatment.
$5 gets you five pours of your choosing. We decided on starting things off with their 2007 Viognier which was my favorite of the evening. Nice little mango notes. The chardonnay we had following was too spicy for my tastes, but please bear in mind that I'm a newbie to the whole wine thing and my opinion is probably horrible. We also tried a Caberet Sauvingnon, both the Otis Vineyard and Red Willow Vineyard variations. Next was a gewurtzraminer and finally their Columbian Valley Riesling ice wine - the later of which was a very syrupy, sugary goodness of an alcoholic beverage.
Overall a fantastic place to kick of my wine journey and I certainly plan on visiting Columbia WInery a second time very soon.
Cheers!
Oh, and I want to thank the mother who was at the tasting table with us for asking the "Awww... are you guys on your honeymoon?" question to me and my girlfriend. Threw me off a bit... :-)
People thought this was:
- Useful (6)
- Funny (6)
- Cool (6)
The tasting room is beautiful and the flatbreads you can order with your tasting are yummy (and necessary when you're touring). The wines aren't bad, but they always end up being the least favorite from all our stops for everyone that we take around Woodinville. We've never been inspired to buy but we've enjoyed the tasting.
What a great day, the triangle of Red Hook, Chateau Ste Michelle, and last, but not least, Columbia Winery. Grounds are beautiful at all three locations. The winery inside is nice, more formal and high-class feeling than Chateau. We happen to stumble (literally) in when their cash machine had gone down so we got to sample 5 tastings of wine .... drumroll.... FOR FREE! What a banner day! Normally the tasting is $5, which, to me is a steal compared to $10-12 that you must pay in So Cal. The wines were very good, the women working knew a lot about what they were pouring and were quite friendly. We bought some cheese and crackers and ate right at the counter! One thing I found odd, but actually refreshing was the fact that there were no tip jars out. I wanted to tip, especially since the tasting was free, but didn't see a place to. Whether the machine is down or not, you should go, spend a lovely day in Woodinville.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Funny (2)
- Cool (2)
This place was packed when we walked in, but we were able to wedge our elbows in front of Richard, our pourer. He was nice and somewhat knowledgeable. He wasn't the best at what he was doing. I don't know if he was new, but he seemed flustered managing two groups at a time. We had to wait at least 5 to 10 minutes between pours. Five bucks for five wines, but I asked for a few extra. I figured it was only fair since he was slow, plus he wasn't keeping track of the number of pours.
The Viognier was light as expected, but didn't have the kick I was looking for. Chardonnay was average, but I've never been a big fan of chardonnays. The Otis Cab was bold and full of tannins...maybe too much tannins for my taste. My favorite had to be the Gewurztraminer. It wasn't as dry as I expected, and was leaning closer to a sweet. It had a great balance. The Riesling Ice Wine was a hit with the girls in our group. I'm not a huge fan of suck-the-filling-out-of-your-molders-sweet Riesling. The Riesling had a great taste, but 2 ounces of this sweet syrup is enough for an after dinner dessert.
We made the best out of our slow pourer, Richard, so that's why Columbia only gets 3 stars this time around.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Funny (2)
- Cool (2)
Bottle of Wine: $22
All you can eat Chocolate Bar: $3.50
9 tastings, food and good company: Priceless
So I happened to visit Columbia on their "Taste of Red" weekend, and let me tell you, it was probably one of the best tastings I've ever been to. I am reviewing this from the vantage point of the weekend event and not strictly just the winery.
We entered, waited in line for 5 mins, then got our complimentary glasses, some tickets, and some crackers. To the left of us awaited the land of sweet nectar.
Of course being an event for reds, only reds were served. There were several favorites such as the syrah and the barbera, and also a few that weren't super but were ok.
Although the tastings were great, I would have to say that the best part was sneaking multiple bacon wrapped scallops into my mouth while avoiding eye contact with the lady guarding them. By far one of the best appetizers I've had in a long time. After filling up on that we finished our tastings and tasted/bought some cheese. The vendors there were very nice and generous with the portions.
Overall I think this was a great event. If you're not a red drinker, this is not for you! Best wine tasting thus far for me!
