On a recent rainy weekend, I convinced (or cajoled?) my boyfriend Bob into accompanying me to a warehouse district tasting room here in Woodinville. I’d had several tasting room managers and another winemaker highly recommend I check out Kevin White Winery. I was lucky enough to show up at a time when the tasting room wasn’t busy, though a steady stream of wine club members stopped during my visit, eagerly picking up their wine and chatting with Kevin White.
He was getting ready for a big club event the next weekend. A pizza truck was scheduled to come out for the event, since there aren’t many food options in this part of the warehouse district.
And apparently he’d just gotten back from hosting a trip to Provence and the Rhone Valley. I didn’t think to ask him about it!
He began my wine tasting with La Fraternite 2016. La Fraternite is a southern Rhone style Grenache/Mourvedre from the Boushey Vineyards. It’s 64% Grenache, 27% Mourvedre, and 9% Syrah. I’m glad I tried this – I am noticing I really enjoy wine with a high percentage of Grenache in it.
Next I tasted the La Paysanne 2016. I wished Jen was there with me because I think she’d really like this one!
La Paysanne is a 100% Mourvedre. Spicy, with notes of black pepper and raspberry. Kevin says it would be especially great for a summer barbecue. You can chill it down to around 50ish degrees to serve.
Kevin mentioned that to him, it tastes Sicilian style.
Next was Heritage, a 2015 from the Dubrul vineyard.
It’s 58% Merlot and 42% Cabernet Sauvignon. I really enjoyed this one and chose it to bring home. (I ended up drinking it with my friend Claudette while we spent a pleasant evening binge-watching shows and eating crackers, cheese and strawberry cake).
My final tasting (before I took pity on Bob and drove him to a brewery so he could get a beer) was the En Hommage 2016. It’s a 100% Syrah from Boushey vineyard and from Elephant Mountain vineyards. This one surprised me – I don’t normally care for Syrah (working on it!) but knew this was one I’d for sure have to take home with me. I’m saving it to serve at an upcoming dinner party with friends who will also appreciate it.
While I tasted, interesting people came to visit and chat. People were talking about their upcoming trips, and this is the third or fourth time I heard the Hospice du Rhone mentioned over the weekend. I met an incredibly smart nine year old, accompanying his wine club member father, who lectured me on science. I learned a lot! We started exploring the tasting room.
Tasting rooms generally offer a dump bucket but I hardly ever see people using them. Maybe I’d see that more often if I were around during larger group tours where people were making multiple tasting stops. We try to show up at quieter times when photographing for this blog though, so we don’t disturb other patrons.
Kevin White participated in the 2017 Auction of Washington Wines.
I was delighted to be part of a small impromptu behind-the-scenes tour. Check out these huge tanks!
Here are boxes of wine waiting to be purchased and enjoyed.
Here’s our obligatory behind-the-scenes barrel shot!
Bob was really impressed with this gigantic concrete egg, currently being used to make Syrah.
Here’s Dan, busily working away to help the winemaker on a Saturday.
Kevin White Winery is located at 18808 142nd Ave NE, Suite 5A, Woodinville, Washington 98072. Current hours are Saturdays, 1pm to 5pm. Stop by to say hi to the friendly winemaker and learn a lot about wine in the process!
-Carrie
RESOURCES:
Kevin White Winery on Facebook
Kevin White Winery on Instagram