Refuge & Prospect Winery

My one and only experience with Refuge & Prospect was during the St. Nick’s weekend. After visiting several wineries who were only pouring two wines to taste, our group of four wandered into Refuge & Prospect. Lo and behold, here was a winery pouring a whole 8 (!?) different wines for St. Nick’s merrymakers to taste! Bordeaux blends are definitely the selling point here, and with good reason – these are pretty darn tasty wines for anyone who’s into Bordeaux blends.
The tasting room is also pretty awesomely decorate, lending itself to a rustic hunting lodge style of charm. There are also cozy armchairs and sofas for you to lounge in as you enjoy these wonderful wines. Definitely try to stop here the next time you’re on the Woodinville wine circuit.

Still on that quest to taste our way through Woodinville, the partner and I were headed out of the Warehouse District when we spotted the a pickup truck parked by the side of the road with a sign for Refuge & Prospect pointing us up yet another industrial driveway to another set of warehouses. Acting almost entirely on impulse we bore left and up the drive. It could be the best left turn we’ve ever made.
This winery is on its own in a little cluster of buildings just south and west of the main cluster of Warehouse wineries, but don’t let the isolation dissuade you from checking these folks out. In addition to some really stellar wines, they’ve created a pretty amazing little space that defies easy classification and always keeps you guessing (think Appalachian tavern with just a jigger of neo-​Gothic Steampunk), and they’ve applied the same sensibility to how they package and name their wines. Their offerings sport handles like Hallowed Ground and Dark Arts (our two favorites out of a crowded field of impressive wines) and their labeling gives off a seriously brooding yet eye-​catching vibe. This is a fun place to drink wine.
All of this, of course, would be incidental if the wine weren’t any good, but, boy, is it ever. Though Summer is on the wane, they make a fantastic rosé from Cab Franc (the cerebrally named Ver Sacrum) that was redolent of Provence (or maybe the Loire) and was dry, acidic and full of fruit. Too few Seattleites are willing to drink rosé past Labor Day, but a wine like this could (and should) make them change their minds. They also had a couple of accessible, easy drinking red blends (Seeing Red and Into the Void). These were solid and a great investment for everyday drinking, but they didn’t move us the way the final three reds did.
The watchword for their top tier reds is Bordeaux with a Cab Sauv driven nod to the Left Bank (Mortal Remains) and a couple of winks to the Right (Hallowed Ground and Dark Arts). Much as my inner-​liberal might hate to admit it, I’m definitely leaning to the right on this one with a special fondness for their treatment of the Cab Franc in the Hallowed Ground. But let’s be clear, all three of these wines were delicious with great balance between acid, fruit and tannin, and, in another nice Bordelaise touch, they all clocked in at around 13% alcohol so the palate was sharp and beautifully expressive.
Bottom line: Next time you’re on your way to the Warehouse District, bump this place to the head of the line.

Great new winery in the warehouse district of Woodinville! They are all about experiencing the wine and have a very nice selection. The atmosphere is rustic and charming as well, lending itself to a great setting for enjoying a nice glass. We will definitely be back! My favorite is Into the Void so definitely try that when you go.