Day 2 │ Seattle [B, L]
After a relaxed breakfast Sean will lead you on a day tour designed to give you a close look at some of the leading boutiques urban wineries in the Seattle area. This exclusive itinerary minimizes travel time and maximizes fun and learning.
Your day will start with a tasting of Eight Bells Winery, a fascinating team of three 'garagiste' winemakers and seamen whose improbably venture started with an urban winery in the middle of a residential area in Seattle. Now their wines are often features on prominent restaurant menus such as the famed Herbfarm in Woodinville.
You will then head to an upscale converted warehouse complex in Seattle's industrial District for your next three stops. First visit Kerloo Cellars to sample the wines from young and talented winemaker, Ryan Crane, producing unique wines that break away from the Washington norm. Next stop is Schooner Exact Brewing, for a palate refreshing beer tasting and lunch. Many winemakers affirm that "you need a lot of beer to make great wine!" If time permits after lunch, you'll walk the short distance to a tasting at Full Pull, an e-commerce retailer with a well-curated catalog of hard-to-find wines.
Your final stop of the day is the extraordinary Jet City, a remarkable new winery and tasting room for Charles Smith wines. Taste delicious Syrah and watch planes landing at Boeing Field through a 21-foot wall of windows. Smith has received several Winemaker of the Year awards, and his 2014 K Vintners Powerline Syrah was ranked #2 in the world by Wine Spectator. Jet City winery is the largest family-owned winery on the West Coast. From there you will return to the hotel. Retire to your room or go out and enjoy the Seattle nightlife. The day will be full and you are certain to come away with a greatly expanded appreciate for the wines of Washington State.