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Wine and Food

The Locals Lockdown Guide to Woodinville

It’s hard to believe that we’ve been wearing masks, social distancing, baking bread, and cleaning out our closets for almost a year now. Winter has made us especially restless after spending more time indoors, so we’ve put together a little COVID-safe itinerary for a day trip or staycation. We hope you will enjoy this local’s lockdown guide to Woodinville.

Step Outside

We suggest starting the day by stepping outside into the fresh air! The Pacific Northwest is famous for wet, woodsy hikes, and Woodinville does not disappoint. Two of our favorite places to hike are the Paradise Valley Conservation Area and Ring Hill Forest Trails. Both provide scenic nature walks and are right here in Woodinville.

Photo courtesy of All Trails

The Paradise Valley Conservation Area Trail is a four-mile loop that features a lake and some pretty incredible plants and wildlife. If you have time, we recommend finding spots to wander around this area as it’s vast and has a lot to offer. If you’d rather explore on wheels, you can ride your bike instead.

In search of something a bit quicker and easier? Check out the Ring Hill Forest Trails. Clocking in at about two miles, this is a dog- and kid-friendly trail that is a perfect candidate for that late morning, early afternoon walk you’ve been craving. If you just want to enjoy the journey of a walk surrounded by nature, but don’t want to break a sweat, this one’s for you. Grab your pup, pack a light lunch (don’t forget a bottle of Baer), and enjoy the great outdoors.

Refuel

After time spent in the great outdoors, we know you’ll be ready to refuel. Luckily, Woodinville has an array of terrific options for takeout. One of our favorites in town is Heritage Restaurant & Bar. Located in the Hollywood Hill District, this restaurant is offering its menu, as well as family meals, for pickup or delivery. We love that the menu offers something for everyone, featuring locally grown and sourced food. They also have specials and grocery items you can browse to save you time and money.

If it’s a Saturday, you’re in luck, because each week there’s a new food truck parked in the Woodinville Warehouse District! Depending on the date, you’ll get to experience some of Woodinville’s best traveling-food options from Asian Fusion to Southern Comfort Food to Mexican to Vegan and more. Plus, Baer Winery is right around the corner and open from 1-4 pm.

Taste Washington Wine

We’re ending our local’s lockdown guide to Woodinville with the most important information of all… starting Saturday, February 20th we’re re-opening for tastings by reservation Friday – Sunday, 1 pm to 4 pm. We will also continue to offer curbside pickups during tasting hours, as well as Monday-Thursday by appointment. We hope you can stop by and see us!

Woodinville’s Warehouse District is jam-packed with awesome wineries, so after you visit us, take a walk around the neighborhood and see what else is available. We all appreciate your support now more than ever.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this locals guide to Woodinville. We’re always happy to share our favorites with you and hope you have a great time during your visit, even with the current restrictions. Let us know if you take advantage of any of our suggestions on social media, and as always, tag us in your photos while sipping on Baer wines.

Baer Winery | 2020 Wrap-Up

This year has been unpredictable, to say the least. As a small, family-run business, we’ve learned to be very flexible this year. The temporary closure of our tasting room due to COVID-19 restrictions has been tough, but the health and safety of our members, guests, employees, and ourselves remains paramount. Through it all, wine, friends, and family (from a distance) have been there for us, and we’re ready to welcome the New Year with open arms and a new sense of hope. To wrap up the year on a positive note, we’re diving into what we’ve been watching, reading, eating, and, most importantly, drinking to get us through these last few months of 2020.

What We’re Watching

This year has been THE year of streaming. While everyone was stuck inside doing puzzles and baking bread, we were watching all of the Great British Baking Show and Somebody Feed Phil and are currently indulging in holiday favorite movies like Elf and Planes, Trains & Automobiles. All of these have one thing in common – you feel great after you watch them.

Photo courtesy of Netflix

Somebody Feed Phil speaks to our foodie hearts. It follows Phil Rosenthal and his fun and interesting friends on an eating tour of the world. The thing we liked most about this show was that we felt like we had traveled the world without leaving the couch. We also felt inspired and ready to get back in the kitchen! We’ve been picking our favorite Baer wines to pair with the extraordinary dishes Phil comes across.

