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The Locals Lockdown Guide to Woodinville

By Baer Winery No Comments

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

By Baer Winery No Comments

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.


Baer Winery Thanksgiving Pairings

By Baer Winery, Wine and Food No Comments

There’s nothing better than sharing food and laughs with those who mean the most to you, making Thanksgiving a time of year that we all look forward to. This year might look a bit different than usual, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy wine and food with your loved ones. The Baer family has curated an easy holiday pack with all the wines you’ll need for your Thanksgiving meal, whether it be small, solo, or socially distanced. If you’re taking things virtual, order a pack for yourself and packs for those you love, and we can help you ship to the rest of your party. So sit back, relax, and enjoy these Baer Winery Thanksgiving pairings!

2018 Shard paired with Pommes Puree

The first wine included is our 2018 Shard. Crisp and clean, this unoaked Chardonnay doesn’t have any of the heavy flavors that may clash with rich holiday foods. The balanced acidity and light pear and citrus notes are ideal for sipping while you’re cooking, or for guests to enjoy with savory appetizers like cheese and charcuterie. Carry it on through dinner as a fresh accompaniment to plump turkey, gravy, and herby stuffing. If you’re cooking for a smaller crowd this year, splurge on something super luscious like Pommes Puree instead of the usual mashed potatoes. It’s not quite equal parts butter and potato, but it’s close. We think this recipe is a perfect complement to the Shard!

2016 Star Merlot paired with Romaine and Pear Salad

Our Thanksgiving gathering is usually small, so in past years we would typically take advantage of one of Seattle’s great restaurants serving a traditional menu and wine pairing. Our 2016 Star Merlot with its bright red currant and pie cherries, baking spice, and a hint of bay leaf works with the full meal deal. Including an obligatory salad on the plate? Try something simple like Romaine tossed with chopped pear, colorful and tart pomegranate arils, dressed with a light vinaigrette, and topped with parmesan shavings.

2016 Arctos paired with Mushroom Wellington

This year we’ll instead be picking up gourmet to-go and sharing a virtual dinner over Zoom, so the menu will be smaller. For those who prefer a slightly fuller-bodied red with their turkey, or even a second or alternative meat option like prime rib or ham, we’ve included our 2016 Arctos Cabernet Sauvignon. Silky, lush, and dense, this would also go along well with a vegetarian entrée like this Mushroom Wellington. 

As for pie, we know of many excellent pie and wine pairings, but we’d be remiss to pass on a boozy coffee pairing. After all, there’s no better place for coffee than Seattle, Washington!

Cheers to you and yours, and we hope that however you are celebrating, Thanksgiving will bring some comfort and joy to this season. If you’re planning on setting your table with Baer wines this year, let us know by tagging us in your posts on Instagram!


20 Years of Baer Winery

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It’s hard to believe that over 20 years have already gone by since Baer Winery was founded in July of 2000. It was another year until we were able to establish a production facility in Maltby, Washington. Then in 2003 after much excitement and trepidation, we held our first wine release event for a small group of interested wine drinkers we had come to know over the first few years of production. Much to our delight and relief, the 2000 Ursa, our first red blend and the only wine featured in that first release, was very well received and sold out immediately. Baer Winery has since been a staple in Washington state, and we are grateful to have such a fantastic team, wine club members, and fans that have been with us throughout the journey. We invite you to take a little nostalgic trip with us as we celebrate 20 years of Baer Winery.

The Early Years

Shortly after our first wine release event, SkyCity Restaurant in the Space Needle became the first restaurant to add Ursa to its wine list. Now, our wines can be found in wine lists across Pacific Northwest, as well as wine shops across North America including New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Ohio, Montana, Wyoming, and Canada. 

After experimenting with a number of great Washington vineyards in our early years and refining the Baer winemaking style, in 2004 we made a choice to work exclusively with fruit grown at Stillwater Creek Vineyard in the Columbia Valley, which is now known as the Royal Slope AVA. We also followed up the 2000 Ursa with Arctos in 2002 and in 2004, Shard. In 2007, following the unexpected and untimely loss of our co-founder and winemaker, Lance Baer, Erica Orr joined as our Consulting Winemaker, and we moved our production facility to Woodinville’s Warehouse District.  With an increase in production and demand, the following year, we opened the tasting room that we’re currently in, right next door to our production facility. In 2009, we introduced the Star and Callisto red blends, exploring further expressions of our Merlot and Cabernet
Sauvignon.