People thought this was:
- Useful (3)
- Cool (2)
On my first visit, we happened to come during a Taste of Reds event. We purchased 8 tastings for $15 which included a cork tasting and food samples. I thought the $15 price tag was for food pairing with our wine but it ended up being a room full of vendors selling things. To get a tiny nibble of cheese or bread, you'd have to ask for a sample (which was sorta annoying) or endure a long shpeal about the product. I give this visit 3 stars.
Another visit the following week without an event, we paid $5 for 5 tastings. It as lovely. Four stars this time.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (1)
In doing "field work" for my wine blog, I decided to check out Columbia. I had preconceived notions of how I would like it, but seriously, I was impressed. Since I am in the know so to speak, Tyler took care of me and I got to taste some things off the tasting menu. A few of the reds had complexity I look for in a red, and I bought an ice wine that knocked my socks off. Luckily, I came in on a Friday, and I basically had the place to my self, and was so pleased I did so. Columbia Winery isn't going anywhere, so I suggest making a visit.
People thought this was:
- Useful (7)
- Funny (6)
- Cool (8)
After walking out of the Ste Michelle slightly buzzed, we walked across (literally) the street to the Columbia Winery.
The cost was $5 bucks for 5 wines, and it was a much more pleasant experiance! It was more open and brighter and friendlier!
Unfortunately I have no idea what I drunk, they had alot more choices and no major menu that I could decipher. But I liked the 1st and 4th of what I drank?
The dress code was very casual, there were even 8 commuter bikers came in for some drinks! The bike trail is very close. So hope they didn't drink and drive/ride!
Seemed very lovely, and worth a 2nd try!
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (1)
Went here on our first stop of wine touring! It was around 11:30 on a Friday.
Bill Collins took great care of me and my mother-in-law. He was very informative and very pleasant to spend time with. He learned our names and where we were from used that to add to his stories!
Here was the following tasting - mom-in-law and I traded tastes.
Yakima Valley - 2007 Voignier - it was ok
Columbia Valley - 2007 Rose of Sangiovese - didn't like
Red Willow Vineyard - 2006 - Sangiovese - not bad
Otis Vineyard - 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon (2004 too) - 2003 was pretty good
Red Willow Vineyard - 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon (2005 not as well) - 2004 was better than 2005
Red Willow Vineyard - 2003 Syrah - really good
Yakima Valley - 2006 (off dry) Riesling - didn't really like
Columbia Valley - 2006 Riesling Ice Wine - really sweet
Mom-in-law did more of the Rieslings - by sugar content. She liked the Cellarmaster's and the Ice wine.
I liked the Syrah the best!
The location was beautiful. The huge tasting room, store and banquet area was really nice.
The only bummer was the they didn't refund the tasting cost if a purchase was made. But we did get quite a bit for our $5 each!
We went to Columbia Winery after Chateau Ste. Michelle (right across the street). They didn't have any tours, just the tasting bar and gift shop. Poop because we thought they would have tours or something of that sort at this winery.
Their gift shop was quiet large, but I didn't find anything special about it. Luckily, the day we went, there was a special sale (20% everything), so we bought some cheese and salami for an impromptu picnic. They included a knife, plates etc., so that was nice.
Since we had just gotten free flights at Chateau Ste. Michelle (see my review), we didn't want to do any more tastings (aka pay for any tastings). But their tastings are $5, which I think is a pretty good price.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Cool (1)
I've been here tasting numerous times over the past few years. Each experience is different. Sometime the staff is super friendly and helpful and fun to talk to, the next time the staff has no desire to help my party. I have learned that if you do the paid tasting you get more attention and assistance than if you just come in to try the free tasting.
None of their wines really jump out at me and make me want to get a bottle right than and there. Though I do have friends who really love their Gewurztraminer and Riesling but both of those are way too sweet for me. If you're looking for something fun to do come out here for a tasting on a nice sunny day and bring some snacks so you can have a little picnic outside while enjoying some wine.
People thought this was:
- Useful (6)
- Funny (3)
- Cool (4)
Being right across Chateau Ste Michelle...Columbia winery was next on our list during our Saturday wine tasting trip. Apparently Columbia may be moving...which may explain why this winery felt a little empty. It felt like a wine store connected to a wine bar, in a pretty house and that's about it. Anyway it was $5 for small pours of wine..not a bad deal IMO. I think we actually ended up leaving buying a bottle of their Riesling Ice Wine which was definitely a delicious dessert wine.