We want to end the year on a good note, and the Will Ferrell classic, Elf, always brings the belly laughs. Following a grown man who was raised as an elf in the North Pole on his journey to New York City to find his birth father, we highly recommend this if you haven’t seen it yet! You can’t see this movie too many times, and we’ll probably watch it at least once more before the New Year just for good measure.

What We’re Reading

Besides Wine Enthusiast, Wine Spectator, and Wine Folly, we read President Barack Obama’s memoir, A Promised Land, cover to cover (ok, maybe we listened to the audiobook, but still!). We’ve also been revisiting some classics like Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and Amy Tan’s The Valley of Amazement. Up next, we’re looking forward to laughing through the new David Sedaris The Best of Me, as well as the latest by former Seattle resident, Erik Larson, The Splendid and the Vile. In our opinion, there is nothing better than curling up by a crackling fire with a glass of 2016 Arctos and diving into a different world.

What We’re Eating

Now we’re getting to the good stuff! We think the question is more like, “what haven’t we been eating?” We’ve had a focus on comfort these past few months, so we can recommend meatballs in a tomato basil sauce, seafood paella, roasted red pepper and smoked gouda soup, and homemade pizza on sourdough crust. The big plus about these four dishes is that they pair wonderfully with any Baer red blend.

Here are a few insider tips on flawlessly recreating these dishes…

For the meatballs, instead of breadcrumbs, use crispy onions. Then, for the sauce, just heat up a can of crushed tomatoes and simmer with fresh basil (from your new quarantine herb garden) – voila – an easy, delicious, weeknight meal. We suggest pairing this dish with any vintage of our Callisto red blend.

https://baerwinery.orderport.net/product-details/0138/2017-Ursa–750-ml?utm_source=Newsletter/Blog&utm_medium=blog_link&utm_campaign=ASTRA_NL_Jan21_2020_wrap_up_blog&utm_content=2017_ursa_vintage Don’t be intimidated by paella. It may seem like a complicated dish, but if you can make a small family-size batch.  Follow the process correctly, and make the broth extra rich and flavorful, you can’t go wrong. We know we said that all our wines go well with any dish, but we recommend sipping on our 2018 Shard. This crisp, unoaked Chardonnay will pair perfectly with the seafood and saffron.The only tip we have for the roasted red pepper and smoked gouda soup is to double the cheese. Trust us on this one and pair with any vintage of Ursa. We’ve been sipping on the newly released 2017 and can’t recommend it enough.

Everyone has been making sourdough in 2020, so why not experiment with a sourdough pizza crust? We’re partial to chicken sausage and goat cheese for our toppings, but this dish is one to have fun with and build to fit your own tastes. The 2016 Malbec is the wine for pizza. Concentrated and expressive, it will complement whatever toppings you choose.

We hope that the challenges that 2020 has presented to you are not too great and that you’ve had the opportunity to enjoy life through movies, literature, and, of course, food and wine. Cheers to a New Year and new opportunities. Let’s raise a glass to 2021.


A Guide to the Holiday Season in Woodinville Wine Country

The holiday season is in full swing, and we’re looking forward to cozying up and relishing the presence of friends, family, and, of course, delicious wine. Woodinville is a great place to visit during this joyous time. We are thankful every day to be right in the heart of all the Woodinville Wine Country action. It’s truly the most wonderful time of the year, so whether you’re home for the holidays, visiting for a weekend getaway, or you’re a local, we thought we’d share our favorites in a guide to the holiday season in Woodinville Wine Country.

Brunch at the Willows Lodge

Start your weekend off right in Woodinville Wine Country with a delicious, locally-sourced brunch at Willows Lodge. The Barking Frog offers a warm, cozy dining area that will have you relaxing and in the mood for a day full of holiday cheer in no time. As one of the premier dining experiences in Woodinville, the Barking Frog offers innovative seasonal menus with a wide selection of breakfast and lunch options. Don’t forget about the award-winning wine cellar full of Northwest and global wines to satisfy any palate! Full stomachs are essential for a successful holiday celebration in Woodinville. Strap on your eating pants and fuel-up for a day full of holiday spirit and activities.