Then to Now

As we moved into the second decade of Baer Winery, in 2011, our 2008 Ursa appeared at #6 on Wine Spectator’s Top 100, putting our little winery on the map. Still in shock, we fielded calls, emails, and visitors from literally around the world. Subsequently, the 2012 vintage of Ursa made the top 30 on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 at #28. We feel fortunate to continue to receive industry recognition, with our most recent being the 2016 Ursa which received 93 points from Tim Fish at Wine Spectator. Accolades are wonderful and we always appreciate them, but we still work just as hard or harder on every vintage trying to perfect it to our own standards.

In the fall of 2017, with the addition of a new Point-of-Sale system, we were able to launch our Ursa Major and Ursa Minor wine clubs. We continue to be thankful to have members with who we always look forward to catching up and sharing new wines. The year 2020 has brought a lot for the world to handle, especially in the wine industry, and we’ve been lucky enough to continue producing and releasing new wines. This year, we added our 2016 Cabernet Franc and 2019 Rosé of Cabernet Franc to our portfolio. Continuing to craft delicious, elegant Washington wines over the past 20 years has been our greatest joy, and we look forward to continuing that tradition for the next 20 years. To those who helped us celebrate our 20th birthday with our biggest one-day sale ever, thank you! If you’d like to purchase verticals and other special collections that were featured in our one-day sale, you can now find them here.


The 2016 Malbec has Arrived…

By Wine and Food No Comments

You’ve been toughing it out these past six months in quarantine or perhaps out on the front lines, settling into a routine, and for many of you, homeschooling is just around the corner. Whew. We’re here for you and will try to at least provide some moral support. That’s why we are so happy to announce the release of our very popular and very limited Baer Malbec. The 2016 Baer Malbec is an interesting wine that seasoned enophiles and novices alike enjoy. Let’s talk about Malbec as a varietal, as well as how it came to be one of our most sought-after wines.

A little history of Malbec…

Malbec is a thick-skinned grape that hails from France. It became a blending grape as one of five of Bordeaux’s top wine grapes. However, despite its thick skin, Malbec has a poor resistance to weather and pests. Therefore, Malbec never made it as a top variety in The Republic. Many people think of Argentina when they think of Malbec. That’s because Malbec found a new home in which to thrive back in the early 1800s in Mendoza, Argentina when the mayor ordered a French botanist to plant it. Because of Argentina’s climate and elevation, over 75% of today’s Malbec is planted in Argentina and the remainder spans across six other countries as it continues to grow more and more popular, especially here in Washington state.

The Baer Malbec Story…

The Baer Malbec was first crafted in 2013 when doing duty as a blend component for our flagship wine, Ursa. The fruit was intended to remain just as part of Baer’s blends. However, Nich Hanson, the Cellarmaster at the time, noticed that every time he opened the Malbec barrels for their topping up, he was hit with intense aromas of blackberry pie and cracked peppercorns. He knew the 2013 Malbec was a special wine that should stand on its own. He then proposed that it be bottled separately. The Baer team agreed and the Baer Malbec was born.

2016 Malbec…

Our 2016 Malbec was just released and is an extremely limited-production wine that we’re so proud to share with you all.  James Suckling awarded this wine 92 points and Owen Bargreen gave it 93, so you know it lives up to the hype. Blended with a bit of Syrah, the 2016 Malbec is concentrated and expressive. With aromas and flavors of blackberry, blueberry, mocha, and black licorice, it’s ripe and generous in the mouth with a long and lifted finish. Pair with anything from dark poultry and lean meats to dishes with spicy and earthy flavors. Consulting Winemaker, Erica Orr said, “It’s fun to make small lots like the Malbec in contrast to the larger volume Baer blends. The Malbec character is more upfront, bold, and expressive when compared to the flagship Ursa or a more serious Cabernet Sauvignon like the Arctos.”

If you’re ready to taste the 2016 Malbec for yourself, we’re currently offering a three-pack for just $99 and overnight shipping for the price of regular ground shipping (but only until September 8th). Just add the three-pack to your cart, choose regular ground shipping, and enter code OVERNIGHT at checkout. Enjoy!