Our wine wench was very friendly and helpful (more so than Chateau Ste Michelle). The vineyard on the other hand isn't quite as beautiful, or have that feeling like you could hang out. If they are still around next time I'm in Woodinville, I may still drop by.
~G
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (1)
If you judge a winery by the staff that greets you at the tasting and the wines they serve, this place is good. $5 for a 5 wine tasting that included a good white (Otis Chardonnay) and a good red (Cabernet Franc), plus a very helpful and sociable person at the counter made this a pleasant experience. My only complaint is that you can't get a glass and sit outside.
This place is a great stop when touring the wineries in this area.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
Columbia gets great marks for their well priced reislings. But, I'm not a big fan of anything they have that has to go into a barrel for a couple of key reasons:
1) they use their barrels for 7 years (most good wineries only use them for 4-5 yrs)
2) they don't refire their barrels after every other year
Both of which contribute to the wine's not having as much oak-ie flavor and well not being as rich. That said, I've always been a fan of their whites which are priced very competitively. Especially the late harvest reisling.
People thought this was:
- Useful (3)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (3)
NOTE: This winery is planning to move to a new facility in Woodinville sometime in 2008. The current grounds are really nice, and the wine shop/tasting room area is well-arranged and feels comfortable and cozy. Hopefully the new facility will be the same.
Anyway, if you like this place at all, join the wine club. You get two wines every other month, 30% off reorders of club selections, 20% off everything else, free wine tasting for four, etc. The wines come from Columbia, Hogue, and Covey Run. I've gotten delicious wines through the club (Red Willow Syrah... mmmm) that I wouldn't have tried otherwise. On release weekends, they set up a special pickup/tasting area for wine club members.
Every single employee I've dealt with at the winery has been extremely friendly and helpful. I don't have that experience at many places. 5 stars for that.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Cool (1)
Columbia Winery is located directly across the street from Chateau Ste. Michelle. While the grounds are not quite as posh and expansive, the winery excels where it counts... in the wines.
The wine shop at Columbia was popping when I stopped in on an autumn afternoon. A wedding reception was in full swing in the banquet hall and the bar was full of folks going on tasting flights.
The flights cost $5, which is standard among the Woodinville wineries. One advantage to Columbia's flight over that at Chateau Ste. Michelle is that, at Columbia, you get to choose which wines you sample. Not a fan of whites? You can do just reds. Prefer sweet over peppery? That can be done. The flight includes a taste of five wines from a list of eight.
I began with the Yakima Valley 2006 Viognier, then the Wyckoff Vineyard 2004 Chardonnay, followed by the 2001 Merlot from the Red Willow Vineyard. The 2002 Syrah from Red Willow was my favorite wine of the day. The flavor is bold and peppery just how I like my wine... and my women? I finished off my flight with the 2003 Cabernet. In my day of winery hopping, the wines at Columbia definitely had the most distinct and varied flavors among any of the tasting rooms I visited.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Cool (2)
While this is "fancy" winery for the area, it is still very casual. It's large, but the bar is staffed to accomodate the crowds. We didn't have any problems finding and place, and the service we received was friendly and attentive. I had a similar problem here as many wineries in the area. The wines were poured, but no information was offered. Nothing about the wines, the grapes, the process, pairings, etc. I could have learned just as much by buying a bottle and reading the label.
Regardless of levels of information I was very impressed with the wines. I left with a bottle of Late Harvest Riesling and wishing I could have tasted the GEWRZTRAMINER. I wasn't a fan of the chardonnay, but did enjoy the Merlot and Cab.