Taste at Baer Winery

After a gorgeous brunch, it’s time to grab some last-minute gift bottles for the wine lovers in your life. Also, taste some of Washington’s best red blends for yourself in the Warehouse District of Woodinville at Baer Winery. Our tasting room is lit up and decorated for the season and will have you feeling festive in no time. Taste through our portfolio of elegant wines, including our two newest releases, the 2016 Star and the 2016 Callisto. Ask us about our library wines, for an extra special gift or treat for yourself. We’re offering complimentary gift wrapping in the tasting room so you (or your elves) don’t have to worry about it after tasting your way through Woodinville. If you’re unsure of your loved one’s favorite varietals of wine, consider purchasing an e-gift card! They can be redeemed in the tasting room for tastings and bottles or used in our online shop. We hope to see you and be a part of your holiday celebrations as we head into the New Year.

A Sustainable Cooking Class at 21 Acres

One more suggestion for your holiday itinerary in Woodinville is a sustainable cooking class at 21 Acres. 21 Acres is located under 10 minutes from Baer Winery. It’s the perfect experience to celebrate the true meaning of the season with your loved ones. The 21 Acres mission is to create experiences that teach people of all ages about local food, smart consumer choices, and green energy. Combine learning into a fun, engaging activity that the whole family can enjoy. Make a meal you all can be proud of and then break bread together for the perfect end to a perfect day in Woodinville Wine Country.

We hope this guide to the holiday season in Woodinville Wine Country has been helpful as you plan your stay with us here in Washington. We wish you a joyous holiday season and an enchanting start to 2020.

Three Un-Baer-ably Cozy Fall Wine Pairings

November may be the coziest month of them all. The leaves are still falling from the trees, the weather is starting to chill just enough to break out the bonfire pit, and Thanksgiving is on the horizon. November is also a fantastic month to elevate your cooking game. Rich, warm dishes are always welcome at the end of a hard day’s work. We decided to get a head start on next week’s meal prep, so without further adieu, please enjoy these three Baer wines paired with fall dishes. Bon Appetit!

2018 Shard Paired with Stuffed Pork Tenderloin

This pairing combines crispness with richness that puts a satisfying stamp on the end of a weekday. The 2018 Shard Chardonnay is 100% unoaked as we want to respect the clean purity of the fruit and not obscure the Chardonnay’s personality with malolactic fermentation or oak barrels. The result shows great intensity with hints of apple, kiwi, and nutmeg throughout the palate and finishes with a bright minerality. These notes pair perfectly with the salty and juicy qualities of the pork tenderloin. Whether you stuff your tenderloin with mushrooms, garlic, onions, and parsley, or mozzarella cheese, spinach, and tomatoes, you’ll feel nothing but pure joy finishing your meal with a sip of Shard.

2015 Ursa Paired with Cast Iron Pizza

Next on the docket is a doughy yet crispy and, of course, cheesy cast iron pizza paired with the 2015 Ursa. Classic meets classic with this combination. Just because it’s simple, doesn’t mean it isn’t delicious. What’s more drool-worthy than a Washington Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec blend and pizza? Nothing! Decant our 2015 Ursa and enjoy plush, velvety tannins along with flavors of ripe black fruit that finishes with a savory quality and refreshing lift that was made to be sipped with food. You can purchase pizza dough from the store, or make your own. Then layer fresh mozzarella, pepperoni, Italian sausage, green peppers, and anything else your heart desires in a cast iron. Throw it in the oven and enjoy a couple of sips of Ursa while the pizza is baking. Voilà – another un-Baer-ably cozy pairing that will satisfy the day’s cravings.

2015 Callisto Paired with a Gouda and Fig Cheese Board

Last, but never least, is a pairing that is not partial to any time of the day, but to a feeling. Pair the 2015 Callisto with a gouda and fig cheese board for an appetizer, Sunday lunch, or even dessert. Our Callisto is made with 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Syrah, 15% Petit Verdot, and 1% Merlot. This blend has been a long-standing fan-favorite. Aged in French oak for 22 months, it boasts a silky mouthfeel with flavors of cassis and black cherry finishing with an outstanding richness and minerality that makes a great match for the sweeter side of gouda and figs. Present this pairing as a pre-Thanksgiving dinner snack, or to your friends at the next happy hour you host. Either way, you’ll have everyone asking for more.

We hope we’ve helped with a bit of the stress that comes with fall cooking. Enjoy the cozy weather, rich dishes, and elegant Baer wines. Remember, it can never be a bad meal if it’s paired with a Baer Winery wine.