Rocky Pond
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
LOCATION : Woodin Creek District
HOURS (as of Dec 2022): Tues-Sun 1-7pm
TASTING FEE (as of Nov 2022): $20 standard mixed flight, $30 “reserve” flight
Many of the new tasting rooms in the recently built Woodin Creek district (also called “Wine Alley”) have a chic flair, but Rocky Pond takes it to the next level; when you enter, the polished concrete floor and tasteful stone accents are sure to call to mind the geologic beauty of Lake Chelan, home of this remarkable estate winery.
The $20 standard mixed tasting includes five pours (as does the $30 “reserve” tasting of their more premium fare), and at the time of my most recent visit opened with a Sauvignon Blanc and a GSM (Grenache/Syrah/Mourvèdre) rosé before proceeding to the reds; a varietally bottled Grenache, a second (red) GSM blend and finally a varietally bottled Malbec. While the wines are excellent, where Rocky Pond really shines is in its friendly and knowledgeable tasting staff; though the wines are presented all at once in a flight tower, there is always a representative nearby to answer questions or simply chat.
It’s so common for winery founders to come to viticulture as a second career that it’s almost a trope; similarly familiar is the tale of awakened passion for winemaking during a visit to the Old World. In the case of Rocky Pond’s Dufenhorst family, inspiration struck in the vineyards of France and Italy. The winery’s Washington-grown estate vineyards - Clos CheValle and Double D (after founder David Dufenhorst) - sell a portion of their harvests to other Washington winemakers, but produce a wide variety of bottles themselves.
Said bottles range in price from $28-$120 and the tasting room offers a more robust food menu than most (with more items available on weekends and a limited menu during the week). While they shine in the Bordeaux and Rhone varietals seen in many other Woodinville houses, Rocky Pond also offers a unique Blanc de Noir (a champagne-style sparkling wine made with Pinot Noir, a rare varietal in Washington) to their club members and occasionally the public. Another noteworthy bottle is their Glacial Treasure white blend, which in 2021 contained a head-turning mélange of Riesling, Marsanne, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
I don’t often comment on wine clubs, since for the most part they blend one into the other from tasting room to tasting room; however I’ll make a note here that Rocky Pond stands out for their club offering, which includes (in addition to the standard bottle discounts and complimentary tastings) discounts at select local hotels, golf courses and restaurants, food and wine pairing experiences, two member-only events per year, and more.
Reservations are recommended, and the tasting room offers both indoor and outdoor (heated) seating. Minors are allowed inside, and dogs are allowed outside; due to their onsite kitchen, outside food is prohibited (but you won’t want it anyway once you see their menu).
If you’re interested in visiting Rocky Pond as part of your tour, let us know in the pre-tour survey and we will make arrangements with the tasting room staff.
Salut, and enjoy Woodinville!
