Woodinville Thursday Wine Walks Start Feb. 16

The Warehouse District, that section of town off NE Woodinville-Duvall road that is home to more than 40 wineries and a growing number of distilleries and breweries, is changing the name of the organization that promotes the businesses. Woodinville Warehouse Wineries will soon be known as Tasting Woodinville to better reflect the array of businesses it promotes. It is still hosting the Third Thursday Wine Walks and the first one of the season is Feb. 16.

“What I like to tell people is that these are the small, family-owned boutique wineries of Woodinville who are eager to welcome guests to their tasting rooms (many of which are actually in the wine cellars amongst barrels, bottling machines and fermenting vats),” wrote Alicia Hansen in an email to Patch. Hansen heads the organization. "This is the place to really understand and visualize what it means to own a winery.”

The name change is part of the organizations expansion into promoting the distilleries and breweries in Woodinville and to promote its forthcoming book, Tasting Woodinville: A guide to the Wineries, Distilleries and Breweries of Woodinville. In addition, Hansen's firm organizes the Hollywood Schoolhouse Wine and Craft Fairs and Main Street Wine Walks in Bothell.

"I have owned Woodinville Warehouse Wineries for three years and feel that my initial goal (getting the Warehouse District better known) is complete," she told Patch. "I now see a need for a company that provides a complete look at the entire Woodinville scene, including all of the wineries, breweries, distilleries, restaurants, hotels and activities."

Hansen said it will take a few weeks to complete the transition to the new name. In the meantime, the Third Thursday Wine Walks run from February through October, from 4-8 p.m. Tickets cost $20 per person and include 20 tasting tickets to use at the participating wineries. Purchase tickets online here, or at the event (cash only). Bring your own glass or you can buy one at the tasting event for $5, according to Hansen. Each Third Thursday Wine Walk usually has a theme, kicking off the season is a chocolate and wine pairing event.

Here is the 2012 season lineup:

• Feb. 16: Chocolate and Wine   
  • Alta Cellars
  • Haystack Needle Winery
  • Gard Vintners
  • Smasne Cellars
• March 15: St Patrick's Day 
• April 19: Spring Barrel Tasting 
• May 17: Scavenger Hunt at the Warehouse 
• June 21: Local Artisan Farms
• July 19: Art & Music Walk
• Aug. 16: Bite at the Warehouse 
• Sept. 20: Bottles & Dogs
• Oct. 18: Halloween at the Warehouse