NW Wine & Real Estate

Move Over Napa

Maureen Nolan — Wed, 02 May 2012 01:43:05 +0000

Check out what Sunset Magazine has to say about Eastern Washington’s wine scene.

http://www.wallawalla.org/press/Sunset_May_2012.pdf

Le Petit Terroir

Maureen Nolan — Tue, 01 May 2012 00:59:34 +0000

While Woodinville waited for the much anticipated but delayed opening of Itallianissimo’s, The Station Pizzeria newcomer Le Petit Terroir quietly opened their doors.

Not that I am partial to Le Petit Terroir because of it’s name. The owners, Dave and Karin Shoup, know what they are doing check out their bio’s. Plus, a can opener will never be found in their restaurant. Everything is made fresh that day with the freshest ingredients around even the charcuterie is hand made on site. Executive Chef, Kevin Sabora spent some time with Bill the Butcher so he knows how to please the carnivores amongst us.

Fabulous wine friendly food with an added touch of Europe. Le Petit Terroir will deliver via their fancy delivery bike. Woodinville’ites and tourist alike can now enjoy another great food option and have food delivered while sipping wine at Hollywood /Tourist district wineries. Le Petit Terroir is located at 14455 Woodinville Redmond Road right behind William Church’s tasting room. What a great pairing!

Woodinville Whiskey Co. Releases Rye Whiskey

Maureen Nolan — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 01:22:33 +0000

Woodinville’s namesake whiskey company had people lining up early Saturday morning. The line was made up of people seeking a bottle or two of the first legally produced commercial bottling of rye whiskey since our countries dark days of prohibition. Woodinville is well known for it’s wine now the spotlight appears to be on the local whiskey especially of the rye varietal. Read More…

Taste Washington 2012

Maureen Nolan — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 17:47:00 +0000

Taste Washington

Taste Washington is this weekend. This is probably the biggest expose’ of Washington wines under one roof. There is still time for tickets and you will find it’s well worth it. Taste Washington Wine and Food Experience

Vineyard and Modern Farm House in Minnesota

Maureen Nolan — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 19:52:04 +0000

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Houzz Tour: Contemporary Farmhouse Vineyard in Minnesota

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" title="Vineyard and Modern House in Minnesota">Vineyard and Modern House in Minnesota

It's a blend! This modern farm home is home to Warehouse Winery a winery located in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

An epiphany — is the sudden realization or comprehension of the (larger) essence or meaning of something. A new foundational frame of reference. Is winemaker's Billy Smith's explanation about planting a vineyard on the property in his suburban Minneapolis neighborhood.

The home he built also pays homage to the innovating wines Warehouse winery must be making. It's a fusion of cold climate grapes that can grow in Minnesota combined with fruit grown in California. A fusion of the two worlds just like the vineyard and very modern take on a farmhouse. Love the farmhouse and can't wait to try Warehouse Winery wines!

Bottom of the Barrel Co. ~ Wine Barrel Furniture

Maureen Nolan — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 07:51:56 +0000

An iconic landmark in Woodinville’s Sammamish Valley is Jack’s Tractors. For over two decades Jack has been the go to guy to keep area tractors running.

As Jack worked on tractors his neighbors were perfecting their craft….wine.

Jack has finally joined his winemaking neighbors not in making wine but in taking their old used wine barrels, deconstructing them and then re-purposing the barrel staves and pieces creating beautiful candle holders, benches, tables, stools and even innovative coat racks. Jack still fixes and sells tractors but he has added a sustainable business to the heart of Woodinville’s wine country.

Jack

You can see Jack’s creations at www.bottomofthebarrelco.com or stop by his shop. Just look for the tractors and his new sign!

Cheers!

Regent A Puget Sound AVA Red Wine Grape

Maureen Nolan — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 18:36:31 +0000

Many people come out to Western Washington’s wine hub in the city of Woodinville and wonder “where are the grapes?”. The people in the know point East, make a smug look and say Eastern Washington.

