Located on the hill above Woodinville and Highway 522, the Warehouse District is a bit like the Meatpacking District of New York. This is a smaller, grittier, no-frills style of winemaking. The results, however, are anything but. And what it lacks in scenery and façade, the Warehouse District more than makes up for in vibe and taste. For wine, beer and spirits enthusiasts, there’s a density here that’s to die for. This is the home of more boutique wineries per square foot than any wine region in the world—right in Seattle’s backyard. Let that sink in for a minute, and then figure the odds you’ll find something here you love.

The Warehouse District has become such a popular quarter for winemakers that it’s spawned two adjacent neighborhoods: The Junction and Artisan Hill. The Junction forms the gateway to the Warehouse District with a clutch of stellar wineries sharing space with a trend-bucking craft brewery. It’s a taste island all its own, but also a great prelude to what awaits further down the road. Artisan Hill lies just south of North Woodinville Way as it winds up the hill. The name is all too fitting, as this burgeoning enclave is home to a growing community of wine and food craftspeople. It’s bursting with distinctive flavors and characters, but it’s easy to miss, so be sure you don’t.

You’ll know when you’ve hit the heart of the Warehouse District because you’ll hear the buzz. With winemakers packed tooth-to-jowl, there’s an energy here that fuels both friendly competition and amazing cooperation. So much so, that you’ll often see wineries borrowing and lending equipment, expertise and manpower to one another—especially at crush season. It makes for an infinitely fertile environment for wine interpretation, spirits distilling and nano- brewing. This is where the person pouring is often the winemaker himself, and the personalities you’ll meet and the methods and opinions they share make the perfect pairing to any glass. You’ll learn as much about the process as you do about the palate. Then, for a completely different experience, simply take ten steps over to the next winemaker.