The Washington winery announces plans to open the tasting room in late fall 2022 in partnership with Cakebread Cellars, marking the final addition to Wine Walk Row.
July 20th – Walla Walla, WA – Mullan Road Cellars, the Washington state winery founded by Dennis Cakebread of Napa Valley’s famed Cakebread Cellars, has announced plans to open a tasting room on Wine Walk Row within Woodinville’s brand-new Schoolhouse District in late fall of 2022.
The new location in Woodinville Wine Country will be the first tasting room for Mullan Road Cellars. Guests will have the chance to taste Mullan Road Cellars wines, such as their acclaimed Royal Slope Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as a selection of wines from the family’s Cakebread Cellars winery. A focused selection of food pairings will also be available and will showcase some of the talented purveyors from around Washington state.
“We were drawn to Washington state because of the exciting wine quality up here, as well as the warm reception we received by so many professionals in the community,” says Dennis Cakebread, the winery’s founder. “We started Mullan Road Cellars back in 2012 and have spent the last several years exploring some of the state’s unique growing areas in search of the right place to anchor our project. We’ve been particularly excited about grapes from the cooler Royal Slope AVA outside of Royal City, and have decided to focus our efforts there. Now that we’ve dialed in the grapes, it’s time to share these wines with friends. In Woodinville, we’ll be able to introduce guests to not just Mullan Road Cellars but a selection of our wines from Cakebread Cellars as well, which will allow us to share our story and our philosophy on winemaking, which is built around varietal balance and elegance.”
Designed by Seattle-based architecture and design firm Hinge Studio, the space will draw inspiration from mid-century modern design elements often found in the Puget Sound area. The experience will reinforce what the Cakebread family has valued since they started in Napa back in 1973: the importance of warm hospitality and the joy of sharing a great glass of wine with family and friends.
“Woodinville is home to more than 130 tasting rooms from wineries located throughout the state, so it’s a great place to spend a day or two discovering the wines of Washington,” says David Griffiths, General Manager at Mullan Road Cellars and long-term Washington state resident. “While Washington has many amazing communities where we considered setting up our first tasting room, we ultimately settled on Woodinville because of its location in the Puget Sound area, where our experience can be a little more accessible to residents and visitors alike. We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to help bring awareness to Washington’s amazing wine industry, while at the same time sharing the Cakebread family’s vision for wine quality, education, and an appreciation for wines from both Washington state and California. We look forward to being a part of the Wine Walk Row neighborhood.”
“Mullan Road Cellars and, in partnership, Cakebread Cellars make great additions to the thoughtfully curated wine tasting experiences on Wine Walk Row. We are excited to partner with these celebrated Walla Walla and Napa Valley wineries and introduce them to Woodinville,” says Kim Faust, Senior VP of Development at MainStreet Property Group LLC. “With the addition of Mullan Road Cellars, we are also happy to announce that all retail on Wine Walk Row and The Schoolhouse District as a whole is now fully leased. We look forward to taking wine strolls and trying all the sips, eats, and treats throughout the district this fall.”
Mullan Road Cellars wines are made by winemaker Aryn Morell, a Washington native with extensive experience in the Columbia Valley as well as Napa Valley. The signature wine – a Cabernet Sauvignon from the recently recognized Royal Slope appellation – is an elegant Cabernet Sauvignon that showcases fruit grown at two premier vineyards just outside Royal City. Complex with sultry aromas of muddled red fruits, raspberry, dried strawberry, and baking spices, it shows hints of crème brûlée, black tea, mocha, and cocoa with a round, polished palate and fine tannins.
Located in the heart of downtown Woodinville in the Greater Seattle area and completed Fall of 2021, The Schoolhouse District is a unique destination with multi-use locales. These include the 264-unit residential community District Flats, the restored historic Schoolhouse No. 23, Wine Walk Row with nine wine tasting and retail venues, and additional ground-level retail spaces for local businesses.
About Mullan Road Cellars
Mullan Road Cellars was founded in 2012 by Dennis Cakebread of the iconic Cakebread Cellars winery in Napa Valley. A 40-year veteran of the wine trade, Dennis embarked on a mission to make a world-class Washington state wine that embodies the rich history and terroir of the Northwest. Mullan Road Cellars is named for the first wagon road into eastern Washington, stretching from Fort Benton, Montana to Fort Walla Walla, Washington. Mullan Road Cellars celebrates the pioneering spirit of those who made the original journey into the Northwest Territory.
