Celaeno Winery — Attraction in Woodinville

We love this place. Both my wife and I are wine enthusiasts. Coming from Europe, wine has always been part of my life, and so is wine-pairing with food. There is hardly a evening that a bottle is not picked for a specific thing we are cooking.

Celaeno has a great tasting room that mixes industrial with coziness. It's a nice, open space as you see the barrels aging in the back. If you are lucky, you would even spot Brian working on his wines; and if you are very lucky, he may give you a taste of what is to come. We have been super lucky a few times.

You would ask, if we are (very nice) wine snobs, why do we like Celaeno so much, that we keep going back to see Brian? Two things. The wines are unique and Brian is a fantastic host.

My favorite is the Il Purgatorio Viognier. You can tell Brian has a good sense of humor (and knows his history, but ask him about that!), but at the same time, the moment you have the Viognier in your mouth, you know he is also very serious about his wines. It's a well balanced, slightly dry and fragrant beauty. It has a subtle elegance that is missing from most of the big juicy wines that are all the rage. It reminds me of the old vines Rhone Viognier I have had in my former life. I haven't had a similar wine like this in a long time, and I bought a few bottles on the spot.

The other must-try are the "Both Barrels" Syrah and the "Bone Dry" if it's not sold out (again). These are all limited releases, and are worth your time if you would like to branch out of the usual destinations in the area. I don't think you could be disappointed.

As for Brian, he is quite simply a great host, who understands fully what wines are truly about. Wines are for sharing, for friends, for happiness. It is such a lovely, happy place that we have brought many friends, and every one was surprised at how wonderful the experience was.

At last count, we have at least a full case of different wines (out of about 600 bottles we constantly have) from Celaeno at all time. We visit about once every two months.

Brian and his wife became friends and they were even at our wedding. That's how great this guy is.

Can you tell we...

I came here in 2021, and had a great time tasting with Brian. So much so, that when I was picking wineries to go to this year with a large group, I pushed for us to come back here.

I left very disappointed. Each tasting that Cory poured was a generous sip, two sips if you rationed yourself. Way less than what you would expect at any wine tasting. I was also not a fan of the wines this year. The ports might have tasted alright, but honestly there was so little liquid poured that I couldn't really taste it.

It seems like your experience is going to vastly differ based on who is pouring. I won't push for us to come back again after...

Celaeno winery is a hidden gem in Woodinville. I love their wines and have used the venue for corporate & private events, everyone enjoyed the wines and the vibe. The winemaker, Brian is always entertaining and brings great stories. He even plays the guitar for guests. He offers total 8 tasting including 2 port style wines at $15 that is incredibly awesome deal. I see that majority of people are repeat customers that says it all.

If you look for some friends/family gathering for good quality of wine, this winery is the place....