I know that I am not alone when I say that I am excited to be able to spend a little more time out in tasting rooms with friends! It had been almost two years since my good friend Tonja and I were able to make it out to Woodinville, and our afternoon spent dining at Vivi Pizzeria and sipping wine at Alexandria Nicole Cellars was perfect. We took our time and made a point to relax and enjoy our afternoon out!
Tonja opted for the refreshing avocado salad and my choice was the burrata salad. Both of these were fresh and a perfect option for such a warm-weather day. We sat outside on the open-air patio, and watched the foot traffic go by.
Doesn’t this burrata salad loo amazing? It was so nicely balanced, with the creamy, fresh burrata and the peppery arugula. the balsamic vinaigrette drizzled on the top brought it together and I didn’t need anything else to fill me up. Since we were going wine tasting next, I opted for an iced tea but there are some great Woodinville wine options on the wine list at Vivi!
We made out way over to the Hollywood Schoolhouse for our wine tasting, just a short walk from where we ate our lunch. We met the newest member at Alexandria Nicole Cellars, Mariah and she was amazing! It is always so great when you are given time and attention during a wine tasting, and Mariah definitely offered us that. We talked all about these delicious wines, and I seriously considered joining the wine club. I loved the Shepherd’s Mark and the Roussanne, and the Adulting Sparkling white wine was an incredible way to begin our wine tasting. I am all about summer white wines right now and there are so many amazing options in Woodinville!
When you visit, please note that the Hollywood District can get very busy, so when planning, make sure to check out the parking options. There is parking overflow behind the tasting rooms at Panther Creek Cellars, Brian Carter Cellars, The Commons, and Purple Cafe. You can also find parking near the ball fields, just beyond the main roundabout.
I couldn’t wait to open my bottle of Shepherds Mark on the patio at home, and enjoyed it so much that I need to stock up on several more bottles. This is a stainless steel fermented white blend of 45% Roussanne, 25% Marsanne and 28% Viognier and has notes of tangerine and pear on the nose and flavors of melon, lemon and honeysuckle on the palate. Serve this perfectly balanced wine chilled while lounging on your patio, it’s a new favorite!
Carrie is already a wine club member at ANC, and generously shares bottles with me often so the day I was there I ended up not joining. We enjoy taking turns on our wines club membership here at Woodinville Wine Blog so we can try more of the many of Woodinville’s amazing wineries. That said, I was still tempted! If you want to know more about the wine club, click here.
While you are visiting for your wine tasting, be sure to take a look around the fabulous tasting room, the grounds, and the patio. As the weather warms and the summer season draws nearer, be on the lookout for Alexandria Nicole Cellars’ Frosé. Get one with an added Jet Black Syrah chaser. It’s delicious!
Find the tasting room in the center of the Hollywood District, at the Hollywood Schoolhouse. At this time, reservations are recommended. Visit the website for more info.
Cheers!
~Jen
Resources:
Alexandria Nicole Cellars website
