Where to Taste Sangiovese in Woodinville
Ask a hundred people what Washington does best and you will hear Cabernet, Merlot, maybe Syrah if they are paying close attention. Sangiovese rarely makes the list, and that is exactly why it is worth chasing down. Tuscany's signature grape has quietly found a second home here, and Woodinville happens to be one of the easiest places in the world to taste it. Grab a glass and let us walk you through where to find it.
A grape a long way from home
Sangiovese is Italy's most planted red grape and the backbone of Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. It is a grape that wants heat, long ripening days, and soil that keeps it a little uncomfortable. Most of the New World has left it alone, but Washington has embraced it in small, serious pours. The state now grows enough to produce roughly 75,000 cases a year, more than anywhere else in the Pacific Northwest, and much of the best fruit comes from Red Mountain.
Red Mountain earned its AVA status in 2001, but the story starts decades earlier, when pioneering growers cleared sagebrush on a windswept bench above the Yakima River and planted vines where almost no one expected them to survive. What they found was some of the most distinctive terroir in the state. Sandy, mineral-rich soil left behind by ancient floods, brutal afternoon heat, and cool nights that lock in acidity. Sangiovese planted here tends to come in bigger and darker than its Tuscan cousins, with more structure and a savory, coffee-tinged edge alongside the classic red cherry and dried herb notes.
Where to taste it around town
Genoa Cellars | We’ll start close to home, since Sangiovese from Red Mountain is the whole reason Genoa Cellars exists. Our wines lean into the grape's structure and food friendliness, sourced from partner vineyards like Ciel du Cheval, Kiona's Ranch at the End of the Road, and Heart of the Hill. Expect bright acidity, dark cherry, and a savory finish.
Long Shadows Vintners | Long Shadows built its reputation by pairing Washington fruit with winemakers from around the world, and their Sangiovese-based project is a standout. Look for the Saggi, a Sangiovese-dominant blend crafted by an Italian winemaker with deep Tuscan roots. It carries more weight and a longer finish than most Sangioveses you will find outside Italy, and the tasting room team is happy to walk you through why.
Five Star Cellars | Originally a Walla Walla winery, Five Star opened a satellite tasting room in Woodinville's Warehouse District and built a following on bold reds made from Walla Walla fruit. Their Sangiovese sells out most vintages, so if you spot it on the list, pour it while you can.
Cave B Estate Winery | Tucked into the Woodinville tasting room scene, Cave B pours a lineup that ranges wide, and its Sangiovese and Tempranillo consistently come up as visitor favorites. The room is relaxed and roomy, a good stop if you want to slow down and actually talk through what is in your glass.
What to expect in the glass
Washington Sangiovese tends to split into two camps. The first is bright and food-driven, built around red fruit, dried herbs, and enough acid to cut through a plate of pasta or a wedge of aged cheese. The second leans richer and more structured, closer to what you would find in a Brunello, with darker fruit, firmer tannin, and enough weight to age for a few years. Red Mountain fruit tends to land in the second camp more often than not, thanks to the heat and the mineral-driven soil.
If you are new to the grape, a good tasting order is light to heavy. Start with anything rosé or early-release, move into the food-friendly styles, and finish with the bigger, barrel-aged pours. Cheese boards are your friend here. Aged pecorino, prosciutto, or anything with a little salt and fat will make the wine's acidity sing.
Plan your route
All four of these stops sit within a short drive of each other in Woodinville's Hollywood and Warehouse Districts, which makes for an easy afternoon if you want to taste the range side by side. Start at Genoa, since we can point you toward the vineyards behind the wine in your glass, then work your way through the rest of the list. However you sequence it, you will come away with a much better answer than "Cabernet" the next time someone asks what Washington does well.
Ready to taste? Swing by our Woodinville Warehouse Tasting Room to see which bottles are pouring now.