Definitely worth the stop and the $5 tasting fee. They are also open till 6PM.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Cool (1)
Having lived in California for the last 20 years and spent a great deal of time touring and tasting the wineries in Napa, Sonoma and the Paso Robles area, I consider myself to be pretty well educated in what a winery should offer. Not that I'm a wine snob - my husband and I had a spirited conversation today about why a $5 bottle of wine can be just as good as a $30 bottle, it just depends on the purpose of the bottle. But we are here in the Seattle area on a romantic weekend, and we knew we wanted to check out the wineries. We went to Ste. Michelle first, and we were somewhat disappointed. We took the tour, we tried the wines, but didn't find anything worth buying. We decided what the heck, we'd drive across to Columbia. It was still under construction, but the tasting room itself was open and airy and the staff was friendly. It was quite busy (Saturday afternoon), but David took good care of us. We had the Chardonnay, which was good, not overly oaky. Our favorite of the day, though, had to be the 2004 Cabernet. Such a complex blend of flavors, and a smooth finish. David told us if we bought the 2006 Cab, in 2011, it will be just as amazing, if not better. We ended up signing up for the club, which got us our tasting fees refunded, and got us two more bottles to take home. We picked up some great wine packing sleeves for less than $2. We toured the rest of Woodinville wineries and found that Columbia is really the only one worth the trip. Highly recommend it!
Casual and comfortable atmosphere, I could have spent most of my wine tour right here. The wine servers were friendly and knowledgable and encouraged me to try some wines I never thought I'd like.
The gift shop has some unusual items that work for other people beside wine buffs.
My friend had her wedding at this winery back in September. She had few problems with the wedding arrangements provided by the winery. They promised a dance floor in the middle, but moved it to the side of the dining room without telling the wedding party. The staff was very unprofessional and inefficient. My friend was charged with items that were suppose to be free. The wedding guests were charged with items that were suppose to be free. They did not properly count the alcoholic drinks.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
The best reason to visit the Columbia is as a stop on the Spirit of Washington Dinner Train. The building is pretty, the tour is interesting if standard, and the back of the wine bar and gift shop looks down into the barrel room. You can fight your way to the wine bar if the train was crowded, but the wine is good and if you drink enough you won't care that you just got spilled on by someone standing too close next to you. I got some great wine pouring gadgets in the gift shop. Since it was near Christmas and cold I didn't walk much outside so don't know if I missed anything.
Washington is defiantly wine country. And almost nothing says it more then Columbia Winery! I really like coming here because the wine is superb and the atmosphere is great! Take the wine tour if you have time, its very interesting. Also, I recommend signing up for their mailing list, they have many events throughout the year that are a lot of fun!
I really enjoyed going to a wine tasting here. I've been to a few and tend to find the people a little snooty, not at the Columbia though. It could have been the person working that day but she was super informative and great at taking the time to talk wine. The wine itself is pretty good especially for Washington wines, I'd recommend it if you are looking for good not to expensive wines.
This winery is right across another winery, Chateau Ste-Michelle. I hear that they are owned by the same folks, and that Columbia Winery is a cheaper version of Ste Michelle. Either way, the winery itself is not as pretty as Chateau. If you want to just stroll around the winery, I would recomend Chateau over Columbia. However, their gift/wine shop is probably bigger than that of Chateau. I have never been to their wine tasting.
Thought I would try this winery...I have been visiting a few around the area. The wine was ok, I think that they could really work on the barrels. I am not one that is impressed by a fancy winery but rather great wine & service. Service was not good. Tasting room was staffed by employees who acted like they didn't want the customers to come in there!
The Columbia Winery is great! First off, they offer one more tasting than their neighbor across the street and you don't have to go on a tour. Second, if you purchase a paid tasting at Columbia, you can apply that to a purchase of a bottle of wine (or several). Honestly though, the free tasting is all you should do, especially if you're just coming from across the street and plan on going next door. The people who work at Columbia winery are super nice and not pretentious in any shape, way, or form. AND-the wine is delicious! I remember the first time I came here, I thought the wine would suck. But given a choice, I'll take the Columbia Gewurztraminer over the Chateau's any day. I've only been through the gift shop here, but it's an awesome gift shop. The tasting bar is the focal point, but they have a large selection of cutesy crap one might like to purchase for others and various types of wine glasses and t-shirts that proclaim your love of wine. They also offer a wine club that every time I come here, I consider joining. One day I will, because I really would like to try more of the wine they produce. Everything I've tried by them thus far has been awesome. Again, I am not a wine expert, but this stuff is good and affordable as well.
People thought this was:
- Useful (5)
- Cool (6)