Well, the truth is that there are actually vines and grapes in the Puget Sound area. The Puget Sound is a designated AVA known as the Puget Sound AVA. This is the same designation given Horse Heaven Hills, Red Mountain, Snipes Mountain and the newest AVA called Naches Heights. There are twelve American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), as recognized and defined by the United States Treasury Department; Alcohol & Tobacco Taxes & Trade Bureau in Washington State.

For those familiar with The Puget Sound AVA they know it’s grape varietals are typically white due to the “cold climate” grapes that thrive in the region. What is lesser known is that there are a few red varietals that do well in the Puget Sound AVA as well. One well known varietal is Pinot Noir made famous by our neighbors in Oregon and the Willamette Valley and the coastal regions of California. Oh, and then there was that movie…. Anyway, another intriguing cold climate red grape varietal worthy of mention is known as Regent.

Regent has both European (Vitis vinifera) and American vine species in its pedigree and a solid resistance against the most significant fungal diseases which affect cold climate grapes, such as downy mildew. Regent is a hybrid grape developed in 1967 by crossing Diana, a Silvaner x Müller-Thurgau. And the taste? It’s a fabulous food friendly lighter alcohol (12.5%) red wine. To me it is similar to Pinot Noir with a little more spice.

Where to find it? Hollywood Hill Vineyards! Winemaker/Owner Steve Snyder is known on twitter as @grapegeek for a reason. His passion for the Puget Sound AVA is evident. He has the only commercial vineyard in Woodinville and produces an array of Puget Sound sourced wines as well as a good mix of Eastern Washington sourced wines. Steve is also the first winemaker to commercially bottle Regent in the U.S. So, be adventurous, take a trip to Woodinville and try Regent. There are only 75 cases so go soon! You will find it is well worth the trip. Cheers!

2011-2012 Cost vs. Value: Which Remodeling Projects Pay Off the Most?

Maureen Nolan — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 01:24:25 +0000

2011-2012 Cost vs. Value: Which Remodeling Projects Pay Off the Most?.

Hollywood Has Vines?

Maureen Nolan — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:54:57 +0000

Evidently, Hollywood, California has vines and Jennifer Aniston just bought them for a rumored $21 million. O.K. the vineyard included a beautiful mid-century modern Bel-Air home designed by A. Quincy Jones, an ocean view and a prime celebrity coveting 3 acres in what is known as the “platinum triangle”. So, one is left wondering was the selling feature the vines, the view or the house? Hmmm, I am thinking the vines…you?

Full Story

2011 Real Estate Stats for Hollywood Hill ~ Woodinville’s Wine Country

Maureen Nolan — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 23:16:16 +0000

Hollywood Hill is the self-appointed neighborhood of Woodinville’s wine country. It is the closest in proximity to the action and has its very own wine district which is home to the highly acclaimed wineries of Adams Bench, Alexander Nicole, Mark Ryan, J. Bookwalter, Amavi Cellars, Pepper Bridge, Airfield, Goose Ridge, Trust Cellars, Sparkman Cellars, Dusted Valley, Lachini, William Church, Brian Carter, Challenger Ridge a distillary, Soft Tail Spirits , Dellile Cellars, and our very own Hollywood Hill Vineyards…to name a few.

In my opinion it’s close enough to the end of the year to take a look at the data for Woodinville’s wine country year-end real estate activity for 2011. And believe it or not the raw data doesn’t look to bad!

Active listings available for purchase = 19 homes

Median price point = $625,000 (don’t worry entry level into the neighborhood is around $300K)

Days on Market = the average days on the market for a currently listed home is 101 days.

Pending home sales = 6

Median price = $730,266

Days on Market = 142 days

SOLD homes = 57

Median sold price = $620,000

Days on market = 130

Average sale price to list = 96.73% (seller’s didn’t negotiate much to get a deal together)

The absorption rate is approximately 3… which indicates the market is leaning towards a seller’s advantage. In summary, Hollywood Hill’s real estate is going strong! Almost as strong as some of the wine in town…Cheers.

*Data provided by the NWMLS