3 Tips for Properly Storing Your Wine

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Wine is more than just delicious to sip on with dinner or enjoy on the patio with your loved ones – it’s also an investment. You purchase certain wines to drink immediately, some to drink later, and some that you plan to hold on to for years to come. In order to store wine for a longer period, it’s essential to create an environment where your wines can grow old and thrive. Follow these 3 tips for properly storing your wine and you’ll never have to worry about the condition of your favorite bottles!

Stay Cool

It’s hot outside now and if you don’t have air conditioning or a temperature-controlled wine cellar, it can get hot inside too. Heat is wine’s number one enemy and you’ll want to avoid it if you want to age your wines to their peak drinking years. Any temperature above 70 degrees will age a wine much more quickly than is desirable; therefore, you should ideally store your wines between 45 and 65 degrees. We suggest keeping whites and reds at a perfect 55 degrees, whenever possible.

Expanding your collection during the Summer months can take more planning.  Wineries are leery of any extended transit time for wine shipments in warmer weather (or colder weather in Winter). We want to protect your investment and make sure our wines arrive at your doorstep safely, on time, and in good condition. So, we’ve just started offering overnight shipping for the price of regular ground shipping so that you can sip and savor, or cellar, your favorite Baer wines throughout the Summer! That means if you place an order with us any weekday before noon Pacific Time, we’ll have it to you the next day. All you have to do is fill your cart, select ground shipping, and then enter code OVERNIGHT at checkout.

Stay Consistent

If heat is wine’s first enemy, extreme and/or frequent changes in temperature are its second. Large swings in temperature have the ability to not only cook the wine but also expand and contract the liquid inside the bottle potentially causing the cork to be pushed out and leakage to ensue. To avoid this pitfall, pick a space in your home where the temperature is consistent. Humidity matters only in extreme cases. A humidifier in very dry weather conditions and a dehumidifier in very humid conditions should do the trick to keep your wine storage space safe (between 50 and 80 percent). Consistency is key, but don’t be too worried about small temperature changes.

Stay Sideways and Still

Store bottles on their side so that wine is always in contact with the cork. This technique, referred to as ‘laying down’ your wine, should keep the cork from drying out. A dry cork will shrink and can expose the wine to unwanted oxygen or other elements. Laying wine down also allows room for more wine storage (a bonus!), as well as less room for a misstep like accidentally bumping into a shelf and knocking bottles over.

It’s also important to choose a storage space where there are no significant vibrations to disturb the wine. Ideal spots to set up your wine storage area would include a cool basement, closet, or pantry.  It doesn’t need to be fancy.  If you don’t have such a place in your home and are concerned about keeping your wines at an ideal, consistent temperature, a wine fridge is a great investment, and depending on the size of your collection can also be an affordable option.

We hope this is helpful with what matters most when storing your favorite wines. If you’re anything like us, you’ve been pulling more from the cellar over the past few months and may be looking to build-up your quarantine supply. Take advantage of our Summer offer of overnight shipping for the price of ground shipping and get your Baer wines the next day. This way they’re not exposed to extreme, inconsistent temperatures in transit and you can be sipping on delicious Washington wines in no time!


Checking-In with Lisa Baer and Erica Orr

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As public places are opening up and the country is beginning to come out of SIP, we’ve all started to venture out of our homes and reflect on what we’ve learned over the past few months. Maybe you’ve sharpened your baking skills or made a dent in your extensive reading list. We hope somewhere along the way you’ve enjoyed some Baer wines and maybe learned more about tasting descriptors and how the wines are made. We hope you’re safe and healthy as we prepare to reenter the world, we checked in with Co-owner, Lisa Baer, and winemaker, Erica Orr, to see how they spent their time in quarantine.

Lisa Baer

“I can’t believe how quickly time seems to go during this “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” period in Washington state. Each day I am fortunate to have both my day job at T-Mobile as well as the work of Baer Winery to keep me occupied. I’ve appreciated connecting virtually with friends, family, and coworkers, as well as having time to myself to reflect.

I’ve heard the phrase “silver linings” a lot over the past few months. There have been many. I’ve had more time to take a breath, finish a few books, and prepare some special meals (or just make a dinner out of cheese, crackers, wine, and chocolate). I enjoyed preparing the “Frog Box” from Woodinville’s Barking Frog and Chef Bobby. It included Halibut, fresh morels, and delicious local wines.

