Every time we checked the weather report and saw a sunny day was ahead, we hustled over to Woodinville. We wanted to take advantage of several of the beautiful outdoor patios at various tasting rooms, before the autumn rains come.
We were doing research for our post on dog-friendly tasting rooms, and happened to have little Lola with us. We thought Gorman Winery would be the perfect place to start!
Gorman doesn’t serve food, so they are exceptionally pet-friendly and encourage leashed dogs to visit.
Gorman shares a beautiful stone patio with Patterson Cellars and Vivi Pizzeria.
This humorous sign encourages visitors to join the Gorman F.O.G. wine club. Members gain exclusive access to Gorman Winery’s reserve wines, member-only events, 10% off all additional non-club wine purchases, and enjoy an extra 5% off of case purchases. Club members receive complimentary tastings at the Woodinville tasting room (24 per year, up to 6 redeemable per visit).
I took my glass of 2013 Pixie Syrah outside to relax and enjoy a quiet moment. Chris Gorman specializes is big red wines, our wine-tender, Kate told us. This Red-Mountain Syrah is just that with its earthy aroma and rich dark berry notes.
The line up at Gorman sits displayed under signed electric guitars. This large bottle of The Bully is stunning and i wish it were at my house. A full-bodied, 93% Cabernet and 7% petit verdot with notes black, licorice and hints of chocolate. This wine received 93 points from Wine & Spirits and is decadent, full-bodied and layered, and makes for easy drinking.
We tasted the 2015 Big Sissy Chardonnay first. This was a Chardonnay that surprised me with it’s smooth finish and notes of peach and buttery aromas.
We continued our tasting with the 42-39-56 Rosé. This Rosey is made from Rare Rose Blend in Red Mountain – perfect for the late summer weeather we enjoyed.
You’ll see some of the owner’s guitar collection hanging on the walls. Coming of age in Seattle during the late 80’s and early 90’s, I was smiling at the nods to the Sub Pop era.
There’s a vintage AC/DC pinball machine available to entertain visitors. How fun!
On the day we visited, there was the perfect amount of sunshine and shade at Gorman’s patio.
A couple of us bought a bottle of the Rosé 42-39-56 to bring home for end-of-summer celebrations. This blend of primarily Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah was zesty, aromatic and refreshing.
Our helpful and friendly wine steward, Kate, was kind enough to visit with us and share fresh Chardonnay grapes. We appreciated her honest descriptions of the Gorman wines and the time she took to explain each one to us.
Serret cuddled Lola while sampling the 2013 Sleeping Giant Reserve Syrah. This is a 100% boushey syrah with notes of blackberry, Kalamata olive, French-oak spices. It is bold, with rich flavors with a warm finish.
Gorman’s tasting fee is $10, refunded if you purchase a $28 bottle of wine.
We bet you’ll enjoy the atmosphere and decor inside the tasting room.
Jen sipped on the 2013 Albatross Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot, aged in 100% new French oak for 23 months. This Red Mountain red is full-bodied, and has a meaty aroma. I personally thought this velvety red could be enjoyed alone or with food.
The tasting room wine menu. 2014 Zachary’s Ladder is named after Chris Gorman’s son. This wine is a blend of Cab, Syrah and Petit Verdot grapes from the Red Mountain AVA. I picked up notes of currant and chocolate and thought it was delicious.
Truly a stunning place to visit – love the wide open doors letting in fresh air and sunshine. You can see that the outdoor patio joins Vivi Pizeria, offering guests the perfect place to enjoy wood fired pizza and then a lovely wine tasting.
Lounging about on Gorman Winery’s sunny patio – what a great way to spend an afternoon!
Gorman Winery is located at:
14405 148th Ave NE, Woodinville, WA 98072, in Woodinville’s Hollywood Schoolhouse District.
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Plan your next Friday or Saturday evening outing here and enjoy live music from 7 to 9 PM! You will not be disappoined by the bold red wines or the friendly atmosphere of Gorman Winery.
~Carrie
