Ryan Patrick / Milbrandt
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
LOCATION : Hollywood District
HOURS (as of April 2023): Thurs 2-6pm, Fri-Sun 12-6pm, closed Tues/Wed
TASTING FEE (as of April 2023): $15 (4 pours, mixed flight) or $25 (6 pours, mixed flight)
Space is a matter of contention in Woodinville, especially in the Hollywood district. The infamous Woodinville-Redmond Road roundabout houses (by my count) a current 25 tasting rooms at a single intersection, and just down the road the old Columbia Winery building is rumored to be on the market for a cool $100,000 per month. It makes sense that wineries might pair off, especially if they have common ground to stand on. And what could be more common than sharing a family, as Milbrandt and Ryan Patrick do?
One tasting room, one winemaker, two brands and two distinct styles of wine - that’s what you’re in for at the shared tasting room situated in what was once an Azteca in the Hollywood district. Visitors can order a tasting from either Ryan Patrick (a new-world-style brand of fruit-forward and approachable wines, with a focus on varietals like Grenache and Riesling as well as some rich and inviting red blends) or Milbrandt (a more old-world style brand producing complex and nuanced offerings with a focus on traditional Bordeaux varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot). Milbrandt in particular has received notable accolades for its wines from James Suckling (2018 Family Grown Cab, 92 points), Wine Enthusiast (2017 The Estates Cab, 90 points), and Wine Spectator (2019 Family Grown Chardonnay, 89 points).
The two brands didn’t always share ownership - Ryan Patrick was founded in 1999 by Terry and Vivian Flanagan, who named the winery after their sons. Milbrandt, on the other hand, was founded by brothers Butch and Jerry Milbrandt, who planted a vineyard in 1997 and started producing their own wine shortly thereafter. The Milbrandts purchased Ryan Patrick in 2012 and put their agricultural power — and their winemaker, Kendall Mix— behind the brand. While Milbrandt is estate-produced, grapes for the Ryan Patrick brand are sourced from all over Washington, including Elephant Mountain Vineyard, Sagemoor Farms, Red Mountain AVA, and Red Heaven Vineyard, showcasing some of the best terroir Washington has to offer.
The tasting room is a modern, sleek space that offers a unique blend of eastern and western design sensibility. With large windows facing a leafy walkway and powerful teak furniture, it's an enjoyable spot to relax and enjoy a glass of wine or attend a larger event.
A standout of the Ryan Patrick tasting was the Rock Island Red, a notably value-priced bottle with a supple raspberry sweetness that would be perfect for the taster who prefers some residual sugar in their reds. Milbrandt’s offerings trend a little more premium in price, but index high in the Cabernet Sauvignon department, despite their Ancient Lakes homeland being more renowned for its white wine plantings than its reds.
Bottles range in price from $16-62 for Milbrandt and $16-45 for Ryan Patrick. Reservations are recommended but not required; food is not produced in-house but may be ordered in (perhaps from Village Wines at the end of the lot). Children are welcome and pets are accommodated on the patio. If you’d like to visit this unique bifurcated tasting room, let us know in your pre-tour survey and we will be sure not to miss it.
Salut, and enjoy Woodinville!