But, it’s also a solemn time. It’s important not to forget families touched by illness or worse, and those who don’t have the luxury of staying home and working to keep the rest of us healthy, safe, happy, and fed. I’m amazed at the creativity of the local communities and businesses to keep moving forward and make a contribution in ways we haven’t thought of before.

In addition to the many Zoom happy hours and wine club events, I’ve attended virtual fundraisers for organizations like PAWS, watched live-streamed local entertainment, and consumed more local food and wine than maybe I should have (all for a good cause). Our production team, my dad Les, and I loved connecting with some Baer Wine Club members virtually recently, and plan to have more fun events like that. Why didn’t we think of it before? We rarely, if ever, get to see our out-of-state members and this was the perfect chance. We look forward to a time when we’ll be able to open the doors of our tasting room again, but not until it’s safe and comfortable. Until then, wishing you and yours good health and peace.”

Erica Orr

“While under the SIP order, I still came out to the winery most days. In April, we assembled the 2018 Baer red blends, which are stunning! The blends will have some time to harmonize in barrel before we bottle them later this summer. The 2018 vintage as a whole has me very excited! The Bordeaux varietals from Stillwater Creek have beautiful ripeness as well as fresh approachability. It will be fun to taste these wines and see how they develop in bottle.

While at home, I walked a lot both for exercise and to socialize with some of my somm friends who have been furloughed from their restaurants in Seattle. The state parks have been reopened and the trails are more green and lush than ever before. The paths are almost overgrown with blooming wild berries and there are a lot of bald eagles flying around Lake Washington. 

I’ve also been cooking a ton trying to make some of my takeout favorites at home. The meals I’ve attempted include Thai salads, curry, and tacos. The serious eats website has some really nice step-by-step guides to Thai style fried shallots and a spicy peanut dipping sauce that I’ve been using to jazz up shaved red cabbage and chicken. I’ve also expanded my definition of a taco to anything folded into a hot corn tortilla. That includes bacon, lettuce, avocado, cheddar cheese, and apples with arugula, leftover Brussels sprouts with Lebanese garlic sauce, refried beans, and tomatillo salsa.

I had to enjoy all of these delicious wild flavors with something to drink, of course. I paired these foods with wines my friends have crafted including new 2019 Rosés, dry Columbia Valley Riesling, Chardonnay, and Chenin Blanc. The winemaking community is very generous. We tend to trade bottles with each other and I think we all are missing our usual tasting group immensely.”

We’d love to hear what you’ve been up to over the past three months and how you’ve incorporated Baer wines into your quarantine routine on social media! We hope our wines and the people who help make them have given you something to look forward to during these interesting and sometimes trying times. We look forward to hosting you in the tasting room in the near future.


Three Wine Drinker’s Resolutions for 2020

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The year 2020 has officially arrived and with it comes resolutions. However, a wine drinker’s resolutions may differ from the normal New Year resolutions. So, we’ve put together a list of three resolutions for all of the wine drinkers out there. Enjoy!

Resolution Number 1: Forget Dry January

Dry January always sounds great in theory, but the truth of the matter is it’s a lot of work all at once to go cold turkey – especially for the serious wine enthusiasts out there. We’re not saying that you shouldn’t put your health first to start the new year, but we are saying you can prioritize your health while keeping a glass of your favorite Baer wine in your routine. We’d like to suggest a balance so you still feel like you’re making gains toward a healthier lifestyle while exploring new wines and enjoying your longtime favorites.

Just cut your wine consumption in half! This will help you avoid the misery of a dry January and help you jumpstart the new year on a healthier note. Try planning a wine tasting night with friends where you all bring a bottle and blind taste, or trying a new bottle you might’ve thought was out of your price range before with an indulgent meal. After all, you’ll be consuming half as much less often, so you can still spend the same you were spending in 2019 on wine. May we recommend our newest releases, the 2015 Arctos and the 2016 Callisto?

Resolution Number 2: Expand your Palate with Older Vintages

We are all about expanding your mindset here at Baer Winery and love when we get to talk about older vintages of our wines with patrons. If you’re a novice taster, or never thought of trying older wines, 2020 is your chance to branch out and learn about the past. Library wines are a fantastic place to start! If you’re looking for a 2020 anniversary gift or birthday present, a library wine is always a thoughtful and delicious gift for the wine lover in your life. Older vintages are also fun to take to gatherings with friends and family.

Make it an engaging night by going around the table and ask everyone what they were doing the year the wine was made. For example, if you opened our 2001 Ursa, everyone would share an impactful moment from that year! Older wines bring us together, and not only can you learn more about wine by diving into this new pool, but also become closer to your friends and family.

Resolution Number 3: Plan a Wine Trip!

Make 2020 about living and learning with a wine trip! Even the most knowledgeable wine lovers can always learn something new, and there’s no better way to do that than immersing yourself in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar wines! Whether you plan a trip to Tuscany, Bordeaux, the Napa Valley, or visit us in Woodinville, you’ll gain new experiences, meet new people, and expand your knowledge about wine! 
We hope this list of resolutions helps you jumpstart 2020 in the best way! Our 20th anniversary is this year and we look forward to celebrating 20 years of Baer Winery with the best crew in the coming months. Onward and upward in 2020!

We hope this list of resolutions helps you jumpstart 2020 in the best way! Our 20th anniversary is this year and we look forward to celebrating 20 years of Baer Winery with the best crew in the coming months. Onward and upward in 2020!

A Guide to the Holiday Season in Woodinville Wine Country

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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.

Winemaker Spotlight: Erica Orr

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Erica Orr has been with us for 13 years, joining us following our founding winemaker Lance Baer’s passing. She was tasked with assisting us in carrying on Lance’s legacy through Baer wines. Erica has done an impeccable job of taking the reins in the vineyards and production facilities. In this month’s blog, we asked her to share a bit about her day-to-day and her journey to Woodinville. Learn more about Erica and how she came to be one of the best winemakers in the state of Washington!

Where are you from and where did you attend school?

I’m from California’s San Francisco Bay Area and have a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from UC Berkeley and a master’s degree in enology from UC Davis.

What originally got you interested in winemaking?

I am interested in science, specifically chemistry and biology, but I also love cooking, restaurants, and traveling. Back in 1998, I was living in San Francisco and working in the Blackburn Lab at UCSF. While out at a bar, my friend and I randomly sat next to the winemaker, Aaron Pott. He told us all about his life working at wineries in Bordeaux and the Napa Valley. He said he had gone through the wine program at UC Davis and told me to work at a winery before applying to the UC Davis enology program. That was super valuable advice. I took all my vacation from my job at the lab to work a couple of weeks of harvest with Cathy Corison in the Napa Valley. That was my first harvest, 1998.

How long have you been with Baer Winery and what’s your favorite part about working there?

The Baer family hired me to keep the label going after Lance Baer passed away in 2007. So, 2019 was my 13th harvest at Baer. I feel like my role is clearly defined. My job is to continue to craft the Baer wines in the style that Lance originated. That includes responding to what the growing season gives us and, at the same time, striving to make the wines better every vintage. I like having those parameters spelled out.

Describe Baer wines in three words.

Honoring Lance Baer.

What is your winemaking philosophy?

I feel like I know what is delicious; I try and really pay attention when I am tasting something delicious. I’m searching for the most delicious wine on the table during my blending sessions.

What are some of the challenges for Washington winemakers right now?

Columbia Valley vineyards that were planted in the 2000s are maturing into their sweet spot. I feel like technically the Washington winemaking community is becoming more knowledgeable and capable each vintage. The grapes are improving and the winemaking is improving so, naturally, the quality of wine we are producing is increasing, which is great! The challenge is that there are more brands out in the market now so the competition is fierce. The world of wine criticism is different from 20 years ago, nice scores certainly help but they don’t make or break a brand in the way that scores used to. I feel like the biggest challenge is staying relevant while staying true to the style Lance Baer established.

Is there a Baer wine you’re most proud of? If so, what is it and why? 

I think the 2012 Ursa was really stunning and it felt great that several critics recognized this as well. The new 2016 Star Merlot that we just released is 100% Merlot for the first time ever for the winery (typically there is some Cab Franc and sometimes Cab Sauv blended in). I am learning how to craft Merlot in a way where I feel it is a complete wine, delicious on its own. It’s a lot of learning by doing.

There you have it – a look behind the scenes of Baer Winery with the person at the helm of creating Baer wines. Do you have more questions for Erica? Pay us a visit in the near future and you may be lucky enough to catch Erica in her lab, or if you’re a club member you will find her at the next club event to talk about all things wine and food!